Vista - Buy a new computer with Vista OEM and you get two product keys

Don't be surprised. No piracy, no crack. It's legal and Microsoft deserves
some credit.

launch the 'command prompt' and type
>slmgr -dli
and pay attention to the 'partial product key' in the pop-up dialog.
Compare this partial product key with the product key on the COA tag
attached to your computer. You'll be lucky if the product key does not
contain the partial product key
You can verify my assertion by install Vista (with the Vista installation
CD/DVD or system restore CD provided by the PC maker) on another machine and
use the product key on the COA tag to activate. Enjoy.

You do not get 2 keys, the key on the COA sticker is your license, the one
Vista is actually loaded with is some type of volume key used by the OEM to
do the image install, it has been this way for some years, you are not
authorized to reload using the key in use on the Vista OEM install.

--

----
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How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
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_________________________________________________________________________________


"Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E0557161-DEF5-4201-960F-9490DA67E77D@microsoft.com...
> Don't be surprised. No piracy, no crack. It's legal and Microsoft deserves
> some credit.
>
> launch the 'command prompt' and type
>>slmgr -dli
> and pay attention to the 'partial product key' in the pop-up dialog.
> Compare this partial product key with the product key on the COA tag
> attached to your computer. You'll be lucky if the product key does not
> contain the partial product key
> You can verify my assertion by install Vista (with the Vista installation
> CD/DVD or system restore CD provided by the PC maker) on another machine
> and
> use the product key on the COA tag to activate. Enjoy.
>
>
>

If you're correct, then why will one successfully activiate Vista on another
PC using the key on my COA sticker?

"David B." wrote:

> You do not get 2 keys, the key on the COA sticker is your license, the one
> Vista is actually loaded with is some type of volume key used by the OEM to
> do the image install, it has been this way for some years, you are not
> authorized to reload using the key in use on the Vista OEM install.
>
> --
>
> ----
> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
> How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.db-pc.com
> _________________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> "Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E0557161-DEF5-4201-960F-9490DA67E77D@microsoft.com...
> > Don't be surprised. No piracy, no crack. It's legal and Microsoft deserves
> > some credit.
> >
> > launch the 'command prompt' and type
> >>slmgr -dli
> > and pay attention to the 'partial product key' in the pop-up dialog.
> > Compare this partial product key with the product key on the COA tag
> > attached to your computer. You'll be lucky if the product key does not
> > contain the partial product key
> > You can verify my assertion by install Vista (with the Vista installation
> > CD/DVD or system restore CD provided by the PC maker) on another machine
> > and
> > use the product key on the COA tag to activate. Enjoy.
> >
> >
> >
>

I didn't say it wouldn't work, I'm saying, for those that like to remain in
compliance with the EULA, they cannot do what you suggest because what you
stated in your OP is not "legal", and MS WOULD likely consider it piracy.
The Key on the side if the PC is valid for that PC ONLY, it is not
transferable to another computer.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.db-pc.com
_________________________________________________________________________________


"Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:36EA8432-89A1-4D19-A773-59502F4AB1D1@microsoft.com...
> If you're correct, then why will one successfully activiate Vista on
> another
> PC using the key on my COA sticker?
>

Well I don't read EULA that carefully. But it seems MS can do nothing to
prevent key transfer of this kind.

"David B." wrote:

> I didn't say it wouldn't work, I'm saying, for those that like to remain in
> compliance with the EULA, they cannot do what you suggest because what you
> stated in your OP is not "legal", and MS WOULD likely consider it piracy.
> The Key on the side if the PC is valid for that PC ONLY, it is not
> transferable to another computer.
>
> --
>
> ----
> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
> How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.db-pc.com
> _________________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> "Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:36EA8432-89A1-4D19-A773-59502F4AB1D1@microsoft.com...
> > If you're correct, then why will one successfully activiate Vista on
> > another
> > PC using the key on my COA sticker?
> >
>

David B. wrote:
> I didn't say it wouldn't work, I'm saying, for those that like to remain
> in compliance with the EULA, they cannot do what you suggest because
> what you stated in your OP is not "legal", and MS WOULD likely consider
> it piracy. The Key on the side if the PC is valid for that PC ONLY, it
> is not transferable to another computer.
>

And how would MS know about it, being as their flawed WPA program
activates it and their flawed WGA program genuinizes it? How is using
something you bought stealing? Besides, breeching an EULA is NOT illegal
and is NOT stealing. It's a civil offense, not a criminal offense and
stealing, be it grand or petty larceny, is a criminal offense.

Of course, that won't stop the Justins of the world from declaring
anyone who breeches the terms of an EULA as "thieves".

Alias

MS wouldn't know about it, that's why it works. Using the OEM license you
bought on the computer you bought it with is perfect, transferring that OEM
license to a different PC is a violation of the EULA, whether you read the
EULA or not, or whether you choose to violate it or not. You did not pay for
the right to use the Product key that shipped with your OEM PC on another
PC. I'm not getting into the ethical/moral implications, I'm just explaining
how the license works.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.db-pc.com
_________________________________________________________________________________


"Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.cl> wrote in message
news:uQQ5yhzXHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> And how would MS know about it, being as their flawed WPA program
> activates it and their flawed WGA program genuinizes it? How is using
> something you bought stealing? Besides, breeching an EULA is NOT illegal
> and is NOT stealing. It's a civil offense, not a criminal offense and
> stealing, be it grand or petty larceny, is a criminal offense.
>
> Of course, that won't stop the Justins of the world from declaring anyone
> who breeches the terms of an EULA as "thieves".
>
> Alias

Yes, we should not gett into the ethical/moral implications. Why does MS give
me a product key that is different from the one used by the Vista on my PC?

"David B." wrote:

> MS wouldn't know about it, that's why it works. Using the OEM license you
> bought on the computer you bought it with is perfect, transferring that OEM
> license to a different PC is a violation of the EULA, whether you read the
> EULA or not, or whether you choose to violate it or not. You did not pay for
> the right to use the Product key that shipped with your OEM PC on another
> PC. I'm not getting into the ethical/moral implications, I'm just explaining
> how the license works.
>
> --
>
> ----
> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
> How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.db-pc.com
> _________________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> "Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.cl> wrote in message
> news:uQQ5yhzXHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> >
> > And how would MS know about it, being as their flawed WPA program
> > activates it and their flawed WGA program genuinizes it? How is using
> > something you bought stealing? Besides, breeching an EULA is NOT illegal
> > and is NOT stealing. It's a civil offense, not a criminal offense and
> > stealing, be it grand or petty larceny, is a criminal offense.
> >
> > Of course, that won't stop the Justins of the world from declaring anyone
> > who breeches the terms of an EULA as "thieves".
> >
> > Alias
>

So the OEM can image the disk.
"Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:61706EDC-2C66-47EE-8B8C-77B12B938F0B@microsoft.com...
> Yes, we should not gett into the ethical/moral implications. Why does MS
> give
> me a product key that is different from the one used by the Vista on my
> PC?
>
> "David B." wrote:
>
>> MS wouldn't know about it, that's why it works. Using the OEM license you
>> bought on the computer you bought it with is perfect, transferring that
>> OEM
>> license to a different PC is a violation of the EULA, whether you read
>> the
>> EULA or not, or whether you choose to violate it or not. You did not pay
>> for
>> the right to use the Product key that shipped with your OEM PC on another
>> PC. I'm not getting into the ethical/moral implications, I'm just
>> explaining
>> how the license works.
>>
>> --
>>
>> ----
>> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>> How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>> http://www.db-pc.com
>> _________________________________________________________________________________
>>
>>
>> "Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.cl> wrote in message
>> news:uQQ5yhzXHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> >
>> > And how would MS know about it, being as their flawed WPA program
>> > activates it and their flawed WGA program genuinizes it? How is using
>> > something you bought stealing? Besides, breeching an EULA is NOT
>> > illegal
>> > and is NOT stealing. It's a civil offense, not a criminal offense and
>> > stealing, be it grand or petty larceny, is a criminal offense.
>> >
>> > Of course, that won't stop the Justins of the world from declaring
>> > anyone
>> > who breeches the terms of an EULA as "thieves".
>> >
>> > Alias
>>

Microsoft supplies a key with the operating system when they send it to the
OEM (original equipment manufacturer). This key "must" be displayed on the
computer - somewhere, by agreement with Microsoft.

The OEM then places an image of Vista, that they have created (including any
specialized drivers, programs and "craplets"), on the computer. This image
has a volume license key so that it can be used hundreds/thousands of times.

If for any reason you want to install Vista from the DVD supplied with your
computer (OEM's do not give you this without you pulling their teeth and
threatening their first born with damnation) you would use the key on the
side of the computer. If you had already used this key elsewhere you can
figure out what the consequences may be.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User


"Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:61706EDC-2C66-47EE-8B8C-77B12B938F0B@microsoft.com...
> Yes, we should not gett into the ethical/moral implications. Why does MS
> give
> me a product key that is different from the one used by the Vista on my
> PC?
>
> "David B." wrote:
>
>> MS wouldn't know about it, that's why it works. Using the OEM license you
>> bought on the computer you bought it with is perfect, transferring that
>> OEM
>> license to a different PC is a violation of the EULA, whether you read
>> the
>> EULA or not, or whether you choose to violate it or not. You did not pay
>> for
>> the right to use the Product key that shipped with your OEM PC on another
>> PC. I'm not getting into the ethical/moral implications, I'm just
>> explaining
>> how the license works.
>>
>> --
>>
>> ----
>> Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>> How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>> How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>> http://www.db-pc.com
>> _________________________________________________________________________________
>>
>>
>> "Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.cl> wrote in message
>> news:uQQ5yhzXHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> >
>> > And how would MS know about it, being as their flawed WPA program
>> > activates it and their flawed WGA program genuinizes it? How is using
>> > something you bought stealing? Besides, breeching an EULA is NOT
>> > illegal
>> > and is NOT stealing. It's a civil offense, not a criminal offense and
>> > stealing, be it grand or petty larceny, is a criminal offense.
>> >
>> > Of course, that won't stop the Justins of the world from declaring
>> > anyone
>> > who breeches the terms of an EULA as "thieves".
>> >
>> > Alias
>>