Windows licence / serial number question

Greboth

Greboth

Greboth

Soldato
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Afternoon all

Building a new PC for a family member and trying to do it as cheap as possible so I was going to use their copy of win xp. However since getting their old PC it is a pre-built Dell and only has a recovery cd, now this isn't a problem as I have an XP CD lying around to use. Now I know it legally works on 1 serial = 1 PC, though gets a bit blurred due to upgrades and wipes etc so can re-use the serial numbers (or get new ones if need be) but I have no clue how it works with pre-built PC's, so;

- When buying a shop built CD and comes with windows pre-installed do you actually buy a Windows licence? I presume Dell have a bulk licence which they use on all their machines and so isn't really the same as buying a personal licence and so isn't re-usable (for lack of a better word)

- Depending on the answer above, no serial number is in the documents so if you can re-use the licence any recomendations on how to find the serial number from the existing install?

Thanks for advice, Greboth.
 
windows pre-installed on any pc is not transferable to a new one. technically it's tied to the motherboard so you can change whatever components you like and put it a new case but you can't use it on a new motherboard.

the only way you can transfer licenses is when you buy the full retail edition of the OS. you will not get this with any mainstream PC such as a dell.

in short you need a new copy of windows.
 
You could always go thru phone activation with MS, advising you need to replace the mobo but it's giving you hassle trying to confirm genuine. Might work ;)

As for retrieving the current license, have a look at magic jellybean :) that is of course if the PC still actually functions
 
what you should do is purchase a new windows 7/8

what you should not do is install XP and use the serialnumber from the side of the case...

you have to be careful because should you accidently get a WXP oem disk and install it using hte serial number from the case it will work fine and you will never know that you did something wrong...

(on an oem install of xp the serial number extracted by MJB is usless)
 
~Divine~Wind~ said:
You could always go thru phone activation with MS, advising you need to replace the mobo but it's giving you hassle trying to confirm genuine. Might work ;)

As for retrieving the current license, have a look at magic jellybean :) that is of course if the PC still actually functions
Click to expand...

MJB lets you retreive offline windows serial numbers - ie you can attach the disk from the broken PC to a working PC and there is a menu option that lets you point MJB at the other Windows folder
 
edscdk said:
what you should do is purchase a new windows 7/8

what you should not do is install XP and use the serialnumber from the side of the case...

you have to be careful because should you accidently get a WXP oem disk and install it using hte serial number from the case it will work fine and you will never know that you did something wrong...

(on an oem install of xp the serial number extracted by MJB is usless)
Click to expand...

Oh I see, well thank you anyway. It would have been so easy for such a pc noob to just use that code anyway and do something wrong....

On a slightly un-related note, I was reading the other day though I don't know how true it is that Microsoft didn't have checks in place on XP as they have on later ones so it is possible to re-use the codes again and again.
 
Greboth said:
Oh I see, well thank you anyway. It would have been so easy for such a pc noob to just use that code anyway and do something wrong....

On a slightly un-related note, I was reading the other day though I don't know how true it is that Microsoft didn't have checks in place on XP as they have on later ones so it is possible to re-use the codes again and again.
Click to expand...

an oem serial on xp has never been used,

if you have to reinstall from a non manafacture restore disk - ie one that asks for a serla number you are

100% ok the first time
100% ok the second time (ie you install becomes corrupt again that week)
75% ok if the same happens again
on the 4th time (i htink) it will fail automatic activation and you will ahve to call MS and do an activation over the phone, an automated service or less likely agent will ask "on how many PC's is your microsoft product installed" to which you will obviously aswer "one" because thats the maximum number you are aloud to install it on (and you dont want to fiddle MS)
the ring and activate you can do loads of times (i keep reinstalling my pc)
 
~Divine~Wind~ said:
You could always go thru phone activation with MS, advising you need to replace the mobo but it's giving you hassle trying to confirm genuine. Might work ;)
Click to expand...

that knowing wink, eh? i'm kind of surprised you're making this kind of suggestion on a forum financed by a shop that sells microsoft products.

of course pretty much anything is possible but it's really no different to downloading a dodgy key and activation crack. there is no way you can justify your suggestion as any different. not when you are fully aware of what you are doing.
 
I have noticed that Microsoft codes are sometimes rejected during online registration, but accepted if you go through the automated telephone key-pad registration system.
 
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only true if it hasn't bee used to many times, as they note how many times it's been activated, and when it was first done etc.

it will get to a point when even a phone call wont do it, and your told it's been used too many times on different hardware etc and rejected, then you will be put through to a human who will give you your options on what to do next
 
marc2003 said:
that knowing wink, eh? i'm kind of surprised you're making this kind of suggestion on a forum financed by a shop that sells microsoft products.

of course pretty much anything is possible but it's really no different to downloading a dodgy key and activation crack. there is no way you can justify your suggestion as any different. not when you are fully aware of what you are doing.
Click to expand...
I agree. I don't understand why people keep suggesting this on public forums. mods should crack down on this.
 
zakblood said:
only true if it hasn't bee used to many times, as they note how many times it's been activated, and when it was first done etc.

it will get to a point when even a phone call wont do it, and your told it's been used too many times on different hardware etc and rejected, then you will be put through to a human who will give you your options on what to do next
Click to expand...
with oem maybe yes but not with retail
 
gareth170 said:
with oem maybe yes but not with retail
Click to expand...

i worked in a shop selling and repairing pc's, doing support visits etc, spent most of my time doing AV work or data recovery, one thing i can remember is how many time MS said no to a activation with retail keys on xp and win7 when used too many times, after a phone call

It takes about 6 months for your product key to get purged out of Microsoft's data base. If you do it before then, it would trigger a flag, you'd have to make a phone call, then lie to them and tell them you uninstalled it off the first computer. They'd take your word for it.

This loophole has been removed, if used too many times they will no longer do it and put you through to a human for support and options etc

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/activating-windows-frequently-asked-questions

same answers for xp vista win7, no idea about win8 as yet
 
zakblood said:
i worked in a shop selling and repairing pc's, doing support visits etc, spent most of my time doing AV work or data recovery, one thing i can remember is how many time MS said no to a activation with retail keys on xp and win7 when used too many times, after a phone call

It takes about 6 months for your product key to get purged out of Microsoft's data base. If you do it before then, it would trigger a flag, you'd have to make a phone call, then lie to them and tell them you uninstalled it off the first computer. They'd take your word for it.

This loophole has been removed, if used too many times they will no longer do it and put you through to a human for support and options etc

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/activating-windows-frequently-asked-questions

same answers for xp vista win7, no idea about win8 as yet
Click to expand...
that link doesn't say anything about activation limits. also the whole point of retail is the unlimited hardware changes/transferable. plus I've activated win7 retail / vista so many times via phone without any issues.
 
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