*$*&# Microsof and their damned product activation...

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
I got 7 new Dell machines in, all exact specs, XP Pro, and Office Small Business. As SOP, I scrap the inital Dell install and ditch all the crap they have installed on there, and build one machine from scratch, install OS, all normal, apps, security patches, updates, ect, and make an image of it.

Using this image I can turn a 4 hour process into a 30 minute one, and I have a nice base image incase a machine blows up in the future. I used the same cdkey for the XP Pro and Office load in all the images. But, Microsoft, being the customer convenience first thinkers that they are, decides that us lazy and ingenuitive IT peeps out there can no longer make base installs and deploy them out to save time because activation is tied to the install keys.

Bleh.

In the past, all they cared about was you having a license for it. They didn't care how many times you used that key within a company, just so long as you could show proof that you paid for it. I tried calling up and seeing if they could give me new activation codes using my other cd-keys. No cigar. So now, I'm in on a saturday, uninstalling and reinstalling all this crap.

Joy.

 

IcemanJer

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2001
4,307
0
0
ouch... sorry dude.

but wait, did you buy Volume Licensing for XP Pro or different single user key for each of the 7 machines?
 

Jumpem

Lifer
Sep 21, 2000
10,757
3
81
That's harsh! The hospital that I did some cable upgrades at is going to have to do that with hundreds of machines.
 

HomerSapien

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2000
1,756
0
0
That sucks s big one, but it really isnt M$ fault. You can thank all the warez kiddies out there for these new ridiculous copy protection.
 

IcemanJer

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2001
4,307
0
0
Originally posted by: Jumpem
That's harsh! The hospital that I did some cable upgrades at is going to have to do that with hundreds of machines.
that reminds me of my school who needs to deply XP Pro to all the incoming freshmen who've bought a computer through the school.... how are they going to be able to assign each machine a unique CDKey and the activate...
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
I don't really have enough desktops to do volume licensing, and I don't think you can do volume accounts through Dell Small Business anyway.
 

IcemanJer

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2001
4,307
0
0
Originally posted by: vi_edit
I don't really have enough desktops to do volume licensing, and I don't think you can do volume accounts through Dell Small Business anyway.
oh.. yeah.. in that case then you really do have to reinstall everything... damn dude, that sucks.

how many licenses do you need to qualify for VL?
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
17,515
0
0
Doesn't sysprep allow you to enter a CD key when you boot the first time from a newly imaged machine? I've never used sysprep with Windows XP, so I'm not sure. It might be something to look into though.
 

IcemanJer

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2001
4,307
0
0
Originally posted by: Rainsford
Doesn't sysprep allow you to enter a CD key when you boot the first time from a newly imaged machine? I've never used sysprep with Windows XP, so I'm not sure. It might be something to look into though.
yeah, but don't you need to have an OEM license to use the sysprep tool, or is that just freeware?
 

Ameesh

Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
23,686
1
0
you should just create answer files and not do images, you answer files can do everything you want and you wot have this problem
 

Can't you just use sysprep on the images? That's what it's there for. It's on the install CD under tools, in one of the .CAB files.

edit:

I should stop reading the first and then last post and assuming I know best :)
 

NogginBoink

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2002
5,322
0
0
As others have said, either use sysprep and manually enter individual license keys, or buy volume license media from MS that doesn't require product activation.
 

dukdukgoos

Golden Member
Dec 1, 1999
1,319
0
76
Originally posted by: HomerSapien
That sucks s big one, but it really isnt M$ fault. You can thank all the warez kiddies out there for these new ridiculous copy protection.

Uh...no. Actually it IS M$'s fault. They chose to implement it...hurting their customers to protect an infinitesimal part of their corporate bottom line (number of licenses lost to warez users who didn't take the 5 minutes it takes to get around the protection and bought a legit copy).

Basically they're forcing everyone with even a small network to buy the corporate version or face an IT nightmare.
 

NogginBoink

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2002
5,322
0
0
Oh, that's B.S.

You can get volume licensing for as few as 5 machines unde the Open License program.

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/

And Activation protects Microsoft from all the small business users who are doing exactly what you're doing but don't have licenses. The number of mom and pop shops doing this is huge.
 

Stark

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2000
7,735
0
0
but wait, did you buy Volume Licensing for XP Pro or different single user key for each of the 7 machines?
and
This is what the legitimate Corporate CD Keys are for...Running a busines, buy a Corp license, simple as that (least thats what MS wants you to do)
and
As others have said, either use sysprep and manually enter individual license keys, or buy volume license media from MS that doesn't require product activation.
The problem is, because of MS, Dell does not sell computers without an OS. So you're paying for a license on every box you buy regardless. To buy a Corporate license you are paying MS TWICE just to avoid activation.
I haven't messed with sysprep at all, because we simply are never, ever going to install XP on the majority of our work machines. We'll stick with 2000 which doesn't screw us for making an image. And I'm betting sysprep won't help with the nightmare of Office XP... having to figure out what key goes with what box in a vain attempt to avoid needing to call MS every time you need to re-install.

It's easier just to get the box from dell without Office and buy open licenses which allow you to install Office 2k (which works better than XP). Of course it costs more to do it that way... must be nice to be a monopoly. :eek:
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,393
8,552
126
Originally posted by: dukdukgoos


Basically they're forcing everyone with even a small network to buy the corporate version or face an IT nightmare.

i think that part impacts their bottom line far more than the haxors.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
Yeh, it's WAY WAY WAY cheaper to have everything bundled in from the start from Dell.

I'm getting optiplex GX400's w/ XP Pro, and Small Business for $900 shipped. An XP Pro and Small Business License from a VAR like CDW and the like would run me close to $400-$500 JUST IN SOFTWARE. Doesn't leave much headway to purchase hardware.

I think in the future I'm going to do what you did Stark, and just dump Office 2k on there. I like it better as well.
 

bozo1

Diamond Member
May 21, 2001
6,364
0
0
Basically they're forcing everyone with even a small network to buy the corporate version or face an IT nightmare.
What nightmare? They provide the tools to do an image/rollout for you and a plethora of documentation on implementation on their website.
 

bozo1

Diamond Member
May 21, 2001
6,364
0
0
To buy a Corporate license you are paying MS TWICE just to avoid activation.
Not true, if you are a MS Select customer, you can purchase the machines without the software license from Dell. (At least you can if you use them as your MS Select reseller.) The machines we buy from Dell ship with their regular load, we are credited the licensing cost on our invoice. We then order our W2K/XP/Office/whatever licenses separately.
 

tm37

Lifer
Jan 24, 2001
12,436
1
0
Originally posted by: dukdukgoos
Originally posted by: HomerSapien
That sucks s big one, but it really isnt M$ fault. You can thank all the warez kiddies out there for these new ridiculous copy protection.

Uh...no. Actually it IS M$'s fault. They chose to implement it...hurting their customers to protect an infinitesimal part of their corporate bottom line (number of licenses lost to warez users who didn't take the 5 minutes it takes to get around the protection and bought a legit copy).

Basically they're forcing everyone with even a small network to buy the corporate version or face an IT nightmare.


Ok just use linux and quit bitching.

MS wants to stop piracy and do you know who the number one pirate is?


SMALL BUSSINESS!!!:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q

That's right networks under 25 systems.

These are the people they really want to catch.

In san diego OVER HALF of small bussinesses did not have legit licenses for office or 98 (when I was there)

It was common practice to put the same product on all the systems using the same CD KEY.


I have no problem with MS activation I dealt with the little bit of headache and stayed legal.


 

Stark

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2000
7,735
0
0
Not true, if you are a MS Select customer, you can purchase the machines without the software license from Dell. (At least you can if you use them as your MS Select reseller.) The machines we buy from Dell ship with their regular load, we are credited the licensing cost on our invoice. We then order our W2K/XP/Office/whatever licenses separately.
apparently, you still may owe M$ money. MS select licenses ARE NOT full licenses.
This M$ website article states taht the only three ways to legally acquire a full MS OS license is:
1. Buy new PCs with an OEM license
2. Acquire a full-packaged (FPP) product through a retalier (Full-retail in a box)
3. Acquire OEM licenses with non-peripheral hardware from a MS System Builder.
Myth: Some customers believe they can acquire full operating system licenses through their Microsoft® Volume License Program.

Fact
Full operating system licenses are not available through any Microsoft Volume License program. *

Fact
OEM licenses for Microsoft operating system software are not transferable from one machine to another, even if the PC on which it was originally installed is no longer in use. The OEM license is tied to the original PC on which it was installed.

Fact
Every PC preinstalled with Microsoft operating system software must be accompanied by a genuine Microsoft OEM license. For more information, visit http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/howtotell/.
According to this, buying select licenses on your new Dell PCs does not cover your systems. Without an OEM license, you are still in violation of Microsofts insane licensing policies. I'm sure companies who forked out big bucks last month when M$ changed its licensing structure will be happy to hear about this. :eek:

more info

Update: my rep from CDW just called and I asked him if it was possible to get select licenses instead of OEMs to cover the OS on new computers. His answer: NO. He said it's often best to only use volume licensing for Office and Servers (and CALs) and leave the OS license with the OEM.