«

Jeff Strickland wrote:

>
> "Baron" <> wrote in message
> news:fquedo$j6f$...
>> Jeff Strickland wrote:
>>
>>> You MUST have Service Pack 2, or many applications will not load
>>> properly, if they load at all.
>>>
>>> I use both XP Home and XP Pro -- different machines, of course --
>>> and I find both of them to be rock solid. I had my share of problems
>>> before I finally got my OS validated and then installed SP2.
>>> Validation is the functional equivelent to buying the OS, if your
>>> copy of XP is one of the many copies of the early release, it can
>>> not be validated,
>>
>> I have never had that experience. Every legitimate copy I have dealt
>> with has passed validation.
>>
>
> I have an illegitimate copy of XP Pro, and assume I am not the only
> one that has it.
>
> I agree, the legitimate copies will validate easily. I think the term
> is ACTIVATE, but I don't think the distinction matters very much.

Agreed.

> If one is burdened with an illegitimate copy, the
> activation/validatiion process to obtain Service Pack 2 will lead you
> to the MSoft Website where there will be an offer to download the OS
> immediately and a CD will follow in the mail a few days later.

Thanks Jeff.
Touch wood! I must have been lucky, very lucky !
I didn't know about the last bit though. Thanks for telling me about
it.
--
Best Regards:
Baron.

les wrote:

> Okay, so I bought a copy of XP Pro from a good friend who had it on
> his laptop last year, and since the laptop has been trashed.

That would not be a legitimate copy since the license conditions
specifically state that the license is not transferable, and in that
case it dies with the machine.

> However, the disk is a valid one( from Gateway originally, as
> was his laptop) and now the key keeps coming up as invalid when
> I try to use the one from MS on the tower itself.

That is because the license on the machine and the disk you are trying
to use do not match. Get the correct disk for the license attached to
the machine and you will be fine.

> (And the surpluser is very legit and runs a large warehouse operation
> in chicago)
> So, what gives?
> This makes no sense !!
>
> Obviously there is some discord. And yes, I tried retyping the key 3
> times....
>
> Les

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

Jeff Strickland wrote:

>
> "relic" <> wrote in message
> news:47d2c61d$0$16645$...
>> les wrote:
>>> Okay, so I bought a copy of XP Pro from a good friend who had it on
>>> his laptop last year, and since the laptop has been trashed.
>>> However, the disk is a valid one( from Gateway originally, as
>>> was his laptop) and now the key keeps coming up as invalid when
>>> I try to use the one from MS on the tower itself.
>>> (And the surpluser is very legit and runs a large warehouse
>>> operation in chicago)
>>> So, what gives?
>>> This makes no sense !!
>>>
>>> Obviously there is some discord. And yes, I tried retyping the key 3
>>> times....
>>
>> It's probably BIOS locked to a Gateway. If so, it won't work on a
>> different brand.

Relic is right! Gateway use BIOS locked keys. There is no way he can
use it on another machine. Not without hacking it anyway.

> He's gotta use the right key.

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

"Baron" <> wrote in message
news:fquuma$8u5$...
> Jeff Strickland wrote:
>
>>
>> "Baron" <> wrote in message
>> news:fquedo$j6f$...
>>> Jeff Strickland wrote:
>>>
>>>> You MUST have Service Pack 2, or many applications will not load
>>>> properly, if they load at all.
>>>>
>>>> I use both XP Home and XP Pro -- different machines, of course --
>>>> and I find both of them to be rock solid. I had my share of problems
>>>> before I finally got my OS validated and then installed SP2.
>>>> Validation is the functional equivelent to buying the OS, if your
>>>> copy of XP is one of the many copies of the early release, it can
>>>> not be validated,
>>>
>>> I have never had that experience. Every legitimate copy I have dealt
>>> with has passed validation.
>>>
>>
>> I have an illegitimate copy of XP Pro, and assume I am not the only
>> one that has it.
>>
>> I agree, the legitimate copies will validate easily. I think the term
>> is ACTIVATE, but I don't think the distinction matters very much.
>
> Agreed.
>
>> If one is burdened with an illegitimate copy, the
>> activation/validatiion process to obtain Service Pack 2 will lead you
>> to the MSoft Website where there will be an offer to download the OS
>> immediately and a CD will follow in the mail a few days later.
>
> Thanks Jeff.
> Touch wood! I must have been lucky, very lucky !
> I didn't know about the last bit though. Thanks for telling me about
> it.


NOTE TO PAROLE BOARD,
That was not me talking about touching wood.

"Baron" <> wrote in message
news:fquv1b$cac$...
> les wrote:
>
>> Okay, so I bought a copy of XP Pro from a good friend who had it on
>> his laptop last year, and since the laptop has been trashed.
>
> That would not be a legitimate copy since the license conditions
> specifically state that the license is not transferable, and in that
> case it dies with the machine.
>
>> However, the disk is a valid one( from Gateway originally, as
>> was his laptop) and now the key keeps coming up as invalid when
>> I try to use the one from MS on the tower itself.
>
> That is because the license on the machine and the disk you are trying
> to use do not match. Get the correct disk for the license attached to
> the machine and you will be fine.
>

Now I'm confused.

I just installed XP Home to an old Win ME machine. The XP was designated as
for release with a new machine only, but the machine was not the same as the
one I installed to.

The only thing I am aware of on the Product Key is that the key is embedded
into the setup when the CD is compiled, and the key the user is asked for
has to be the same as in the code.

I'm pretty sure the OP simply has the wrong key code for the CD he is using.
Yes, Dell, for example, has unique drivers that they load, but I am
confident that the OS itself is the same, and can be used on any machine. If
you get a Dell driver that you don't need, then it will only take space but
provide no service. That's no big deal.





>> (And the surpluser is very legit and runs a large warehouse operation
>> in chicago)
>> So, what gives?
>> This makes no sense !!
>>
>> Obviously there is some discord. And yes, I tried retyping the key 3
>> times....
>>
>> Les
>
> --
> Best Regards:
> Baron.

Jeff Strickland wrote:

>
> "Baron" <> wrote in message
> news:fquuma$8u5$...
>> Jeff Strickland wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "Baron" <> wrote in message
>>> news:fquedo$j6f$...
>>>> Jeff Strickland wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> You MUST have Service Pack 2, or many applications will not load
>>>>> properly, if they load at all.
>>>>>
>>>>> I use both XP Home and XP Pro -- different machines, of course --
>>>>> and I find both of them to be rock solid. I had my share of
>>>>> problems before I finally got my OS validated and then installed
>>>>> SP2. Validation is the functional equivelent to buying the OS, if
>>>>> your copy of XP is one of the many copies of the early release, it
>>>>> can not be validated,
>>>>
>>>> I have never had that experience. Every legitimate copy I have
>>>> dealt with has passed validation.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I have an illegitimate copy of XP Pro, and assume I am not the only
>>> one that has it.
>>>
>>> I agree, the legitimate copies will validate easily. I think the
>>> term is ACTIVATE, but I don't think the distinction matters very
>>> much.
>>
>> Agreed.
>>
>>> If one is burdened with an illegitimate copy, the
>>> activation/validatiion process to obtain Service Pack 2 will lead
>>> you to the MSoft Website where there will be an offer to download
>>> the OS immediately and a CD will follow in the mail a few days
>>> later.
>>
>> Thanks Jeff.
>> Touch wood! I must have been lucky, very lucky !
>> I didn't know about the last bit though. Thanks for telling me about
>> it.
>
>
> NOTE TO PAROLE BOARD,
> That was not me talking about touching wood.
Wasn't me guv....
--
Best Regards:
Baron.

Jeff Strickland wrote:

>
> "Baron" <> wrote in message
> news:fquv1b$cac$...
>> les wrote:
>>
>>> Okay, so I bought a copy of XP Pro from a good friend who had it on
>>> his laptop last year, and since the laptop has been trashed.
>>
>> That would not be a legitimate copy since the license conditions
>> specifically state that the license is not transferable, and in that
>> case it dies with the machine.
>>
>>> However, the disk is a valid one( from Gateway originally, as
>>> was his laptop) and now the key keeps coming up as invalid when
>>> I try to use the one from MS on the tower itself.
>>
>> That is because the license on the machine and the disk you are
>> trying
>> to use do not match. Get the correct disk for the license attached
>> to the machine and you will be fine.
>>
>
> Now I'm confused.
>
> I just installed XP Home to an old Win ME machine. The XP was
> designated as for release with a new machine only, but the machine was
> not the same as the one I installed to.
>
> The only thing I am aware of on the Product Key is that the key is
> embedded into the setup when the CD is compiled, and the key the user
> is asked for has to be the same as in the code.
>
> I'm pretty sure the OP simply has the wrong key code for the CD he is
> using. Yes, Dell, for example, has unique drivers that they load, but
> I am confident that the OS itself is the same, and can be used on any
> machine. If you get a Dell driver that you don't need, then it will
> only take space but provide no service. That's no big deal.

There are several different levels of CD. The key on the machine will
only work with the correct CD level. There are no key numbers embedded
into the CD's.

Each Win variant has OEM and Retail versions (ignoring bulk and
manufacturer specific versions) the license certificate tells you which
CD version is required, or rather implies. If for instance it
says "Dell" then it requires that the specific CD is used to return the
machine to the originally manufactured state. That CD is usually BIOS
locked to that specific machine and will not function with anything
else.

You can sometimes use a retail or Oem CD version to put a clean copy on
a machine using the COA number.

Unfortunately I don't know the precise details, never having had to deal
with dodgy copies.
--
Best Regards:
Baron.

"Baron" <> wrote in message
news:fqv264$s4m$...
> Jeff Strickland wrote:
>
>>
>> "Baron" <> wrote in message
>> news:fquv1b$cac$...
>>> les wrote:
>>>
>>>> Okay, so I bought a copy of XP Pro from a good friend who had it on
>>>> his laptop last year, and since the laptop has been trashed.
>>>
>>> That would not be a legitimate copy since the license conditions
>>> specifically state that the license is not transferable, and in that
>>> case it dies with the machine.
>>>
>>>> However, the disk is a valid one( from Gateway originally, as
>>>> was his laptop) and now the key keeps coming up as invalid when
>>>> I try to use the one from MS on the tower itself.
>>>
>>> That is because the license on the machine and the disk you are
>>> trying
>>> to use do not match. Get the correct disk for the license attached
>>> to the machine and you will be fine.
>>>
>>
>> Now I'm confused.
>>
>> I just installed XP Home to an old Win ME machine. The XP was
>> designated as for release with a new machine only, but the machine was
>> not the same as the one I installed to.
>>
>> The only thing I am aware of on the Product Key is that the key is
>> embedded into the setup when the CD is compiled, and the key the user
>> is asked for has to be the same as in the code.
>>
>> I'm pretty sure the OP simply has the wrong key code for the CD he is
>> using. Yes, Dell, for example, has unique drivers that they load, but
>> I am confident that the OS itself is the same, and can be used on any
>> machine. If you get a Dell driver that you don't need, then it will
>> only take space but provide no service. That's no big deal.
>
> There are several different levels of CD. The key on the machine will
> only work with the correct CD level. There are no key numbers embedded
> into the CD's.
>
> Each Win variant has OEM and Retail versions (ignoring bulk and
> manufacturer specific versions) the license certificate tells you which
> CD version is required, or rather implies. If for instance it
> says "Dell" then it requires that the specific CD is used to return the
> machine to the originally manufactured state. That CD is usually BIOS
> locked to that specific machine and will not function with anything
> else.
>
> You can sometimes use a retail or Oem CD version to put a clean copy on
> a machine using the COA number.
>
> Unfortunately I don't know the precise details, never having had to deal
> with dodgy copies.
> --
> Best Regards:
> Baron.


I once worked for a software developer, and we (without a doubt) embedded
the key code in the software at burn-time. It was a piracy issue.

Not wanting to dwell on Dell specifications, I have successfully installed
Win XP versions (Home and Pro) on non-Dell machines. A Dell machine might
want a Dell-specified OS, but a Dell-specified OS has worked on any non-Dell
machine I have pushed it into. I'll be the first to admit that my data set
is very small, but the Strickland Luck Theorem says that if there is going
to be a problem, it will affect me first. Since I have not been affected, I
have to question what you say. (Strickland Luck is a less optimistic version
of Murphy's Law.)

"Jeff Strickland" <> wrote in message
news:bmEAj.2399$wM2.156@trnddc07...
>
> "Baron" <> wrote
> in message
> news:fqv264$s4m$...
>> Jeff Strickland wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "Baron" <>
>>> wrote in message
>>> news:fquv1b$cac$...
>>>> les wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Okay, so I bought a copy of XP Pro from a good
>>>>> friend who had it on
>>>>> his laptop last year, and since the laptop has
>>>>> been trashed.
>>>>
>>>> That would not be a legitimate copy since the
>>>> license conditions
>>>> specifically state that the license is not
>>>> transferable, and in that
>>>> case it dies with the machine.
>>>>
>>>>> However, the disk is a valid one( from Gateway
>>>>> originally, as
>>>>> was his laptop) and now the key keeps coming up
>>>>> as invalid when
>>>>> I try to use the one from MS on the tower
>>>>> itself.
>>>>
>>>> That is because the license on the machine and
>>>> the disk you are
>>>> trying
>>>> to use do not match. Get the correct disk for
>>>> the license attached
>>>> to the machine and you will be fine.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Now I'm confused.
>>>
>>> I just installed XP Home to an old Win ME machine.
>>> The XP was
>>> designated as for release with a new machine only,
>>> but the machine was
>>> not the same as the one I installed to.
>>>
>>> The only thing I am aware of on the Product Key is
>>> that the key is
>>> embedded into the setup when the CD is compiled,
>>> and the key the user
>>> is asked for has to be the same as in the code.
>>>
>>> I'm pretty sure the OP simply has the wrong key
>>> code for the CD he is
>>> using. Yes, Dell, for example, has unique drivers
>>> that they load, but
>>> I am confident that the OS itself is the same, and
>>> can be used on any
>>> machine. If you get a Dell driver that you don't
>>> need, then it will
>>> only take space but provide no service. That's no
>>> big deal.
>>
>> There are several different levels of CD. The key
>> on the machine will
>> only work with the correct CD level. There are no
>> key numbers embedded
>> into the CD's.
>>
>> Each Win variant has OEM and Retail versions
>> (ignoring bulk and
>> manufacturer specific versions) the license
>> certificate tells you which
>> CD version is required, or rather implies. If for
>> instance it
>> says "Dell" then it requires that the specific CD
>> is used to return the
>> machine to the originally manufactured state. That
>> CD is usually BIOS
>> locked to that specific machine and will not
>> function with anything
>> else.
>>
>> You can sometimes use a retail or Oem CD version to
>> put a clean copy on
>> a machine using the COA number.
>>
>> Unfortunately I don't know the precise details,
>> never having had to deal
>> with dodgy copies.
>> --
>> Best Regards:
>> Baron.
>
>
> I once worked for a software developer, and we
> (without a doubt) embedded the key code in the
> software at burn-time. It was a piracy issue.

Maybe, but that's not the case with XP.
I have a legit copy of XP Pro and have used the same
CD to install it on my wife's friend's PC using a
hacked key.
It won't validate at the MS update site but the
machine isn't connected to the net and is used only
for wordprocessing and photo storage and editing.
A keygen will pump out hundreds of keys that can be
used for the install, and SP2 can be downloaded easily
without going near MS.
I believe the validation can be circumvented
relatively easily as well but I haven't needed to try
as my copy is legal.

>
> Not wanting to dwell on Dell specifications, I have
> successfully installed Win XP versions (Home and
> Pro) on non-Dell machines. A Dell machine might want
> a Dell-specified OS, but a Dell-specified OS has
> worked on any non-Dell machine I have pushed it
> into. I'll be the first to admit that my data set is
> very small, but the Strickland Luck Theorem says
> that if there is going to be a problem, it will
> affect me first. Since I have not been affected, I
> have to question what you say. (Strickland Luck is a
> less optimistic version of Murphy's Law.)
>
>
>

Jeff Strickland wrote:

>
> "Baron" <> wrote in message
> news:fqv264$s4m$...
>> Jeff Strickland wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "Baron" <> wrote in message
>>> news:fquv1b$cac$...
>>>> les wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Okay, so I bought a copy of XP Pro from a good friend who had it
>>>>> on his laptop last year, and since the laptop has been trashed.
>>>>
>>>> That would not be a legitimate copy since the license conditions
>>>> specifically state that the license is not transferable, and in
>>>> that case it dies with the machine.
>>>>
>>>>> However, the disk is a valid one( from Gateway originally, as
>>>>> was his laptop) and now the key keeps coming up as invalid when
>>>>> I try to use the one from MS on the tower itself.
>>>>
>>>> That is because the license on the machine and the disk you are
>>>> trying
>>>> to use do not match. Get the correct disk for the license attached
>>>> to the machine and you will be fine.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Now I'm confused.
>>>
>>> I just installed XP Home to an old Win ME machine. The XP was
>>> designated as for release with a new machine only, but the machine
>>> was not the same as the one I installed to.
>>>
>>> The only thing I am aware of on the Product Key is that the key is
>>> embedded into the setup when the CD is compiled, and the key the
>>> user is asked for has to be the same as in the code.
>>>
>>> I'm pretty sure the OP simply has the wrong key code for the CD he
>>> is using. Yes, Dell, for example, has unique drivers that they load,
>>> but I am confident that the OS itself is the same, and can be used
>>> on any machine. If you get a Dell driver that you don't need, then
>>> it will only take space but provide no service. That's no big deal.
>>
>> There are several different levels of CD. The key on the machine
>> will
>> only work with the correct CD level. There are no key numbers
>> embedded into the CD's.
>>
>> Each Win variant has OEM and Retail versions (ignoring bulk and
>> manufacturer specific versions) the license certificate tells you
>> which
>> CD version is required, or rather implies. If for instance it
>> says "Dell" then it requires that the specific CD is used to return
>> the
>> machine to the originally manufactured state. That CD is usually
>> BIOS locked to that specific machine and will not function with
>> anything else.
>>
>> You can sometimes use a retail or Oem CD version to put a clean copy
>> on a machine using the COA number.
>>
>> Unfortunately I don't know the precise details, never having had to
>> deal with dodgy copies.
>> --
>> Best Regards:
>> Baron.
>
>
> I once worked for a software developer, and we (without a doubt)
> embedded the key code in the software at burn-time. It was a piracy
> issue.

Yes piracy is a big problem. Note I do not use any closed source
software. So piracy for me is not an issue. Who would steal something
that is available for free ?

> Not wanting to dwell on Dell specifications, I have successfully
> installed Win XP versions (Home and Pro) on non-Dell machines. A Dell
> machine might want a Dell-specified OS, but a Dell-specified OS has
> worked on any non-Dell machine I have pushed it into. I'll be the
> first to admit that my data set is very small, but the Strickland Luck
> Theorem says that if there is going to be a problem, it will affect me
> first. Since I have not been affected, I have to question what you
> say. (Strickland Luck is a less optimistic version of Murphy's Law.)

Maybe "Dell" was not a good example! But BIOS locked versions will not
work on any but the machine they were made for. Most often this is
seen as a pre-activated version, often in the form of a recovery disk.

--
Best Regards:
Baron.