OS and Software > Microsoft Help > MS policy on re-using activation key

MS policy on re-using activation key

Even if you have to change one or 2 components on existing hardware there will be no issues to reactivate (unlikely you'll have to call). You can also try this app
»www.joshcellsoftwares.com/2011/0···ger.html

Cudni
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"what we know we know the same, what we don't know, we don't know it differently."
Help yourself so God can help you.
Microsoft MVP, 2006 - 2012/13

Hmmm...TrendMicro Housecall thinks its a trojan. But no one else does according to VT.

Looks like his Feb 9th change log " Fixed AV false positives" , may need more work.

I didn't scroll all the way to the bottom to see the change log.

I thought it odd that only Housecall thinks it's a trojan but TrendMicro itself does not.

Symantec Reputation
Suspicious.Insight

The above is dated 2010! He should have gotten Symantec to remove that long ago.
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson

reply to aurgathor
My understanding is that generally re-activation is allowed with the same key after 6 months. The whole thing continually creates headaches, more so in XP (seems with 7 they've loosened things a bit so you can attempt repairs--geee). The other day I couldn't get any icons on a machine so I was hoping it might run in safe mode so I could backup up the client's Quicken and Quickbooks before formatting. Since the client had apparently tried to reload with another Windows version it said: oh no, you must activate first and activation is not possible in safe mode, so restart in our useless regular mode.
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"The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry . . . " --Robert Burns

Reply to "takeahike":

1) where is it written that reactivation of W8 after six months is okay?

2) what about examining your client's computer using W8 in "audit mode"? Is that still an option for Windows operating systems?

reply to Cudni

reply to Gem
I've read about the six months somewhere but can't seem to find it now (this was long before Win 8--I'm assuming it was at least then a general policy applicable to all MS activations). I never knew about audit mode but I'm gonna look into it and see what it can do. The system I was working on had XP.
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"The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry . . . " --Robert Burns

eons ago; I remember reading that MS kept track of your 5 hardware items for the activation test for 6 months. Sort of meaning after every 6 months you could change your motherboard or whatever was the verifying hardwares without the utoh loss on re-activation.

Lot of bs out there though, so its always hard to be certain of truths.

reply to aurgathor
Six month requirement? It's all just speculations.

Where is the document, that specifies the terms of usage (and particularly, activation) of the product, you've purchased?

It looks like we live in one-sided world, where everyone has to agree to EULA terms, protecting vendor. But no one knows the rights, coming with the purchase. Why is that?
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Keep it simple, it'll become complex by itself...

reply to aurgathor
I think we need laws put in place that in order to be considered a valid legal document, that EULAs on consumer software and equipment must be written in plain and clear english at a normal font size and only requiring one page.

Honestly if you cannot state your point in one page, The customer will not read it.

Of course that is the point. To make EULAs so twisted and confusing that the customer has no clue and just clicks yes.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports

reply to OZO

Your Dell warranty is not voided, no matter what you think you read in the EULA for Med Center. The Dell Warranty covers the Hardware no matter what OS you are running.

Software can NOT damage hardware. It can Tax it, like games, but it can not cause Physical damage to any hardware. If the real problem wasn't already a manufacturing defect and that is what the Warranty covers, Manufacturing defects.

Unlike in the movies there is no Key Combo or disc you can insert or program you can run on any computer that can cause physical damage to the hardware in a computer and make it burst into flames.
Not Even MS Media Center Windows 8.

If and when you feel like Reinstalling the Original version of Windows that came on your Dell just POP in the Disc you either got from Dell or the disc or USB Thumb drive that you made from the Dell Utility for making the system disc and wipe the drive and Reinstall.
If the HDD fails before the warranty is up I guaranty Dell will either send you a new drive, since you are in Hawaii, or a box to ship the tower back to them and change the drive without ever really booting the system up. That would take to much time and as we all know Time Is Money.
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Shooter Ready--Stand By BEEP ********

No, you are INCORRECT. I did not purchase a BASIC warranty. A basic warranty (like what you are talking about) is NOT even AVAILABLE for purchase from Small and Medium Business or Home divisions for this higher end computer. (Or wasn't when I purchased in the middle of November 2012. Dell may have changed that since Christmas time sales).

My Dell Small and Medium Business (not home business) PREMIUM WARRANTY covers hardware and software for THREE YEARS RENEWABLE FOR ANOTHER TWO which I will do at the time for renewal. (This computer is classified with Alienware for purposes of hardware and software support).

The SSD drive (Samsung mSATA 256GB) will have to last 5 YEARS or Dell will send a tech to install a new motherboard. My warranty INCLUDES NEXT BUSINESS DAY IN HOME REPAIR (although being in Hawaii it is never "next day" rather a week or more). I also have a special, dedicated line to XPS 8500 tech support that is guaranteed to be answered within 2 minutes. The techs are excellent and a supervisor takes the line after you and the tech are finished to ask you about the performance of the tech and your satisfaction/dissatisfaction, etc.

There is a HUGE difference between buying from Dell Home Division as compared to buying from any of their other divisions. I bought this computer through Dell Small and Medium Business Member Purchase Program so my Premium Support is through MPP which is a department of Small and Medium Business Division.

I have always bought from Small and Medium Business division. Folks are naive to buy from Dell Home division as it sucks. Dell has announced after they went private that they are getting out of the home computer business.

Now do you understand why I am upset? I thought I was installing some free software from Microsoft. Instead, I got a "NEW" OS and Dell is not going to be happy about it. Yeah, I have a pure reinstallation (not recover) USB Flash drive for Win 8 Pro Dell OEM that was sent to me (along with a USB Flash drive for Windows 7 Pro if I decide to downgrade) but I don't want to reinstall Windows and then I have to install all the Dell software and drivers and etc...UGH! Just because I installed what should be a piece of software from Microsoft where they are not clear that doing it meant I had a "new" OS? That is absurd.

I have been told that Microsoft has REMOVED MY OEM Win 8 key from the motherboard. If true, how would I be able to use the Win 8 Pro Reinstallation flash drive Dell sent me? Dell would have to contact Microsoft and get permission for a NEW key! Dell has already had to do this when they have to replace the hard drive on this computer for other customers. It means a LONG wait according to forum threads because Dell can't just send a tech with a new drive (for those who did not purchase the XPS 8500 with a large enough SSD for the OS to be installed on it) or a new motherboard for those who purchased the 256GB Samsung mSATA drive and the OS is installed on it -XPS 8500 Special Edition). It is a big headache for both Dell and the customer who has to wait forever with no computer. And all caused by Microsoft. And now there is this crap about Media Center meaning a new OS again screwing the customer and the OEM.

For that matter, if I were to use the recovery on the Dell partition would that work? I was afraid Microsoft had removed that also but it looks intact. But if Microsoft removed my key from the motherboard then the Recovery partition would be unusable until Dell could get a new key from Microsoft! What Microsoft has done with licensing for Windows 8 has caused an insane mess for OEMs and their customers and claiming Media Center software is a NEW OS with OEM key removed just compounds the nightmare.
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson

You are wrong. There is no warranty on software. There is Support For Software and MS dumps all support for all their software on to OEM builder when that builder supplies OEM software.

So what you are saying is if you change any software that came with the system your original warranty for both the software and hardware is now no Good, void, Out the Window, Ka-put.

No that is incorrect.

Not really sure why you would think that no matter what any software EULA stated. Your warranty is with Dell not Microsoft.
So if I install an Adobe or a Microsoft or a Oracle software product on my Dell notebook and the Adobe, Microsoft or Oracle EULA states that by installing this software the manufacturers warranty on the hardware in the system is now null and void you think that is true.

That is just foolish and very naive.
First off If I have a problem with the hardware how would Dell know I installed any software that had an EULA that stated that. I know we are all connected but Dell or anyone else is not looking over my shoulder or has access to my PCs to see what I am doing on them.
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Shooter Ready--Stand By BEEP ********

reply to Shootist

Please point out where and when a piece of software has Physically damage a piece of hardware and exactly what that software is.

It can make the computer not function and or crash but it can not damage the hardware. Once that piece of software is removed and or the Operating system reinstalled the hardware will be fine and will start to function properly again.

Do you think any computer manufacture would give a warranty of any kind on the hardware they sell if a software program you installed could physically damage the hardware they sold you.

So the hardware in those SSDs was faulty, IE the firmware that controls the hardware that the Manufacturer supply. But I guaranty if the memory chips were taken out of those faulty SSDs, wiped clean and put in another system that did not have faulty firmware controlling them they would still function.

Heat is about the only thing that can damage hardware.

Your reference to Monitor again is not software. It is User Error.
Again the hard drive YOU damaged was not caused by Software, Again User Error.

In all cases that someone Bricked there system it was from doing something the system was not designed to do and the USER Forced it. Software does not do that USERS do.
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Shooter Ready--Stand By BEEP ********