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Passing by, saw this thread very funny.
Would like to give my 2 cents bout Microsoft's licensing and those OEMs that they give out to Mass Production centers like Dell, HP etc.
1) About the Installation media. Windows no matter Home or Pro comes in few flavours as you all should know. OEM, Retail & Corporate<-- used by *ahem* bcause it doesnt need 2 activate. Products Keys from OEMs cant be used by other Installation Medias Those from Retails applies as well as same to Corporate Product Keys. Actually Corporate Keys are called VLK as you all know la. LOL Installation medias used by Manufacturers are actually pre-built media that microsoft offers to them as a tool. It will only install the OEM flavour. That's y you can see the Registration Wizard n such when u 1st boot up ur spanking new system. N those logos as well. Actually their not using media la, their using Server to install windows to their machines. And their Server is set to use the master key to install windows Mind you, it's not tat easy to setup for those not trained.
2) About the Product key. The COA sticker on every unit is unique, and that's call a kind of hard license which you need to stick it physically, the product keys(CD keys) used to install windows are a kind of soft license to prevent misused installations, microsoft utilizes WGA / Activation Wizard to keep track of it, preventing reinstallations on multiple computers. Ok, here's the twist, this is what i know, bcause using Activation Wizard on Mass Produced units needs a big database of Product Keys, which they need 2 verify on every single unit thats sold is burdening, so what they do is put the support on the manufacturers shoulders. This means microsoft don't really support on the Product Keys that they have passed to those Mass Producing Manufacturers. e.g. U hav an OEM media, u install on another PC(not HP), then u use the keys from HP, u hav to activate windows, it won't let u activate online, if u try to call the activation center, the operator will ask u to call HP direct.
Ok, u guys now should b asking how those manufacturers activate their copies, rite? Also from wat i know, every system that they produced has a code embedded to the flash, hardware level, so the recovery media that HP gives to u, with the windows inside. Will check the Product Key with the code, if its valid, you won't get prompted to activate windows. But don't get confuse, it doesn't mean every recovery media is binded to a single system. As it uses complex algorithms to calculate the validity of the Product Keys. Wat's considered valid is valid.
Sorry ya guys if this confuses u, cause i'm not a good writer, its hard 4 me to put it down on words. LOL But i'm willing to explain thru a few PMs. Juz dun flood me too much.. Oh, n watch out 4 typos, dun really proof read everything i type. LOL
Regards.
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