Windows XP activation (again)

[BigToquex]

I work for the AV department at my univeristy and I was given a copy of Windows XP Pro.

It is an academic edition that has a CD-Key. This CD-key has obviously been used on many computers at the university. Will there be any problem with me using it at home?

 

[Joemonkey]

 

[Walleye]

i dont understand why my computer doesnt ask me to reactivate after reinstalling windows...

 

[silverpig]

I know a way to find out. It's called the process of elimination. Try it, if it works fine, then you can eliminate the possibility of problems. If it doesn't work fine, then you can eliminate the possibility of it working without problems.

LMK how it goes.

😛

 

[MAME]

Do you want to use mine instead?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: silverpig
I know a way to find out. It's called the process of elimination. Try it, if it works fine, then you can eliminate the possibility of problems. If it doesn't work fine, then you can eliminate the possibility of it working without problems.

LMK how it goes.

😛

😉

 

[rudeguy]

I also have a question....whenever I download music it starts to crackle in the middle of the song...is it because I am using a burned copy of XP?

 

[LordThing]

Originally posted by: BigToque
I work for the AV department at my univeristy and I was given a copy of Windows XP Pro.

It is an academic edition that has a CD-Key. This CD-key has obviously been used on many computers at the university. Will there be any problem with me using it at home?

There are 3 different types of XP keys. VLK (Volume License Key), OEM, and Retail. Retail is just that, a version purchased in the store and the key only works once for that copy of XP. OEM is a modified version of the retail key. It also requires activation (association with a particular machine) but cost less since they are only to bundle it with new PCs. VLK is what large universities and businesses use. They pay for 10, 20, 1000 seats worth of licenses but only get one key they can use on multiple machines. That key could, in theory, be used 10,000 times and never need activated. If Microsoft found out and the business was audited and had too many units on one key, they might receive heavy fines.

So, back to your question. I would say you could install at home and maybe even get away with using it because you are a student. Yet, you are are stealing the key unless the IT dept says you are allowed to use one of it's "seats". Take my company for instance. In our license agreement with Mcafee, we are allowed to install 250 home installations of viruscan. We probably use 15 counting all of the IT staff's home computers. 😀

 

[LordThing]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
I also have a question....whenever I download music it starts to crackle in the middle of the song...is it because I am using a burned copy of XP?

Highly doubt it. I would check your connections with your speakers/sound card. Maybe even switch over to another player like winamp/foobar/whatever and see if it still gives you noise.

 

[LordThing]

Originally posted by: Walleye
i dont understand why my computer doesnt ask me to reactivate after reinstalling windows...

Depends on the key/Install media you are using. I think you're allowed like 2 or 3 changes on your hardware before it will ask you to activate again. If no changes have occured since you activated, you can re-install on the same unit a thousand times without re-activation. Although, the "changes" seem to be very picky. I have seen when it would require us to re-activate a workstation when we installed burning software like Alcohol 120% and it adds a virtual CD drive. 😛

 

[LordThing]

Edit: Umm...double post i guess....

 

[bcterps]

Originally posted by: LordThing

Originally posted by: rudeguy I also have a question....whenever I download music it starts to crackle in the middle of the song...is it because I am using a burned copy of XP?

Highly doubt it. I would check your connections with your speakers/sound card. Maybe even switch over to another player like winamp/foobar/whatever and see if it still gives you noise.

Me thinks that was a joke.

 

[HonkeyDonk]

Originally posted by: benchiu

Originally posted by: LordThing

Originally posted by: rudeguy I also have a question....whenever I download music it starts to crackle in the middle of the song...is it because I am using a burned copy of XP?

Highly doubt it. I would check your connections with your speakers/sound card. Maybe even switch over to another player like winamp/foobar/whatever and see if it still gives you noise.

Me thinks that was a joke.

haha, thats what i was thinking. Is he joking or being serious...then when someone answered him, i was again thinking, is he joking or serious.

So my question still remains...are they joking or serious?

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: LordThing

Originally posted by: Walleye
i dont understand why my computer doesnt ask me to reactivate after reinstalling windows...

Depends on the key/Install media you are using. I think you're allowed like 2 or 3 changes on your hardware before it will ask you to activate again. If no changes have occured since you activated, you can re-install on the same unit a thousand times without re-activation. Although, the "changes" seem to be very picky. I have seen when it would require us to re-activate a workstation when we installed burning software like Alcohol 120% and it adds a virtual CD drive. 😛

i changed hard drives, and it didnt need activation.

main drive housing windows went from 120 2 to 160 8.

 

[LordThing]

Originally posted by: Walleye

Originally posted by: LordThing

Originally posted by: Walleye
i dont understand why my computer doesnt ask me to reactivate after reinstalling windows...

Depends on the key/Install media you are using. I think you're allowed like 2 or 3 changes on your hardware before it will ask you to activate again. If no changes have occured since you activated, you can re-install on the same unit a thousand times without re-activation. Although, the "changes" seem to be very picky. I have seen when it would require us to re-activate a workstation when we installed burning software like Alcohol 120% and it adds a virtual CD drive. 😛

i changed hard drives, and it didnt need activation.

main drive housing windows went from 120 2 to 160 8.

Well, Microsoft said you are allowed a few changes before it will consider the unit a new machine and require activation. But like i said, the changes seem to be hit or miss on when it considers it to need it again.

 

[BigToquex]

Originally posted by: LordThing

Originally posted by: BigToque
I work for the AV department at my univeristy and I was given a copy of Windows XP Pro.

It is an academic edition that has a CD-Key. This CD-key has obviously been used on many computers at the university. Will there be any problem with me using it at home?

There are 3 different types of XP keys. VLK (Volume License Key), OEM, and Retail. Retail is just that, a version purchased in the store and the key only works once for that copy of XP. OEM is a modified version of the retail key. It also requires activation (association with a particular machine) but cost less since they are only to bundle it with new PCs. VLK is what large universities and businesses use. They pay for 10, 20, 1000 seats worth of licenses but only get one key they can use on multiple machines. That key could, in theory, be used 10,000 times and never need activated. If Microsoft found out and the business was audited and had too many units on one key, they might receive heavy fines.

So, back to your question. I would say you could install at home and maybe even get away with using it because you are a student. Yet, you are are stealing the key unless the IT dept says you are allowed to use one of it's "seats". Take my company for instance. In our license agreement with Mcafee, we are allowed to install 250 home installations of viruscan. We probably use 15 counting all of the IT staff's home computers. 😀

Thanks. My boss gave me the CD and said it was fine to install, I just wasn't totally sure.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: HonkeyDonk

Originally posted by: benchiu

Originally posted by: LordThing

Originally posted by: rudeguy I also have a question....whenever I download music it starts to crackle in the middle of the song...is it because I am using a burned copy of XP?

Highly doubt it. I would check your connections with your speakers/sound card. Maybe even switch over to another player like winamp/foobar/whatever and see if it still gives you noise.

Me thinks that was a joke.

haha, thats what i was thinking. Is he joking or being serious...then when someone answered him, i was again thinking, is he joking or serious.

So my question still remains...are they joking or serious?

sarcasm meter on the fritz again?