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October 23rd, 2001, 12:15 PM
#1
WinXP OEM installs
I'm working at a small shop and we just started selling machines with XP on them. The ones we have sold already were custom builds and were taken by the customer to be activated. The boss wants me to put a machine together to put on display, but what if the machine don't sell for 30 days? Would I have to format and reinstall? I just want to put a running machine on display. How do I do it?
Indeterminism. There's nothing you can do about it.
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October 23rd, 2001, 05:51 PM
#2
Why not just activate it? It doesnt take any personal info, if you make a major hardware change to it before selling it you'll just have to make a quick call to MS to get it going again.
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October 23rd, 2001, 07:27 PM
#3
Registered User
If you don't want to activate them and rather let the end user do so, just set the clock back in teh BIOS every day to the installation date. As long as you haven't got the Auto Synch Clock enabled and conected to the net with them you should be ok.
Darren Wilson is the ....... MONKEY HUNTER..... Coming to a big screen near you soon!!!
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October 23rd, 2001, 09:44 PM
#4
Banned
I think what you are asking is, is it possible to activate XP, then de-activate it when the customer comes to pick up the PC, so they have to activate it themselves. The system clock idea, although conceivable, is not a reasonable solution if you should forget to do it on the 30th day. Unless reseting it in the BIOS will still fool the OS after the activation is required, (this I don't know).
MS has a fine solution, although I don't think it was meant to be for this; but it just might work for you. Check this article out:
<a href="http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q302/7/40.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=activation&rnk=13&src=DHCS_MSPSS _gn_SRCH&SPR=WINXP" target="_blank">Running Repair on Windows XP Requires the User to Re-Activate the Product</a>
You may not need to run the repair; perhaps restoring a saved pre-activation Wpa.dbl file in place of the post-activation file should do the opposite of what is described in the article. Why don't you test this out, and let us know how it works...
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October 24th, 2001, 08:26 AM
#5
For some reason it did not occur to me that I could just activate it. My customers might be glad they don't have to deal with activation. I don't think it violates the EULA does it?
Are there any advantages or disadvantages to me activating a machine that is on display? It seems to me that this might be the best way.
Indeterminism. There's nothing you can do about it.
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October 24th, 2001, 12:24 PM
#6
Banned
I was kinda' hoping that you would try my above suggestion about the Wpa.dbl file, as I don't have access to XP yet to attempt it.
As far as the End User License Agreement (is that what EULA stands for), never assume! Read the fine print, and contact MS if you are unclear about any of it. Personally, I think the customer should confirm all license agreements, activate products, and register on his own as well. It may seem like a real tangle for those that don't want to do it, but in the long run it teaches them a little about their system, and gets them on line with MS. They might find learning centers and the knowledge base. That will keep you from having to handle all of those annoying free support calls!
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October 24th, 2001, 01:28 PM
#7
Registered User
If you're an OEM, call MS and they should have info on how to do this.
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October 24th, 2001, 01:53 PM
#8
I backed up the preactivation wpa.dbl file and activated. Then I replaced the post-activated wpa.dbl file with the pre-activation wpa.dbl file and sure enough the 30 day activation warning came up. I then restored to post-activation wpa.dbl and the activation ballon has not popped up. How do I check activation status?
Indeterminism. There's nothing you can do about it.
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October 24th, 2001, 03:07 PM
#9
Banned
I just wanted to extend my appreciation, thanks for testing this for us. I wish I could answer your question about activation status.
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October 24th, 2001, 03:28 PM
#10
Registered User
You should be able to click on "activate windows" and it should say "product activated" I believe.
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October 24th, 2001, 04:00 PM
#11
Under system tools - active windows. Docpc is right.
I still dont know if it is better to activate for the customer or let them do it.
Thanks for the replys.
Indeterminism. There's nothing you can do about it.
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October 28th, 2001, 04:36 PM
#12
[quote]Originally posted by Kenteth420:
<strong>Why not just activate it? It doesnt take any personal info, if you make a major hardware change to it before selling it you'll just have to make a quick call to MS to get it going again.</strong><hr></blockquote>
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October 28th, 2001, 04:46 PM
#13
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