--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
---------------------------------------------------------------
Of course they care if XP is installed on more than one computer at a time.
Doing so requires additional licensing considerations.
"Reds" <rede...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:redex1398-3D771...@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com...
I suppose we can assume that you're a freakin' software pirate... the
type of person who causes the rest of us to pay more for the software
we legally use... RIGHT?
I totally agree, but about a month ago, I finally got fed up with a
misbehaving 5-yr old motherboard, so I installed a new one and
also replaced the HDD (320 vs 120 GB) while I was changing
things. I then re-installed XP Pro (orig -slipstreamed to SP2) and
fully expected to have to phone in the activation which completed
in a millisecond ... the preferred way.
So I must suspect MS made a change in the way the h/w hash is
determined. And with all the other post SP2 updates and Office
XP updates, the licenses have been re-validated a dozen or more
times since. Go figure.
Regards,
Ed
"Ed Covney" <ed(dot)covney(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote in message
news:u6bAv6Si...@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>One (1) license on one (1) computer only!
>
> I totally agree, but about a month ago, I finally got fed up with a
> misbehaving 5-yr old motherboard, so I installed a new one and
> also replaced the HDD (320 vs 120 GB) while I was changing
> things. I then re-installed XP Pro (orig -slipstreamed to SP2) and
> fully expected to have to phone in the activation which completed
> in a millisecond ... the preferred way.
>
> So I must suspect MS made a change in the way the h/w hash is
> determined. And with all the other post SP2 updates and Office
> XP updates, the licenses have been re-validated a dozen or more
> times since. Go figure.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ed
>
No change to the overall scheme of things for WPA. The requirements
are still the same. The WPA database still allows a discrete number
of activations for any given Product Key within a 120-day period. A
no-nonsense activation of a properly installed Windows XP product
just means that this number of activations for this particular Product
Key has not been exceeded within the current 120-day period. And this
result can be probably expected for an ancient but still valid Product
Key.
*TimDaniels*
Yes, of course.
> Do they still care if more than one computer is using the
> same copy.
Yes, of course they're still opposed to theft.
> I'm assuming that since Vista is now available, they may
> relax the rules for using XP.
Why would you ever assume such a silly thing? Microsoft still hasn't
"relaxed" the licensing terms for MS-DOS.
--
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin
Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell
The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
"Reds" <rede...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:redex1398-3D771...@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com...
I asked that question of someone high enough in MS to give a definitive
answer and the answer was that if XP activation is ever taken offline an
alternative means of satisfying the activation software will be provided.
It would be years from now before any decision would be taken as to just how
that would work, however.
"Roger Blake" <rogbl...@iname10.com> wrote in message
news:slrnfu0vms.h...@moog.netaxs.com...
> In article <DF6AEDA1-EA2B-45C1...@microsoft.com>, Colin
> Barnhorst wrote:
>> Yes, MS continues to support XP activation as they have in the past.
>> Read
>
> The more interesting question may be whether they will at some point
> choose to no longer provide the activation service for XP, and force
> a true "end of life" to the product.
>
> --
> Roger Blake
> (Subtract 10s for email.)
"Jonathan Perreault" <jonper...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:1k%Dj.5840$sw3.3174@trnddc06...
Reputedly, Microsoft only store the activation information on their systems
for 120 days. This makes sense otherwise they would have to store
activation information for every copy of Windows ever sold (and every other
product that requires activation).
Yes, Microsoft is still actively and aggressively checking. If
Microsoft says you have a non-genuine copy, it may very well be, but
not necessarily so. Microsoft's "testing" of legal copies is
genuinely flawed. One licence per computer for either Vista, XP, or
any other O/S from Microsoft.
"Colin Barnhorst" <c.bar...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:A183618A-0D13-4512...@microsoft.com...
"Jonathan Perreault" <jonper...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:VzFEj.17187$Id3.8683@trnddc07...
i am just confused as to why i didn't get any issues this time. :S
"Colin Barnhorst" <c.bar...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:B5DDB9E4-5096-463B...@microsoft.com...
"Jonathan Perreault" <jonper...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:AQQEj.15$N_5.10@trnddc05...
If you reinstalled XP and then reactivated afresh, it will almost certainly
have gone through without problem. With all the Windows installations on
the planet, Microsoft just cannot store the hardware hash that goes with
each and every product key for ever. As a result, they only store the
information for a limited period of time (reputed to be 120 days). This
means that if you do a complete reinstall after this period, it will
activate over the internet. This does not affect hardware *changes* on an
existing installation tripping reactivation because that hardware hash is
stored locally as well.
Although this might indicate that you could illicitly make 2 installations
if you do them more than 120 days (or whatever) apart, in practice one will
fail if any attempt is made to perform an update.
Pricing plays a part in making a product attractive to pirates.
If Vista installation CDs cost $5, there would many fewer people
who would buy pirated CDs instead of the genuine article.
*TimDaniels*
And thus you confirm my point that pricing plays a part in
making a product attractive to pirates. Since higher price means
that fewer potential buyers are willing to pay the price for the
genuine product, they are more willing to take a chance on pirated
copies. Thus, pirates make more money when Microsoft raises
the prices on its software.
*TimDaniels*
That's flawed logic.... even with $10 CDs... people still pirate music
all the time, it has nothing to do with the picing, its everything to do
with "why should I buy it if I can get it for free?". Of course, some
people's sense of entitlement is way overinflated. Why do these people
feel they should get this stuff for free?
Do you always generalize like this?
Alias