[hrlow2]

I have always heard that an OEM disk can only be active on 1 machine only.
I have purchased 2 identical machines from the same company off of eBay.Both were refurbs and exactly identical(model,cpu,OS).I call them my twins.
Didn't realize how accurate that was until I looked at the System Information for Windows reports.The OS code key AND serial numbers match exactly.
Machines were purchased 2 1/2 weeks apart.Both were refurbed prior to sale and shipped with XP Pro pre-installed.
Seller has an eBay rating of 99.8% with over 11k in sales.At the time of my second purchase, they still had more than 90 identical units on sale.All were listed as being "off-lease" units.
No telling how many other machines are running with the same key code.

[bbearren]

If they are off-lease then they are likely to have XP Enterprise edition installed. Enterprise edition uses a common key for gobs of computers, so there is nothing unusual in that.

Check the COA stickers on the bottom of the laptops to see if they are the same.

[hrlow2]

No COA sticker on top,sides,front,back,or bottom.

[bbearren]

Caveat emptor. With Enterprise OEM, I would expect the keys to be identical, but not the serial numbers of the machines.

If you ever get into serious Windows trouble, you're probably looking at buying a Retail XP Pro CD. With OEM, it is not the disk that is licensed, it is the machine. Without a COA, you might not be able to do a reinstall even if you were able to borrow an Enterprise OEM CD.

[hrlow2]

to bbearren
It is the Windows Product ID number and Key Code numbers that match.
Machines have different serial numbers.

[RootbeaR]

OEM licenses allow for installation on X number of machines.

[vicks]

I think that if you will d/l and run www.belarc.com. ( It is a small free program) that will give you the model numbers, license numbers, key numbers and serial numbers of everything on your computer. I keep a hard copy of this for each of our computers, so I will have it for reference when something happens.
Any way, this will let you know if the same OEM number is on each of your machines.
Vicks

[bbearren]

Originally Posted by hrlow2

to bbearren
It is the Windows Product ID number and Key Code numbers that match.
Machines have different serial numbers.

I was going by this:

Originally Posted by hrlow2

Didn't realize how accurate that was until I looked at the System Information for Windows reports.The OS code key AND serial numbers match exactly.

[bbearren]

Originally Posted by RootbeaR

OEM licenses allow for installation on X number of machines.

Incorrect. The OEM license is for the machine AND installed software; the combination. It doesn't matter which OEM installation CD the software comes from, as long as it is the same version licensed to the machine--Home for Home, Pro for Pro, etc. When the machine dies, the license dies with it. Replacement of non-functioning hardware is allowed, but not upgrades (unless no direct replacement exists).

An OEM installation CD can be used on any number of machines many times, but the Product Key that must be used for the installation is the COA sticker on the machine. OEM CD's don't usually have a Product Key printed anywhere on the CD.

[RootbeaR]

Originally Posted by bbearren

Incorrect. The OEM license is for the machine AND installed software; the combination. It doesn't matter which OEM installation CD the software comes from, as long as it is the same version licensed to the machine--Home for Home, Pro for Pro, etc. When the machine dies, the license dies with it. Replacement of non-functioning hardware is allowed, but not upgrades (unless no direct replacement exists).

An OEM installation CD can be used on any number of machines many times, but the Product Key that must be used for the installation is the COA sticker on the machine. OEM CD's don't usually have a Product Key printed anywhere on the CD.

I was talking about someone buying an OEM Licensed version of OS which is what manufacturers purchase, not what is installed on machine.

They buy one disc, install on many machines.

[bbearren]

Originally Posted by RootbeaR

I was talking about someone buying an OEM Licensed version of OS which is what manufacturers purchase, not what is installed on machine.

They buy one disc, install on many machines.

Yes, indeed, and for each and every machine upon which that one OEM CD is used for installation there must be a COA purchased and licensed to the machine in order for the installation to be legitimate.

Without the individual COA's on each individual machine, the installations are illegal. The software cannot be legally used on the individual machine without an individual COA licensed to the machine/software combination.

That's what I was talking about.