Windows XP licensing

[BlackRiver]

The company I work for used to have 8 computers running Windows XP. All computers had pirated versions of the OS (don't ask me how and why). We now bought 8 new licences with VL key. My question is this: From the legal point of view, do I need to reinstall Windows XP on all 8 computers, or can I take the short route and just change the product key in the registry?

Thank you for your answers.

[Nightwalker83]

From the Window XP Professional End User License Agreement

• Installation and use. You may install, use, access, display and run one copy of the Product on a single computer,
such as a workstation, terminal or other device (“Workstation Computer”). The Product may not be used by
more than two (2) processors at any one time on any single Workstation Computer.

[techgnome]

All right Nightwalker... how does that answer the question?

@BlackRiver... you probably could get away with taking the simple route... BUT... just in case there ever is a software audit or something similar... I'd go ahead and go through the process of re-installing and activating the now-legal copies.

-tg

[Nightwalker83]

All right Nightwalker... how does that answer the question?

Well, wouldn't the same product key mean it is the same software? Given this I would have thought the second line gives as a hint.

The Product may not be used by more than two (2) processors at any one time on any single Workstation Computer.

That is if I haven't misjudged the question completely?

[techgnome]

No, the question was asked badly... licence key and product key are not the same thing... it looks like they were used interchangably in the first post... I think the OP meant Licence Key... not Product Key.

-tg

[Nightwalker83]

Well, I was under the impression that Microsoft sold business licenses for cases such as in the first post?

[BlackRiver]

It is possible that I didn't explain the situation very well. When I review my Open Licence details, I see that the effective quantity of licences is 8, and product family including Windows. When I move to product keys, I can see Windows XP Professional listed with the corresponding product key. This is the product key that needs to be used on all 8 computers, if I am understanding it correctly. I googled and found an article by Microsoft describing the necessary steps to change the product key in the registry without having to reinstall Windows. My only problem is that all the operating systems currently installed are pirated, so I'm not sure that only changing the product key would make them "legal".

[Nightwalker83]

It is best to install the legit version of the operating system because from what I have been told the illegal versions may have been doctored and the various checks for the serial, etc may have been removed.

[Lord Orwell]

you can use rockxp4 to change your product key with no problems. as a side note there are license keys available for xp (i have one myself) that allow it to install on multiple computers. It's a corporate license.

[Axcontrols]

It is best to install the legit version of the operating system because from what I have been told the illegal versions may have been doctored and the various checks for the serial, etc may have been removed.

Are they hacked/cracked or just using the wrong (ie somebody else's) activation codes.

If it's simply a case that a genuine activation code, perhaps a VL, has been used too many times then I'd probably just change the codes. But if the OS is really hacked/cracked then I wouldn't want it anywhere near my network and would be wiping and starting again.

In the 'old days' it was quite common for the hacker to remove/disable the license key checks and online activation process. Also some of the pirated versions didn't run the Windows Update service. So it's possible that your pirated OS hasn't been updating either. But the hackers weren't robin hood. They weren;t hacking the OS because they wanted to do everyone a favor. They had other reasons such sticking all manner of spyware, bulk mailers etc into the OS. So, if it's hacked then wipe it and start again. Sure that's inconvenient but they shouldn't have used pirated software in the first place and you should bill them for your time till the pips squeak.

[Lord Orwell]

if it's a corporate install of xp it doesn't activate online. It's common for corporate networks to not have internet access and can you imagine how long it would take IT to activate 100 computers over the phone? so microsoft charged more per computer for the corporate license but you don't have to deal with genuine advantage or online activation. and updates are disabled by default because IT usually handles that with service packs. I just wonder how you came to the conclusion the original install was illegal? remember bulk installs all use the same license key.

[Lord Orwell]

The company I work for used to have 8 computers running Windows XP. All computers had pirated versions of the OS (don't ask me how and why). We now bought 8 new licences with VL key. My question is this: From the legal point of view, do I need to reinstall Windows XP on all 8 computers, or can I take the short route and just change the product key in the registry?

Thank you for your answers.

i should point out that the genuine advantage program only makes you change the product key.

[Nightwalker83]

Are they hacked/cracked or just using the wrong (ie somebody else's) activation codes.

Well, it could be either unless the source states that the product is a hack/crack or just copied.