If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Key ID numbers must be unique?
Hi all,
A small church came to me to setup 4 computers with Windows 98 SE on them. They had four OEM packs, one for each computer. I opened one of them and installed it on all four computers using the same KEY ID number since I thought that if they had four COA's that the legal letter of the law would suffice. Some linux guy came along and told them that since the same KEY ID number was used on all four computers that if Microsoft ever wanted to sue them, they would loose since all the numbers were the same even though they had all the documentation they needed. So my question is which registry entry do I have to modify so that all the KEY ID numbers match each of the COA's and are there any other places in the computers' OS that have to be modified? thanks, charles..... |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
First of all, I think the advice they got is flat wrong. I think what MS
would be interested in is if you can produce a valid license for each PC. You could write to the legal people and ask them: . I would explain the situation exactly as you have in the post except use Product Key instead of Key ID so as to not confuse the issue. While you can change the Product Key in the registry, you cannot change the Product ID as it is generated during the operating system installation and is based on the Product Key that is input. However, about the only time I can think of when the Product ID is used is during support calls. To change the Key: Open regedit.exe to this key and look in the right pane for the entry ProductKey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion -- Regards Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98 Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour Knowledge Base Info: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo "***** charles" wrote in message ... Hi all, A small church came to me to setup 4 computers with Windows 98 SE on them. They had four OEM packs, one for each computer. I opened one of them and installed it on all four computers using the same KEY ID number since I thought that if they had four COA's that the legal letter of the law would suffice. Some linux guy came along and told them that since the same KEY ID number was used on all four computers that if Microsoft ever wanted to sue them, they would loose since all the numbers were the same even though they had all the documentation they needed. So my question is which registry entry do I have to modify so that all the KEY ID numbers match each of the COA's and are there any other places in the computers' OS that have to be modified? thanks, charles..... |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Ron Badour" wrote in message
... First of all, I think the advice they got is flat wrong. I think what MS would be interested in is if you can produce a valid license for each PC. That was my thinking too. You could write to the legal people and ask them: . I I will contect them. would explain the situation exactly as you have in the post except use Product Key instead of Key ID so as to not confuse the issue. While you can change the Product Key in the registry, you cannot change the Product ID as it is generated during the operating system installation and is based on the Product Key that is input. If the Product ID is based on the Product Key, do all the computers now have the same Product ID or is there some randomization process in there also that makes the Product ID's all unique? If the machines were queried by Microsoft from the Internet before they are reinstalled, would MS think 3 of the 4 are illegal copies? Since this organization needs periodic work on the machines, I can always use the unique numbers on the subsequent installs. However, about the only time I can think of when the Product ID is used is during support calls. To change the Key: Open regedit.exe to this key and look in the right pane for the entry ProductKey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion -- Regards Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98 Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour Knowledge Base Info: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo "***** charles" wrote in message ... Hi all, A small church came to me to setup 4 computers with Windows 98 SE on them. They had four OEM packs, one for each computer. I opened one of them and installed it on all four computers using the same KEY ID number since I thought that if they had four COA's that the legal letter of the law would suffice. Some linux guy came along and told them that since the same KEY ID number was used on all four computers that if Microsoft ever wanted to sue them, they would loose since all the numbers were the same even though they had all the documentation they needed. So my question is which registry entry do I have to modify so that all the KEY ID numbers match each of the COA's and are there any other places in the computers' OS that have to be modified? thanks, charles..... |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Since the Product Keys are the same, the Product IDs should be the same
also. MS does not query machines from the internet so there is no way they could tell the same Product Key was used. -- Regards Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98 Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour Knowledge Base Info: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo "***** charles" wrote in message ... "Ron Badour" wrote in message ... First of all, I think the advice they got is flat wrong. I think what MS would be interested in is if you can produce a valid license for each PC. That was my thinking too. You could write to the legal people and ask them: . I I will contect them. would explain the situation exactly as you have in the post except use Product Key instead of Key ID so as to not confuse the issue. While you can change the Product Key in the registry, you cannot change the Product ID as it is generated during the operating system installation and is based on the Product Key that is input. If the Product ID is based on the Product Key, do all the computers now have the same Product ID or is there some randomization process in there also that makes the Product ID's all unique? If the machines were queried by Microsoft from the Internet before they are reinstalled, would MS think 3 of the 4 are illegal copies? Since this organization needs periodic work on the machines, I can always use the unique numbers on the subsequent installs. However, about the only time I can think of when the Product ID is used is during support calls. To change the Key: Open regedit.exe to this key and look in the right pane for the entry ProductKey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion -- Regards Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98 Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour Knowledge Base Info: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo "***** charles" wrote in message ... Hi all, A small church came to me to setup 4 computers with Windows 98 SE on them. They had four OEM packs, one for each computer. I opened one of them and installed it on all four computers using the same KEY ID number since I thought that if they had four COA's that the legal letter of the law would suffice. Some linux guy came along and told them that since the same KEY ID number was used on all four computers that if Microsoft ever wanted to sue them, they would loose since all the numbers were the same even though they had all the documentation they needed. So my question is which registry entry do I have to modify so that all the KEY ID numbers match each of the COA's and are there any other places in the computers' OS that have to be modified? thanks, charles..... |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 09:08:39 -0500, Key ID numbers must be
unique? "***** charles" wrote: The email to Microsoft is on its' way so we'll see what they say. thanks for the feedback. Let us know what they say. -- To reply to me directly, remove the XXX characters from my email address. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
"Vic Dura" wrote in message
... On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 09:08:39 -0500, Key ID numbers must be unique? "***** charles" wrote: The email to Microsoft is on its' way so we'll see what they say. thanks for the feedback. Let us know what they say. Been around 48 hours and no response, don't expect one. They probably just ignored it. charles..... |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
minimize/close button changed to numbers | JasonHuang8888 | General | 1 | August 16th 04 05:23 AM |
numbers lock on at start up | Brenda Corrigal | General | 1 | August 8th 04 05:56 AM |
Lost ID numbers | [email protected] | Software & Applications | 1 | June 29th 04 03:31 AM |
Conflict of Product Numbers | Shirley | Setup & Installation | 1 | June 23rd 04 07:07 AM |
negative numbers in virtual memory tab | Improving Performance | 2 | May 10th 04 07:07 PM |