XP activation question

Factual Questions
1

A friend of mine has two computers and has bought one legal copy of Windows XP Pro (the Upgrade version, if that makes a difference). He plans to install in on both his machines.

Not so fast, said I. XP requires activation, and won’t let you install a single copy on two machines.

He says that from what he’s read, MS is relatively easy-going about issuing new activation codes, and that when it comes time to activate the installation on the second machine, he plans to tell MS that he had to replace the hard disk after installing it in the first machine. He thinks that this will allow him to run the same copy on both machines.

MS has just announced its Windows Genuine Advantage program that blocks pirated copies of XP from getting program updates. I’m assuming that this would keep him from getting updates on both of his machines. He thinks not: that WGA would apply only to illegal copies of the OS, not properly activated legal copies.

I know that what he’s doing violates the EULA, and I’m not interested in debating the ethics of it here in GQ. Nor am I endorsing his plan. I’d just like some documentation for my claim, so I can save him some time and trouble (if not money) if I’m right.

Anyone?

2

Only a hard drive change would have no impact on activation. I don’t believe that it is used to compute the data used during activation.

Other than that, I’m saying nothing, as though I’m a dirty pirate, I’m not going to encourage others in this forum. :smiley:

3

If you noodle through this page it seems if Microsoft detects a suspected illegal copy your copy of Windows will fail its validation when it attempts to get updates (so no more updates for you until you explain yourself to them).

Security updates are not included in the validation…anyone can get those illegal copy or not.

Whether Microsoft will hunt you down and sue you into the next century I have no clue but technically they might. Your friend is clearly in violation of the license agreement and probably a few scary laws to boot.

4

Every piece of hardware has got its own GUID. Those GUID:s (including hard drive) are hashed, and from those hashes a number is calculated together with installation CD product key, which all together creates an “installation ID”, which is sent to Microsoft for activation. The installation CD is thus bound to the computer on which the OS was installed. Pretty complicated, and very anonymous. Microsoft do not know what computer brand you’re running, do not know the size of you hard drive, etc, but are able to “see” that this particular installation CD is installed on one particular computer.

And, if you change just about any hardware (bigger hard drive, more RAM, changing CD player, etc), nothing will happen – the installation ID will not change, and Microsoft will not care. You would have to swap nearly all your bits and pieces in the computer to make it a “new” computer in the eyes of Microsoft. It’s in fact pretty unlikely you’ll ever run into problems with Microsoft Product Activation if you’re following the EULA.

However, the scenario you’re talking about, is a violation of the EULA, as you yourself are pointing out, and that might be discovered by Microsoft after installation of the OS on another computer, since that will generate another installation ID = Two different computers roaming about with OS you accepted only to install on one computer.

Of course, you could say to Microsoft that hey, I bought a new motherboard, or my old computer went up in a smoke, and I bloody h+ll payed for this OS! MS will probably say: OK, whatever.

Problem is, what you accepted to run on only one computer is now on two computers, roaming about on the Internet (including Windows Update, hopefully you use Windows Update). And your CD/product key will be marked as unlegal, and you will be unable to do any updates and so forth, which in the long run might be a major problem for you.

Aside of being somewhat of a cyber space criminal, but that bothers none of us.

5

I make my living writing software.

Because of that, just today, I paid (grimacing the whole time) for a legal copy of Microsoft Office (Mac) for my business, even though the Student and Teacher edition is more than a hundred dollars cheaper, and has a $50 rebate to boot, because the STE does not allow commercial use.

I know the temptation to cheat on this, especially with Microsoft and their pricing practices, but it’s wrong no matter how you look at it. Whether or not the activation will work twice is irrelevant, he should buy two copies. If he can afford two computers, he can certainly afford two licences, especially because he’s quite likely to be able to legally buy upgrades. If not, he can upgrade to XP Home for on both machines for the same price as upgrading one to pro, and get almost no less functionality. Alternatively, Linux is free. If he doesn’t want to pay for it, use something else.

I started posting because I actually know the answer to the question, but I’ve decided it doesn’t matter.

6

Somehow the words … ‘Your copy of Windows has expired. Please whip out your credit card to renew your subscription.’ flashes before my eyes.

While I agree with previous posters that your friend easily will be able to obtain XP keys for both his computers, I’m not so sure he’ll be able to receive updates anymore, now with the roll out of Windows Genuine Advantage. It doesn’t make sense having MS trying to block a second copy of XP from getting an activation key, while allowing updates to continue unchecked. (My guess is that MS disables the first activation key when a second one is approved.) Of course, your friend could first do both the install and updates on one computer, before installing XP on the second, but that’s not quite the same.

Anyway, the official answer from MS is that multiple legal copies will not be updated, according to the FAQ. Google didn’t provide a quick answer on whether that’s how it actually works today or not. And I didn’t know this: “If you receive a copy of Windows pre-loaded on your PC, you cannot transfer the licence to another PC.” Swell.

I also didn’t know that Windows Genuine Advantage also applies to Windows 2000, and this pisses me off royally. Especially since the sole reason I never went for XP was activation. Since I only own 1 copy which I have installed on two machines I’m breaking the law. Well, I don’t need Windows updates on my old computer, now used for backups, but this probably means that I can get the update which will enable me to use harddrives past the 137GB storage limit on my main computer only. Guess I should have bought those 320 GB drives a month ago instead of this past week. :frowning:

[slight hijack]
Something else, the corporate version of XP doesn’t (AFAIK ??) require an activation key, as this version can be sold with a multi-user licence. Which begs the question, how does Windows Genuine Advantage handle that?

7

What I’ve heard of WGA is that security updates will still be available to everyone. Only software updates will be restricted (Gosh, you might not be able to get IE7!!!)

8

Microsoft must be maintaining a database of either valid or invalid product keys to compare against. Service Pack 1 for Windows XP did a similar thing.

I’ve done a little testing at work to make sure our corporate product keys would still work. While the corporate version of Windows XP doesn’t require activation, it does still require a valid product key. Our product key received from Microsoft continues to work without problem. Corporate edition product keys taken from other sources broke updates and other downloads from Microsoft (like the AntiSpyware beta).

Along with everything else, this is going to make it even more important for corporate users to keep a close hold on their product keys and make sure they don’t get used elsewhere. If the keys end up being tagged as invalid by Microsoft, it takes some explaining before they’ll give you new keys.