I can understand the desire and need for a company like Microsoft to employ some efforts to make sure people don’t pirate their software. They have a lot invested into Windows. It is commercial, and they have the right to make money off of it. Fine. But, does that mean they need to so severely limit the activation and use of Windows?
My Story
One of the first things I did when I got the new Mac Pro was to install a 30 day trial of VMWare Fusion and install Windows to it. Let’s run through this little experience:
- Even though I KNOW I bought a retail version of Windows XP at some point, I cannot find it. Nonetheless, I had OEM copies of XP all over the place from various computers I bought over the years.
- I try to use the Gateway “Dual Core Update Disc” for the Gateway machine I am phasing out. This is the restore disc. It does work inside VMWare Fusion, except that it will not boot up. The VM goes into an endless loop of blue screening, rebooting, rinse and repeat. So, I delete that VM.
- Next, I try another OEM restore disc that came with a computer I no longer use. I KNOW that these are OEM discs, but I figure I could install it as long as I was no longer using it on another PC. I figured wrong. While this next XP installation did work fine, I was unable to activate it due to either “incorrect product key” or “unauthorized product key”.
- I do some searching online and find that Microsoft has apparently disabled the ability to do internet activation on many OEM copies of Windows XP. So, I call them.
- I rattle off the installation code to the machine at Microsoft. It says it cannot complete the transaction so I end up talking to some Indian guy. Indian guy was friendly, but we went through the procedure and it did not work. He asked if this was an OEM copy of Windows XP. I say yes. He says that it will only work on the machine I bought it for and that it cannot be activated. I tell him that I am not using it on that computer anymore and that I would like to install it in a virtual machine. In other words, I’m not trying to run a second copy. I’m trying to MOVE it. No dice. He tells me I will need to deal with the original manufacturer of the computer and get a new product key, then call them again for reactivation.
- I have a valid upgrade disc to Windows Vista, so I figure I will try that. I proceed to upgrade the XP virtual machine to Windows Vista. It works fine, however Vista is just plain SLOW on this thing. The support for Vista is not as solid in VMWare Fusion as it is for XP. Plus, seeing as I have not added more memory to the Mac Pro yet, I am still using only 1 gigabyte of RAM. I assigned only 512 MB to the Vista virtual machine, which is absolute bare minimum for Vista. So, while I did get Vista to work and activate properly, it is hell to work with. I really want to use XP here, not Vista.
- At this point, I just want to get this thing done. So, I try yet another product key for XP on a new virtual machine and end up on the phone with them again. This time I ask straight up if I will be able to activate the XP installation later on using a different product key that I can buy retail later on. Correctly or not, he says no. Apparently, because it is OEM, it is simply not transferable. So, now, even though I have a working XP virtual machine, anything I do in there is going to be screwed up after Windows XP disables itself due to non-activation after 30 days.
- I pop in the car, head to Best Buy, and buy a full retail version of Windows XP. Come home, install it, activate it. All is well, except I had to spend more money for another XP disc when I already had several.
It is frustrating that Microsoft places so many restrictions on OEM versions of Windows XP. My frustration comes from the fact that I was not trying to hack anything. These were legit copies of XP, yet I couldn’t use them. Simply ridiculous.
The Motto of the Story
If you want ultimate flexibility, make sure you buy a RETAIL version of Microsoft Windows. OEM copies are limited to the machine it is first installed on. Once you try to activate it on another computer, Microsoft will give you problems.
Also, there was some confusion as to whether anything changed in this regard under Windows Vista. The answer is no. At first, Microsoft did make it such that Vista could only be transferred to another computer one time – even from a retail version of Vista. Obviously that pissed off a lot of computer hobbyists who like to switch machines or build new ones often. Due to so many complaints, Microsoft did eventually modify the license agreement for Vista to allow transfers to new machines more than once. The same restrictions apply for OEM copies, however. You still need a retail version of Vista if you want to transfer the license to another computer.
David Risley is the founder of PCMech.com. He is the brains, the thinker, the writer, the nerd.
It is interesting that you bring this up. I have run into the same problem just from a hard drive format. Happened on 3 separate occasions now where I have to get on the phone and tell somebody that I am just re-installing windows or transferring it to a different machine. I don’t know why it has to be so darn difficult. The same issue occurs on FSX where you can only transfer/reinstall it once. For a game that takes up 15 gigs on an 80 gig drive, I don’t want it on there all the time!
I have just run into the same mess, I used windows update, it downloaded Windows Desktop Search Tool as an update, that slowed down my computer so much a problem which has come up in several web sites, WDST/WSUS, I uninstalled it, which then kicked up I must re activate my XP Operating system, which microsoft would not let me do as I am not a registered OEM System Builder, this requires me to be a company or business which I am not. I am a disabled ex IT engineer who has little income but wants to keep my brain going helping others with IT problems, even if the rest of me dos not want to move.
first thing, a writer for a website thats named pcmechanic should never lose his own copy of wondows XP. second, you seriously thought a OEM restore disk from another machine would simply install windows and activate no problem?! also when you cant activate a copy of windows it usually means that somebody is not playing by the rules. your vista installed because you stated it was valid. the reason you went and purchased another copy is because you lost your first copy. you can have a jillion copies of windows laying around but if a computer does not come with Windows on it and you want to install windows, you must go purchase a copy. or find the copy you lost.
oops, you can transfer your copy over to a new machine but not with the OEM restore disk.
First thing,
It’s a CD. CDs get lost. Considering we don’t all reformat our drives every week, we don’t use said CDs all that often.
Second thing,
He said it was a retail copy. Not OEM from another manufacturer. AFTER that he tried a different disc. Why not?
Third thing,
There are other people who experience problems installing Windows after a reformat with a retail version. Gasp, I know.
Chill dude.
your right. sorry i snapped out
Let’s face it, when you buy windows, you are simply renting it, and Microsoft can end your renting agreement at any time they wish.
I bought a retail (not OEM) version of XP when it first came out. I am a computer hobbyist and I am always tinkering with my computer, changing mobo/cpu’s…parts… etc…I have two computers, one with windows and one with linux. While I was messing with the RAM on my Asus Commando motherboard, I got the screen to to call MS. They wouldn’t reactivate my retail copy, saying I have simply made two many hardware changes in to short of a period of time. I repeatedly told them, that I only have it installed on this one computer. It made no difference, my retail version was declared dead.
I had to go out and buy a new OEM CD of Windows. I won’t buy retail again.
I am livid and so fed up with Microsoft that I could scream. I called their activation number and twice they hung up on me. I called support and was assured that I would be sent to a human. They sent me to the computer activation. It refused to activate and eventually I (again) got a person. Now for the third time I had to repeat their 30 or so digit installation code. Then I had to explain why I needed to reinstall and activate windows. I replied that for the 100th time windows had trashed itself and I had to do a fresh install.
I am looking into alternatives. I paid for this copy of windows and now I find that MS is severely limiting my rights (Which I PAID for) to use it. I don’t know if windows programs will work in Linux. If so I’ll probably switch.
Linux versions like Knoppix,Ubuntu etc have a huge pack of software in the install package everything you could ever want, and you can always try a live version on a cd or a dvd (which of course will have a lot more software built in)it just takes a bit of patience to start learning how to work with a new system again, but most of the stuff is free. there are a lot of small packages like damm small linux for example that can work from a flash drive.
I agree that commercial software can be copy-protected, but I find the policy of refusing re-activation of legal PAID copies of OEM Windows because of a replacement of a FAILED piece of hardware rather ridiculous. I find that also OEM copies of Windows XP/VISTA should be possible to get transferred from old to new PC.
The only difference between OEM and RETAIL should be:
Microsoft should give support for your retail version.
The company from which you buy your oem version should give you support.
Re-activation shouldn’t matter in both cases! License is license and paid is paid! Licenses should be perpetual and should be transferred to a new pc when needed.
Invalidating a paid license only because of the fact that some hardware went south looks like some sort of cheating on the paying customer…
I this happened to me, I should feel cheated!
Question: Who is to blame for this hardship?
Answer: The people who illegally distribute software over the Internet a.k.a. the crackers!
i believe acting like this , microsoft just force users to use illegal software. If i have to activate windows every time i format my pc or have problems with oem software then it is easier for me to use a non legal windows installation
A true OEM copy of xp will be able to use any key for that software. The oem disk you talk about are from (DELL,HP,ECT.) they are modified to look for a tatoo on the motherboard. If you use this disk and xp can not find the tatoo it will not load/activate. I am a system builder and buy oem products that are true oem from microsoft. they require no tatoo on the board and have not been altered there for i use them for system repairs and clean installs. Most older systems will not activate over the internet, but a phone call and two questions. I. E. how many machines is this copy of windows on( 1) and why (viruses) for example. and then every thing is good. hope this helps.
I think th moral of the storu is to switch to Linux. If you want a new version you just get it from the internet for free.
I am slowly migrating to Ubuntu and will not upgrade any further than Win 2000. This does all I need to do and I have never liked the way XP looked and worked anyway.
Microsoft Activation 2.0 is broken. I wasted several hours trying to obtain the correct key from Microsoft online. The online system is down. You cannot get through to phone activation as it disconnects you. I could go on and on. Bottom line is this. If you buy a Microsoft product, you may not be able to use it. Microsoft looks to me as they are going out of business. I wasted money on their server products and I cannot use them because Microsoft activation is down. What does one do now?
If such an activation scheme like Microsoft’s goes flipping worse, it’s best to avoid those products and stick with products which don’t have these copy-protection scheme yet. Software houses will then be given the chance for reflection for:
1. Be good for the PAYING LEGALLY using customer!
2. Be bad for the ILLEGALLY using hackers!
I think: PAID == PAID. If the OEM license forbids to TRANSFER the license from an old to a new computer, this limitation really stinks, because the PAID money is gone nowhere. I find this really immoral and incorrect.
This stupid (OEM) restriction is a feeding-source for people or even commercial businesses who ILLEGALLY circumvent this scheme, so LEGAL users get more bitten by this issue…
This means:
Legal User: LOST the battle (is restricted in their right to use the software)
Software Vendor: LOST the battle (loses a lot of revenue due to illegal copies)
Illegal cracker: WON the battle (those j##ks can misuse the cracked software with Trojan-horse malware.)
This is the worst case!
Unfortunately the Linux community has used open source to splinter into at least 15 different flavors of Linux. So, none of them will ever be competition, period. They are and will be too busy arguing the merits of ‘their’ Linux.
I agree with Bob, since it isn’t possible now to make one Linux-fist against Microsoft’s bad licensing practices. I think all Linux distro’s should unite together. Windows is infamous for the DLL-Hell problem. Because of the many hundreds flavours of Linux, Linux has nearly the same issue: Dependency-Hell that may prevent correct building from source tarballs. Even the (for that flavour suitable) binary packages may fail due to Dependency-Hell. I’ve faced both issues on both operating systems.
At no point would I advise anyone to use a pirated version of windows, in fact with the improvements in methods of use in worms and other hidden viruses in any kind of pirated software. It is unadvisable to use any pirated software as the knowledge that can be lifted from infected networks and the damage that can happen, is often started by someone using a dodgy flashdrive infected unknowingly or unwittingly trying out something they should not be doing.
I would hope that Microsoft would lower the prices of windows7, it would make it more palatable to change onto at a reasonable price, but I expect that wont happen.
I advise to ***stay away*** from illegal copies of Windows because of the following:
1. No right of extra software like Windows Defender of Media Player.
2. No right of the correctly working Microsoft Update program.
3. Illegal copies of Windows *** might *** contain malware.
If you ** can ** afford Windows, I advise to purchase the RETAIL version above the OEM version, because of the right to ** move ** the license to your new computer.
If you ** can’t ** afford Windows, choose Linux, BSD or even Solaris. These OS’es are free and loaded with a bunch of software of which you can only dream! But: Linux, BSD and Solaris needs more tweaking, but you can be lucky.
I’m also worrying for the following:
Every two weeks Windows’ WGA calls at home to check whether the license is still legal. If it is AND the internet connection is good, the user won’t get disturbed. If the license isn’t AND the internet connection is good then an error message will appear and also the background will change. But there is some case. In the case there is no internet (provider issue, cable issue or client issue). This means internet is off. What might WGA do? Will WGA invalidate the license, because the computer is offline from internet? If this is true for this offline-case, the protection mechanism for that portion of MS’s software protection should go back to the drawing boards. I find that the periodic WGA check shouldn’t happen as long as the computer is offline from internet. At most only a warning message in the log should be noted: ‘Can do WGA check now, since this computer is offline…’ The license shouldn’t be invalidated just because the case of an offline computer.