Prebuilt PC + Windows XP = No Internet Activation

[Steve]

When product activation was put into Windows, there was outcry from the tech world. Most of us are used to it now, but it seems Microsoft are shifting the goal posts again.

Customers who find themselves reinstalling Windows XP should be ready for a headache: Microsoft will no longer support activating the product over the Internet for PCs which have Windows pre-installed.

Intended to curtail the stealing and selling of certificates of authenticity, the new security measure will start at the end of this month. At first, it will be limited to the Windows XP software preinstalled on systems shipped by the top 20 PC sellers.

As it stands, it shouldn't be too much of a big deal, but we'll have to see.

[ZDNet article]

[nvening]

It says top 20 pc sellers. Does that mean that if we buy OEM copys of xp fro new PCs we built we will just have to activate the old way?

[Steve]

It says top 20 pc sellers. Does that mean that if we buy OEM copys of xp fro new PCs we built we will just have to activate the old way?

For now, it looks that way.

[funnelhead]

So now you have to phone them....what can they do on the phone that they cant automate on the servers? Have some hick completely misunderstand you as you bellow ur liscence key down the phone to the U.S. ? I can understand how this wont affect most people, but my company sells warranty returned computers including Dell,Packard Bell, Compaq and IBM....

usually by the time we have swapped out some Ram or the cpu to find the fault, XP needs reactivating..... So now i have to phone America 10 times a bloody day??

Think ill just start using corporate without telling my Boss....

[shiato storm]

its another great idea by micro$haft...
i just don't understand it - are they TRYING to push customers away?

[Kumagoro]

It makes sense that they want to do it though. Now you can just look at someones
laptop and copy the number and use it for yourself seeing as they will be using a
recovery CD.

[sparky191]

Yet another reason to switch OS...