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Windows OS question...

D

ddeder

Golden Member
I posted this in the OS forum but have not yet received a response so I thought I would try here...

When you buy a copy of the Windows operating system (regardless of the version), you get a license number with it. In order to load the operating system onto a computer, you need to enter the license number during the installation process.

What happens if you miskey the license number?

Is there something on the CD which ties that particular CD to the license number it came with or will any valid license number work?

If a person has a legal copy of Windows on their PC and needs to format the HD and reload the operating system; but they have lost their Windows CD, can they load the operating system from another Windows CD and simply enter their license number? What do PC repair shops do when they need to reload the OS or just some system files?

Thanks for any replies.
 
Up until XP, if you miskeyed it it will just tell you to enter it again. And any valid number will work with any cd. XP will be a little different though.
 


<< What will be different about XP? >>


Hopefully really crappy sales until MS re thinks that stupid hardware license key nonsense.
 
XP isn't going to be as bad as everyone thinks.... if you don't like the hardware key scheme, install one of the cracks. If they change it to 4 devices like I've heard it's not going to be too much of a pain..... RC1 is pretty cool...
 
Lets get this right. You bought a microsoft OS and are installing it on your computer and you are asking what happens if you make a mistake typing in the CD key? You have the CD key right there in front of you. You will get an error message that allows you to go back and correct it.

Is this what you are doing,or are you trying to install a copy of the OS and you do not have the CD key? That is software piracy. It doesn't matter if it was purchased or not.If it is legal you don't have a problem. You can call microsoft tech support and get help if you are legitimate owner of the OS. If not, you are guilty of software piracy. I would not help you steal intellectual property, and no legitimate tech should either.
 


<< Lets get this right. You bought a microsoft OS and are installing it on your computer and you are asking what happens if you make a mistake typing in the CD key? You have the CD key right there in front of you. You will get an error message that allows you to go back and correct it.

Is this what you are doing,or are you trying to install a copy of the OS and you do not have the CD key? That is software piracy. It doesn't matter if it was purchased or not.If it is legal you don't have a problem. You can call microsoft tech support and get help if you are legitimate owner of the OS. If not, you are guilty of software piracy. I would not help you steal intellectual property, and no legitimate tech should either. >>



that's not what he is asking you dork

Yes you can use another copy (a friends copy so to speak) of Windows, as LONG AS YOU USE YOUR CD KEY. if you use HIS it's Piracy. becuase you have no legal right to it.

XP is different becuase MS is going to force you to call them every time you need to re-install WinXP. the First key doesn't work. However there is a flaw in this. I beleive that if the used key is being sent to MS via email or windows update or something. otherwise they'd enver have it. so just don't register. and you should be able to use the same key. (In thoery)
 
I am not trying to pirate software! I am trying to help someone with their computer. They have a legal copy of Windows 98 SE on their computer but they do not have the Windows CD (the computer did not come with one). They do have a license number however. I want to know if I can use MY Windows CD to reload the OS on their computer and use their license number during the install. Is that legal? Sorry, I should have just come to the point in my first post. Please respond with your answer.
 
obiwaynekenobi

Who you callin dork?:|

You read his post,dipsh!t.

>>If a person has a legal copy of Windows on their PC and needs to format the HD and reload the operating system; but they have lost their Windows CD, can they load the operating system from another Windows CD and simply enter their license number? <<

If he formats he needs a legitimate OS CD key. The sounds of his post looks like he has a copy of the OS without the CD key and wants to install it on a seperate computer.

And what you offer in knowledge about XP should be kept to yourself. You know nothing about that either.
 
Don't worry about it. I don't know if it technically is legal to use someone else's cd but he does have his own cd key and if his didn't come with a cd, he'd probably have to call up MS and go through a hassle of getting a cd sent to him if they do that since he has a legit key.

edit: And to me Tripleshot, it sounds like the person lost their windows cd but still has their own legit key.
 
They do have a license number however. I want to know if I can use MY Windows CD to reload the OS on their computer and use their license number during the install. Is that legal?

They got screwed.They should have recieved a cd,even an OEM copy. If you re format with your CD,then it will only accept your CD key. Not theirs. They should go after who sold them the system without a CD. It sounds like they are the pirates.

It's a judgement call. Your software liscense does not allow for you to install the OS on other computers. You can make it work,but it will not be legit.

Your call.
 


<< XP is different becuase MS is going to force you to call them every time you need to re-install WinXP. the First key doesn't work. However there is a flaw in this. I beleive that if the used key is being sent to MS via email or windows update or something. otherwise they'd enver have it. so just don't register. and you should be able to use the same key. (In thoery) >>



That's not entirely true. After installation you have a set amount of time to activate the OS, kind of like a demo... Currently if you change more than 3 pieces of hardware or reinstall you have to reactivate it. If you don't activate it, it times out and won't run. If you legitimately purchase this OS when it comes out, and you don't like the product activation, just crack it. Honest users shouldn't have to go through more trouble than the warez boys, and MS knows alot of people are going to go out of thier way to avoid getting thier 'details' in Bill's little black book.
 
So what you are telling me is... If I brought this PC to a PC repair shop and they needed to repair some system files that somehow got corrupted or lost, they had better ask for the Windows CD that came with the computer. If they do not, and simply repair/reload the bad/missing files, then they are breaking the law.

Most computers that you buy at a retail store today do not come with a Windows CD, they come with a RESTORE disk which is a pain to work with. If there is absolutely no difference between the CD's and a person has a valid license, how the hell would anyone know what CD was used to load the system?

What if two people mixed their CD's up? There is no way to tell which CD is which. To be safe, I suppose they better buy new copies to make sure they don't accidentally use the wrong CD with the wrong key...
 


<< If you re format with your CD,then it will only accept your CD key. Not theirs. >>



Since when is the CD key hard coded with your own CD? I've got a LEGAL copy of Win98SE and have used it to reinstall systems using someone else's key who can't find their CD or it's just convinient that I already have mine.
 


<<
Most computers that you buy at a retail store today do not come with a Windows CD, they come with a RESTORE disk which is a pain to work with. >>



LOL, what's a pain about it? You put the disk in, reboot, and BAM: just like the day you bought it. Generally if your installation gets screwed, you are better off to format and reinstall, which is exactly what the restore does.

As per your original question, I believe 95 and NT 4 will work with any valid cd-key. 98, ME, and 2k need the CD specific serial (im pretty sure, correct me if im wrong). XP is still in RC stages, but I'm pretty sure you will need a cd specific serial and you'll then need to register that serial with your hardware to activate the OS.
 
>>So what you are telling me is... If I brought this PC to a PC repair shop and they needed to repair some system files that somehow got corrupted or lost, they had better ask for the Windows CD that came with the computer. If they do not, and simply repair/reload the bad/missing files, then they are breaking the law.<<

That is not a re format. You can stick in any CD to copy files. To re install the OS on a clean hard drive,you need a valid CD key. You said you needed to install on a formated hard drive. That is not a repair.That is a re install. You need a legit CD key. Is that simple enough for you yet?

>>Most computers that you buy at a retail store today do not come with a Windows CD, they come with a RESTORE disk which is a pain to work with. If there is absolutely no difference between the CD's and a person has a valid license, how the hell would anyone know what CD was used to load the system?<<

Only WinME came with a restore disk on PC's built by teir 1 suppliers like Dell,compaq,Gateway,etc. I know for a fact they sent OEM cds for win98 SE and previous releases. Don't BS me.

What if two people mixed their CD's up? There is no way to tell which CD is which. To be safe, I suppose they better buy new copies to make sure they don't accidentally use the wrong CD with the wrong key...

To be safe,store your important CD's in a safe place,like the inside of the PC case. And write down the CD key.

OK smart ass. Now I call you on it. You want to get cute with statements like that,you just exposed your ignorance.

You don't know what you are doing.Thats why you asked. Now you want to make wise cracks. figures. What are you, 15?


edit...................


BINGO Someone does know the truth 😀

I believe 95 and NT 4 will work with any valid cd-key. 98, ME, and 2k need the CD specific serial (im pretty sure, correct me if im wrong). XP is still in RC stages, but I'm pretty sure you will need a cd specific serial and you'll then need to register that serial with your hardware to activate the OS.
 
LOL, what's a pain about it? You put the disk in, reboot, and BAM: just like the day you bought it. Generally if your installation gets screwed, you are better off to format and reinstall, which is exactly what the restore does.

The big pita about the whole thing is just that...when you get the system home from the store, it has a bunch of crap loaded in the system tray and stuff. So many power users want to reinstall the OS to get it all cleaned up, but the restore CD won't give you a clean install; instead, it will load all that extra stuff in addition to the OS, which is exactly what some people want to avoid.

As per your original question, I believe 95 and NT 4 will work with any valid cd-key. 98, ME, and 2k need the CD specific serial (im pretty sure, correct me if im wrong).

I own both Windows 98 and Windows 2000 Pro (both legal, btw). And no, the CD key is not tied to a particular CD. It is, however, at least in Windows 98, tied to a particular kind of CD. What I mean by this is that if he has the CD key from an OEM CD, and you have the retail CD, his CD key won't work. Also, if you have a retail CD, and he has the CD key from an upgrade CD, it won't work.

XP is still in RC stages, but I'm pretty sure you will need a cd specific serial and you'll then need to register that serial with your hardware to activate the OS.

I'm pretty sure the CD keys will work the same way they do with Windows 98 and 2000. The number that is tied to the hardware is also tied to your CD key (afaik), so that might be what you're thinking of here.
 
First of all, I am not trying to be a wiseass. I came here with a question of legality that I wanted answered so that I would know what is legal and what is not. The answers I received were a little confusing to me so I asked for clarification. I also posed a couple of scenarios to see whether people thought they were legal or not. I asked these questions in order to make sure that I am NOT doing anything illegal. Tripleshot seems to have taken offense with my questions and based on his responses, I think he assumes that I have every intention of pirating software which is precisely what I am trying NOT to do. Thanks to the other members who answered my questions. No thanks to the &quot;elite&quot; member who was of no help whatsoever...
 


<< I own both Windows 98 and Windows 2000 Pro (both legal, btw). And no, the CD key is not tied to a particular CD. It is, however, at least in Windows 98, tied to a particular kind of CD. What I mean by this is that if he has the CD key from an OEM CD, and you have the retail CD, his CD key won't work. Also, if you have a retail CD, and he has the CD key from an upgrade CD, it won't work. >>



This is the best explanation I've seen. Compare your license key with the key that your friend has. If there's is a 3+7 and you have a 5+5+5+5+5 character license, you won't be able to use your media with their license number. But if both your licenses have the same number of characters it should work no problem (excluding a couple of oddball 95 versions). This means that you both have an OEM copy (or a retail copy, or whatever). If the licenses don't have the same number of characters, then one of you has an OEM while the other has a retail, in which the licensing doesn't match and you will be violating the license to try.

And Tripleshot, there were Tier 1's sending out recovery CD's way before WinME. I've seen several NEC laptops with recovery CD's for 95, for example. And you can buy -media only- from a reseller, provided that you do have a valid license that you're going to use when you install it. Ever work in a corporation? There's no way I'm going to leave the media in the PC case...
 
ddeder,

1. If windows is already installed, there are ways to extract the previous
valid ProductKey from the registry. If you only need to repair files, and
not do a full install, then you will not need to re-enter the Product Key.
Windows will simply ask for a valid CD to reload those files from the CABs
from any CD that has them in the right order.

2. Retail computers also put the setup files on the drive itself (most often
in the Windows/options/cabs directory. So the user does not have to look for
the CD to reinstall files. The idea of a Recovery CD first came about to make
it easier if they had to do the full format and install instead of just repairing
the system.

As jliechty said, a mix up of two of the same release CD (OEM, Full, Upgrade) should
make no difference. If the CDs are of different releases, it is easy to tell the
difference between the two (datestamps and part numbers are different).

There were companies (Packard Bell comes to mind) that were sending out Recovery
CD installs back under Windows 95.

95, NT4, 98, 2000, ME, and XP do not have &quot;CD specific&quot; Keys; they have keys that
are specific to that version (95 - XP) and release (OEM - Upgrade) of Windows.
But the keys themselves can be used over again for repeat installs of that
particular OS they belong with.

Activation and Registration are separate steps. You can install and put in the
CD key without activation. AFAIK, you can Activate without Registering; and you
may even be able to Register without Activation if you so choose.

www.hardocp.com/articles/windows/xp_piracy.html

 
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