Re: PcTech Digest, Vol 5, Issue 23 -- PCTECH

I have heard in some of the MS boards that the big name supplied CDs are
locked to their motherboard BIOS strings. In other words you can install
a Dell XP CD to just about any Dell motherboard but not to a Gateway or
generic.

Yes, that's been my experience. Our policy with new computers is toalways start with a fresh installation (it gets rid of all the garbagethey install on the new PC, plus verifies that the OS and driver CDsthat come with the machine aren't defective.) So I've installed WinXPmany times using Dell's WinXP CDs, and what you say is definitely thecase... the CDs work great in any Dell PC (I've used the XP SP2 CD for anewer computer when reinstalling an older PC that didn't come with servicepack 2, so I know they work with other Dell machines.)

I think that even if you call MS activation line they will refuse toactivate it. They have licensed the manufacturer to include a CD/key fortheir machines, not just any machine.

Dell doesn't provide a CD key. You can install the Dell WinXP CD on yourDell PC without any key and without activation.

If you try it on a different computer (I tried this once when I couldn'tfind the original CD for a different PC) it asks you for a CD key, so ifyou don't have that key, you can't install it.

I didn't try calling MS activation, though, so I don't know what they'ddo. I just looked harder to find the correct CD :)

Actually I think that part of the code is in the license key somehow. Ido know that the keys must match the type. OEM keys to OEM CDs, VolumeLicense keys to Volume License CDs and Retail keys to Retail CDs...

Since you don't get a license key per se (you get a certificate ofauthenticity sticker, but no key to type in) I don't think it's coded intothe key. I'm sure it's coded onto the CD itself somewhere.

I also found out that all the big name supplied keys will not activate
automatically any more. You always have to call the MS activation line
and tell someone in India why.

At least with Dell, I don't have to type a key, and I don't have toactivate it (not even over the Internet) which is really nice because Ican reinstall the PC to solve problems without having to mess with gettingpermission from MS activation.