Validation Failure

On Fri, 8 Aug 2008 18:27:25 -0500, "Bob Harris"
<rharris270[SPAM]@hotmail.com> wrote:

> An OEM version of XP is supposed to be sold only with some "hardware"


I haven't followed this closely, but I believe that that requirement
is no longer in effect.


> and
> can be installed only once.


But that was never correct. You can reinstall it as often as you need
or want to, as long as it's on the original computer.


> "Hardware" can be anything form a whole PC to a
> mouse.
>
> If the copy was already used, you can not use it again on a different PC, or
> technically, even on a different motherboard within the same PC.


Also not correct. The requirement is that it may not be moved to
another computer. The motherboard is not the issue.

Note what it says on the Windows Vista activation FAQ at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/quick-start/activation-faq.aspx
That page states

"Will I ever need to activate my current copy of Windows again?

You might have to activate Windows again in a number of instances,
such as:

....

You make a significant hardware change to your computer, such as
upgrading the hard disk drive and memory at the same time or replacing
the motherboard in your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
computer. If a major hardware change requires activating Windows
again, you will be notified and will have three days to activate your
copy of Windows."

That clearly states that if you replace the motherboard, you may have
to, and therefore *can*, reactivate an OEM copy of Vista. It's about
Vista, but the licensing rules for Vista and XP are essentially the
same, so the same rule should apply to XP.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

On Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:44:00 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
<kblake.RemoveThis@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote:

>On Fri, 8 Aug 2008 18:27:25 -0500, "Bob Harris"
><rharris270[SPAM]@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> An OEM version of XP is supposed to be sold only with some "hardware"
>
>
>I haven't followed this closely, but I believe that that requirement
>is no longer in effect.
>
>
>> and
>> can be installed only once.
>
>
>But that was never correct. You can reinstall it as often as you need
>or want to, as long as it's on the original computer.
>
>
>> "Hardware" can be anything form a whole PC to a
>> mouse.
>>
>> If the copy was already used, you can not use it again on a different PC, or
>> technically, even on a different motherboard within the same PC.
>
>
>Also not correct. The requirement is that it may not be moved to
>another computer. The motherboard is not the issue.
>
>Note what it says on the Windows Vista activation FAQ at
>http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/quick-start/activation-faq.aspx
>That page states
>
>"Will I ever need to activate my current copy of Windows again?
>
>You might have to activate Windows again in a number of instances,
>such as:
>
>...
>
>You make a significant hardware change to your computer, such as
>upgrading the hard disk drive and memory at the same time or replacing
>the motherboard in your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
>computer. If a major hardware change requires activating Windows
>again, you will be notified and will have three days to activate your
>copy of Windows."
>
>That clearly states that if you replace the motherboard, you may have
>to, and therefore *can*, reactivate an OEM copy of Vista. It's about
>Vista, but the licensing rules for Vista and XP are essentially the
>same, so the same rule should apply to XP.
-------------------------------------

Basically it's a new copy of XP-Pro with COA, never installed
anywhere. But during validation Microsoft complains that it's an OEM
product and therefore cannot be installed on an individual machine --
presumably they mean it can only be installed on 1,000 machines at a
corporation or some such.

I contacted the vendor who sold it to me. He's grumbled that
Microsoft has been taking a lot of contratictory stances on licensing
lately. However he's offered to either refund my money, or to go to
bat with Microsoft for me to make it work. So I can't really complain
about him - so far anyhow.

We'll see what develops.

Thanks for the info on how it's *supposed* to work.

Bill

Bill Martin wrote:

> Basically it's a new copy of XP-Pro with COA, never installed
> anywhere. But during validation Microsoft complains that it's an OEM
> product and therefore cannot be installed on an individual machine --
> presumably they mean it can only be installed on 1,000 machines at a
> corporation or some such.
>
> I contacted the vendor who sold it to me. He's grumbled that
> Microsoft has been taking a lot of contratictory stances on licensing
> lately. However he's offered to either refund my money, or to go to
> bat with Microsoft for me to make it work. So I can't really complain
> about him - so far anyhow.

It sounds like the vendor sold you a volume licensed OEM and not just a
generic single license OEM install disk. Return it to the vendor and get
your money back.

Personally, I always tell home users to buy a retail version. You don't save
that much money buying OEM and there are no restrictions on reinstallation.

You can still get XP - retail and the correct OEM (not the one with no media
for system builders) - on NewEgg.com.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

On Sat, 09 Aug 2008 10:39:30 -0700, Malke <malke DeleteThis @invalid.invalid>
wrote:

> Bill Martin wrote:
>
> > Basically it's a new copy of XP-Pro with COA, never installed
> > anywhere. But during validation Microsoft complains that it's an OEM
> > product and therefore cannot be installed on an individual machine --
> > presumably they mean it can only be installed on 1,000 machines at a
> > corporation or some such.
> >
> > I contacted the vendor who sold it to me. He's grumbled that
> > Microsoft has been taking a lot of contratictory stances on licensing
> > lately. However he's offered to either refund my money, or to go to
> > bat with Microsoft for me to make it work. So I can't really complain
> > about him - so far anyhow.
>
> It sounds like the vendor sold you a volume licensed OEM and not just a
> generic single license OEM install disk. Return it to the vendor and get
> your money back.
>
> Personally, I always tell home users to buy a retail version. You don't save
> that much money buying OEM and there are no restrictions on reinstallation.


Bill, I'm with Malke on that entirely. The best value is a Retail
Upgrade version. I recommend the Upgrade (usually only slightly more
expensive than the OEM version) over the Full version, because it's
considerable less expensive, and despite what some people think, *can*
do a clean installation as long as you own a CD of a previous
qualifying version to show it as proof of ownership when prompted.
Most people have a Windows 98 CD around, but worst case, if you don't,
you can buy one inexpensively someplace like eBay.

If the seller has offered to refund your money (as you said in a reply
to me), I would take him up on it and buy the Upgrade instead. You re
likely to be much better off in the long run.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

On Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:10:11 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
<kblake RemoveThis @this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote:

>On Sat, 09 Aug 2008 10:39:30 -0700, Malke <malke RemoveThis @invalid.invalid>
>wrote:
>
>> Bill Martin wrote:
>>
>> > Basically it's a new copy of XP-Pro with COA, never installed
>> > anywhere. But during validation Microsoft complains that it's an OEM
>> > product and therefore cannot be installed on an individual machine --
>> > presumably they mean it can only be installed on 1,000 machines at a
>> > corporation or some such.
>> >
>> > I contacted the vendor who sold it to me. He's grumbled that
>> > Microsoft has been taking a lot of contratictory stances on licensing
>> > lately. However he's offered to either refund my money, or to go to
>> > bat with Microsoft for me to make it work. So I can't really complain
>> > about him - so far anyhow.
>>
>> It sounds like the vendor sold you a volume licensed OEM and not just a
>> generic single license OEM install disk. Return it to the vendor and get
>> your money back.
>>
>> Personally, I always tell home users to buy a retail version. You don't save
>> that much money buying OEM and there are no restrictions on reinstallation.
>
>
>Bill, I'm with Malke on that entirely. The best value is a Retail
>Upgrade version. I recommend the Upgrade (usually only slightly more
>expensive than the OEM version) over the Full version, because it's
>considerable less expensive, and despite what some people think, *can*
>do a clean installation as long as you own a CD of a previous
>qualifying version to show it as proof of ownership when prompted.
>Most people have a Windows 98 CD around, but worst case, if you don't,
>you can buy one inexpensively someplace like eBay.
>
>If the seller has offered to refund your money (as you said in a reply
>to me), I would take him up on it and buy the Upgrade instead. You re
>likely to be much better off in the long run.

------------------------------------------

It's all straightened out now. The vendor fixed it for me.

Thanks for the help.

Bill