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

launch the 'command prompt' and type[color=blue]
>slmgr -dli[/color]
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.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost [url]http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm[/url]
How to ask a question [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375[/url]
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_________________________________________________________________________________


"Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E0557161-DEF5-4201-960F-9490DA67E77D@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Don't be surprised. No piracy, no crack. It's legal and Microsoft deserves
> some credit.
>
> launch the 'command prompt' and type[color=green]
>>slmgr -dli[/color]
> 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.
>
>
>[/color]

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

"David B." wrote:
[color=blue]
> 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 [url]http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm[/url]
> How to ask a question [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375[/url]
> How to Post [url]http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm[/url]
> [url]http://www.db-pc.com[/url]
> _________________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> "Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E0557161-DEF5-4201-960F-9490DA67E77D@microsoft.com...[color=green]
> > Don't be surprised. No piracy, no crack. It's legal and Microsoft deserves
> > some credit.
> >
> > launch the 'command prompt' and type[color=darkred]
> >>slmgr -dli[/color]
> > 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.
> >
> >
> >[/color]
>[/color]

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 [url]http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm[/url]
How to ask a question [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375[/url]
How to Post [url]http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.db-pc.com[/url]
_________________________________________________________________________________


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

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:
[color=blue]
> 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 [url]http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm[/url]
> How to ask a question [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375[/url]
> How to Post [url]http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm[/url]
> [url]http://www.db-pc.com[/url]
> _________________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> "Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:36EA8432-89A1-4D19-A773-59502F4AB1D1@microsoft.com...[color=green]
> > If you're correct, then why will one successfully activiate Vista on
> > another
> > PC using the key on my COA sticker?
> >[/color]
>[/color]

David B. wrote:[color=blue]
> 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.
>[/color]

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 [url]http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm[/url]
How to ask a question [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375[/url]
How to Post [url]http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.db-pc.com[/url]
_________________________________________________________________________________


"Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.cl> wrote in message
news:uQQ5yhzXHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
>
> 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[/color]

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:
[color=blue]
> 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 [url]http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm[/url]
> How to ask a question [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375[/url]
> How to Post [url]http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm[/url]
> [url]http://www.db-pc.com[/url]
> _________________________________________________________________________________
>
>
> "Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.cl> wrote in message
> news:uQQ5yhzXHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...[color=green]
> >
> > 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[/color]
>[/color]

So the OEM can image the disk.
"Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:61706EDC-2C66-47EE-8B8C-77B12B938F0B@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> 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:
>[color=green]
>> 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 [url]http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm[/url]
>> How to ask a question [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375[/url]
>> How to Post [url]http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm[/url]
>> [url]http://www.db-pc.com[/url]
>> _________________________________________________________________________________
>>
>>
>> "Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.cl> wrote in message
>> news:uQQ5yhzXHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...[color=darkred]
>> >
>> > 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[/color]
>>[/color][/color]

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 ****ation) 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...[color=blue]
> 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:
>[color=green]
>> 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 [url]http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm[/url]
>> How to ask a question [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375[/url]
>> How to Post [url]http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm[/url]
>> [url]http://www.db-pc.com[/url]
>> _________________________________________________________________________________
>>
>>
>> "Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.cl> wrote in message
>> news:uQQ5yhzXHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...[color=darkred]
>> >
>> > 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[/color]
>>[/color][/color]

[color=blue]
> 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 ****ation) 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.
>[/color]
According to what you said, the key on the COA sticker belongs to the one
who purchases the PC and is (and will) not be used, unless the PC owner uses
it to reinstall the OS. But what may happen when someone installs a pirate
Vista using a key generator and the key being generated happen to be the key
on the COA sticker?

You're correct. The OEM that pre-activates Vista on a computer (assuming
they pre-activate) may activate with a different key than that provided on
the sticker. The key provided on the sticker is provided to you as the
consumer because you may need to re-install Vista on THAT PC and wouldn’t
have access to the original key used to do so.

However, as others have posted according to the license agreement which you
agreed to during the first boot sequence you are prohibited from using that
key in a manner other than for which it was intended. OEM licenses are
generally non-transferable.

Cheers,
J

"Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F1B1600C-FFE0-442E-89AA-ECA31BFC24EE@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> 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:
>[color=green]
>> 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 [url]http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm[/url]
>> How to ask a question [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375[/url]
>> How to Post [url]http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm[/url]
>> [url]http://www.db-pc.com[/url]
>> _________________________________________________________________________________
>>
>>
>> "Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:36EA8432-89A1-4D19-A773-59502F4AB1D1@microsoft.com...[color=darkred]
>> > If you're correct, then why will one successfully activiate Vista on
>> > another
>> > PC using the key on my COA sticker?
>> >[/color]
>>[/color][/color]

"Joe Guidera" <jguidera-remove@msn.com> wrote in message
news:21540FC8-FE9F-4131-9005-37F5CCB940B3@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> You're correct. The OEM that pre-activates Vista on a computer (assuming
> they pre-activate) may activate with a different key than that provided on
> the sticker. The key provided on the sticker is provided to you as the
> consumer because you may need to re-install Vista on THAT PC and wouldn't
> have access to the original key used to do so.
>
> However, as others have posted according to the license agreement which
> you agreed to during the first boot sequence you are prohibited from using
> that key in a manner other than for which it was intended. OEM licenses
> are generally non-transferable.
>
> Cheers,
> J
>[/color]
If the PC is set up using volume license, and you can boot into Windows and
get the key used and it is different than the one on the case, then you have
two keys. You could then use the CD and key provided to install the OS on a
different PC. The problem is (assuming Vista works like XP) that you could
not reinstall the OS on the PC it was purchased with then, because the OEM
CD with it will not accept the volume license. You would have to get a
volume CD to use the key they set it up with.

Are we going to have to go over every scenario?
It has been my experience with OEM PC's, that even when you reinstall with
the recovery CD you do not use the key on the COA, it uses the original
volume key and never asks you for one during OS install, some do ask though.
If it doesn't activate after the install, you just call MS and activate over
the phone.

--
----
Crosspost, do not multipost [url]http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm[/url]
How to ask a question [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375[/url]
How to Post [url]http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.db-pc.com[/url]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Leonard" <Leonard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:529989E2-5123-4545-B5EA-E975EC7DA2C5@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
>[color=green]
>> 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 ****ation) 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.
>>[/color]
> According to what you said, the key on the COA sticker belongs to the one
> who purchases the PC and is (and will) not be used, unless the PC owner
> uses
> it to reinstall the OS. But what may happen when someone installs a pirate
> Vista using a key generator and the key being generated happen to be the
> key
> on the COA sticker?
>[/color]

"Eric" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message news:%23QmqbP$XHHA.2436@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
>
> "Joe Guidera" <jguidera-remove@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:21540FC8-FE9F-4131-9005-37F5CCB940B3@microsoft.com...[color=green]
>> You're correct. The OEM that pre-activates Vista on a computer (assuming
>> they pre-activate) may activate with a different key than that provided on
>> the sticker. The key provided on the sticker is provided to you as the
>> consumer because you may need to re-install Vista on THAT PC and wouldn't
>> have access to the original key used to do so.
>>
>> However, as others have posted according to the license agreement which
>> you agreed to during the first boot sequence you are prohibited from using
>> that key in a manner other than for which it was intended. OEM licenses
>> are generally non-transferable.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> J
>>[/color]
> If the PC is set up using volume license, and you can boot into Windows and
> get the key used and it is different than the one on the case, then you have
> two keys. You could then use the CD and key provided to install the OS on a
> different PC. The problem is (assuming Vista works like XP) that you could
> not reinstall the OS on the PC it was purchased with then, because the OEM
> CD with it will not accept the volume license. You would have to get a
> volume CD to use the key they set it up with.[/color]


I've seen nothing to suggest that Vista's OEM DVD is any different than
Vista's volume license DVD (if there even is such a thing). All Vista
DVDs are identical, only the key is different.
--
Gary VanderMolen