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windows license ?

todpod

todpod

Golden Member
I helping a local after school program setup a bunch of computers. These were donated by the Dept of Defense (I think). The Hard drives were wiped, so they have no os installed, but they do have the COA sticker on them, Can i legally just install windows back on them? I am currently search MS website for answers as well If you can help it would be appriciated.
 
If they are all for the same OS and it's like Windows2000pro or earlier, you could get a hold of a copy of Win2K since the COA's stayed with the machines, thay are technically yours. But thats not to say those product keys aren't being used somewhere else, too. Really no way to tell with Win2K or earlier cuz there's no activation. But if it is XP you will need to ask M$ about it. Here is their main licensing page. They have some pretty good volume and community licensing programs.

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/default.mspx
 
I think WinXp (Might be W2K) I haven't got a real good look at them. They are P3 machines. They all came from the same batch of computers so I assuming everthing is the same acrros the board.
 
Well, hopefully. You really need to look at each label and make sure. Like I said, the COA labels are technically yours so if it is W2KPro you could just get a copy of W2KPro with SP4 and load 'em up, no activation hassle. If it's XP, no way around it, ur probably gonna need to talk to M$. But if they are all XP M$ may still let you use those product keys if you buy at least one copy. Not sure how they would work it.
 
Just load them up with whatever OS correspondes to what COA is attached. Use the key from the COA & all will be well. The install media is near worthless, it's the COA's that are worth the big money.
 
There's no reason not to re-install Windows 2000. According to Microsoft's OEM licensing, those licenses BELONG to those computers and can't be moved to any other computer. Those computers have the right to have OEM Windows 2000 installed on them for eternity.
 
Windows OS cds are not unique or customized individually - they manufactured by the millions, it is the COA and COA alone that that is unique and the only physical evidence of authencity, that is why MSFT takes a lot of trouble to make them look like mini currency notes. So if MSFT's licensing says OEM software is tied to the hardware here it is affixed to the side of the case - go right ahead and install whatever OS it says on the coa. The drives have, in any case, been wiped clean not to remove any OS but specifically non os data/programs that were there earlier.

All mass OEMs install their OSs using unique bulk keys that differ from the one on the COA on cases. Try keyfinder on any dell/hp/emachines.
 
Well we got 1 p4 with winxp, and 7 p3s with win98se. These probably won't run xp very well, nor do I want to pay to upgrade these to xp or win2k (which would be a better choice), so I am currently downloading Ubuntu and am going to see how that goes.
 
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