Re: PcTech Digest, Vol 5, Issue 23

[Scott Klement <pctech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I have heard in some of the MS boards that the big name supplied CDs are
> locked to their motherboard BIOS strings. In other words you can install
> a Dell XP CD to just about any Dell motherboard but not to a Gateway or
> generic.

Yes, that's been my experience.  Our policy with new computers is to 
always start with a fresh installation (it gets rid of all the garbage 
they install on the new PC, plus verifies that the OS and driver CDs 
that come with the machine aren't defective.)  So I've installed WinXP 
many times using Dell's WinXP CDs, and what you say is definitely the 
case... the CDs work great in any Dell PC (I've used the XP SP2 CD for a 
newer computer when reinstalling an older PC that didn't come with service 
pack 2, so I know they work with other Dell machines.)


> I think that even if you call MS activation line they will refuse to 
> activate it. They have licensed the manufacturer to include a CD/key for 
> their machines, not just any machine.

Dell doesn't provide a CD key.  You can install the Dell WinXP CD on your 
Dell PC without any key and without activation.

If you try it on a different computer (I tried this once when I couldn't 
find the original CD for a different PC) it asks you for a CD key, so if 
you don't have that key, you can't install it.

I didn't try calling MS activation, though, so I don't know what they'd 
do.  I just looked harder to find the correct CD :)


> Actually I think that part of the code is in the license key somehow. I 
> do know that the keys must match the type. OEM keys to OEM CDs, Volume 
> License keys to Volume License CDs and Retail keys to Retail CDs...

Since you don't get a license key per se (you get a certificate of 
authenticity sticker, but no key to type in) I don't think it's coded into 
the key.  I'm sure it's coded onto the CD itself somewhere.

> I also found out that all the big name supplied keys will not activate
> automatically any more. You always have to call the MS activation line
> and tell someone in India why.

At least with Dell, I don't have to type a key, and I don't have to 
activate it (not even over the Internet) which is really nice because I 
can reinstall the PC to solve problems without having to mess with getting 
permission from MS activation.