I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of which,
obviously, came with their own set of copies of the preinstalled software.
All three sets were promptly thrown in a desk drawer without marking which
computer they came with.

Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use the
"wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal serial)
will I have any problems?

I heard a rumor somewhere that the disk now has to match the serial number.

TIA


--
Karl Groves
http://www.8pistons.com
http://www.thehotrodclassifieds.com
http://www.grayscalecms.com
http://www.karlcore.com

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:54:25 GMT, Karl Groves
<karl@NOSPAMkarlcore.com> wrote:

>I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of which,
>obviously, came with their own set of copies of the preinstalled software.
>All three sets were promptly thrown in a desk drawer without marking which
>computer they came with.
>
>Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use the
>"wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal serial)
>will I have any problems?
>
>I heard a rumor somewhere that the disk now has to match the serial number.
>
Why not download Jellybean KeyFinder and let it tell you which serial
is installed on it now, so you can be sure to put the same one back?

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:54:25 GMT, Karl Groves
<karl@NOSPAMkarlcore.com> wrote:

>I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of which,
>obviously, came with their own set of copies of the preinstalled software.
>All three sets were promptly thrown in a desk drawer without marking which
>computer they came with.
>
>Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use the
>"wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal serial)
>will I have any problems?
>
>I heard a rumor somewhere that the disk now has to match the serial number.
>
Why not download Jellybean KeyFinder and let it tell you which serial
is installed on it now, so you can be sure to put the same one back?

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:54:25 GMT, Karl Groves put finger to keyboard
and typed:

>I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of which,
>obviously, came with their own set of copies of the preinstalled software.
>All three sets were promptly thrown in a desk drawer without marking which
>computer they came with.
>
>Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use the
>"wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal serial)
>will I have any problems?

Yes, probably. But you can find out the serial number by
right-clicking on the "my computer" icon and selecting "properties" -
it's under the "general" tab - so you can then match that up with the
disks. Even if you've already formatted one of the machines, you can
work out which one it is by checking the others and using a process of
elimination :-)

>I heard a rumor somewhere that the disk now has to match the serial number.

Not specifically the disk, but an OEM version of Windows won't
re-activate when re-installed if the hardware has changed too much
from the first time it was activated. If it's in an entirely different
machine then the chances of it considering the hardware to be
significantly different are obviously fairly high!

Mark
--
http://www.BritishSurnames.co.uk - What does your surname say about you?
"All this talk of getting old, it's getting me down my love"

Mark Goodge <usenet@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in
news:2hutd3p63np4e36q1qbbkvb08df0lme1v9@news.marks house.net:

> On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:54:25 GMT, Karl Groves put finger to keyboard
> and typed:
>
>>I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of
>>which, obviously, came with their own set of copies of the
>>preinstalled software. All three sets were promptly thrown in a desk
>>drawer without marking which computer they came with.
>>
>>Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use
>>the "wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal
>>serial) will I have any problems?
>
> Yes, probably. But you can find out the serial number by
> right-clicking on the "my computer" icon and selecting "properties" -
> it's under the "general" tab - so you can then match that up with the
> disks. Even if you've already formatted one of the machines, you can
> work out which one it is by checking the others and using a process of
> elimination :-)
>

Well, my problem is, none of the disks have the serial number on them/ near
them. The serial number tag is on the computers themselves. :-(


--
Karl Groves
http://www.8pistons.com
http://www.thehotrodclassifieds.com
http://www.grayscalecms.com
http://www.karlcore.com

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:01:17 GMT, Karl Groves put finger to keyboard
and typed:

>Mark Goodge <usenet@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in
>news:2hutd3p63np4e36q1qbbkvb08df0lme1v9@news.mark shouse.net:
>
>> On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:54:25 GMT, Karl Groves put finger to keyboard
>> and typed:
>>
>>>I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of
>>>which, obviously, came with their own set of copies of the
>>>preinstalled software. All three sets were promptly thrown in a desk
>>>drawer without marking which computer they came with.
>>>
>>>Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use
>>>the "wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal
>>>serial) will I have any problems?
>>
>> Yes, probably. But you can find out the serial number by
>> right-clicking on the "my computer" icon and selecting "properties" -
>> it's under the "general" tab - so you can then match that up with the
>> disks. Even if you've already formatted one of the machines, you can
>> work out which one it is by checking the others and using a process of
>> elimination :-)
>>
>
>Well, my problem is, none of the disks have the serial number on them/ near
>them. The serial number tag is on the computers themselves. :-(

Ah. That rather complicates things.

However, all is still not lost. All you need to do is pick a disk at
random. There's a 1/3 chance it will work. If it doesn't, start again
with another one. At most, you'll need three attempts before it
activates. And that's one disk you can then label, to minimise the
problem next time :-)

Mark
--
http://www.BritishSurnames.co.uk - What does your surname say about you?
"I feel dangerous 'cos I hunger for the truth"

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:01:17 GMT, Karl Groves put finger to keyboard
and typed:

>Mark Goodge <usenet@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in
>news:2hutd3p63np4e36q1qbbkvb08df0lme1v9@news.mark shouse.net:
>
>> On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:54:25 GMT, Karl Groves put finger to keyboard
>> and typed:
>>
>>>I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of
>>>which, obviously, came with their own set of copies of the
>>>preinstalled software. All three sets were promptly thrown in a desk
>>>drawer without marking which computer they came with.
>>>
>>>Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use
>>>the "wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal
>>>serial) will I have any problems?
>>
>> Yes, probably. But you can find out the serial number by
>> right-clicking on the "my computer" icon and selecting "properties" -
>> it's under the "general" tab - so you can then match that up with the
>> disks. Even if you've already formatted one of the machines, you can
>> work out which one it is by checking the others and using a process of
>> elimination :-)
>>
>
>Well, my problem is, none of the disks have the serial number on them/ near
>them. The serial number tag is on the computers themselves. :-(

Ah. That rather complicates things.

However, all is still not lost. All you need to do is pick a disk at
random. There's a 1/3 chance it will work. If it doesn't, start again
with another one. At most, you'll need three attempts before it
activates. And that's one disk you can then label, to minimise the
problem next time :-)

Mark
--
http://www.BritishSurnames.co.uk - What does your surname say about you?
"I feel dangerous 'cos I hunger for the truth"

"nullified" <null@null.null> wrote in message
news:s4utd3lrk85e7jpjhrnf7d2g90jebrfp9s@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:54:25 GMT, Karl Groves
> <karl@NOSPAMkarlcore.com> wrote:
>
>>I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of which,
>>obviously, came with their own set of copies of the preinstalled software.
>>All three sets were promptly thrown in a desk drawer without marking which
>>computer they came with.
>>
>>Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use the
>>"wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal serial)
>>will I have any problems?
>>
>>I heard a rumor somewhere that the disk now has to match the serial
>>number.

Its actually disk plus other bits of hardware. When you activated Windows
Microsoft got to keep a record of your key plus signatures of other bits of
hardware. So you can reactivate it on the same pc with no problems
(probably), but do it on the wrong pc and it won't work. However, if you use
the wrong key I think (not entirely sure) that it will give you the
opportunity to enter a different key.

>>
> Why not download Jellybean KeyFinder and let it tell you which serial
> is installed on it now, so you can be sure to put the same one back?

I'm posting this reply for two reasons:
1. Karl, you may not have seen it because most people now have nullified
kill-filed.
2. Its the right answer.
Link is first one on google:
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml.
--
Brian Cryer
www.cryer.co.uk/brian

Brian Cryer wrote:
> "nullified" <null@null.null> wrote in message
> news:s4utd3lrk85e7jpjhrnf7d2g90jebrfp9s@4ax.com...
>> On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:54:25 GMT, Karl Groves
>> <karl@NOSPAMkarlcore.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of
>>> which, obviously, came with their own set of copies of the
>>> preinstalled software. All three sets were promptly thrown in a
>>> desk drawer without marking which computer they came with.
>>>
>>> Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and
>>> use the "wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and
>>> legal serial) will I have any problems?
>>>
>>> I heard a rumor somewhere that the disk now has to match the serial
>>> number.
>
> Its actually disk plus other bits of hardware. When you activated
> Windows Microsoft got to keep a record of your key plus signatures of
> other bits of hardware. So you can reactivate it on the same pc with
> no problems (probably), but do it on the wrong pc and it won't work.
> However, if you use the wrong key I think (not entirely sure) that it
> will give you the opportunity to enter a different key.
>
>>>
>> Why not download Jellybean KeyFinder and let it tell you which serial
>> is installed on it now, so you can be sure to put the same one back?
>
> I'm posting this reply for two reasons:
> 1. Karl, you may not have seen it because most people now have
> nullified kill-filed.
> 2. Its the right answer.
> Link is first one on google:
> http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml.

what?
karl using a pussy killfile?

nah

Brian Cryer wrote:
> "nullified" <null@null.null> wrote in message
> news:s4utd3lrk85e7jpjhrnf7d2g90jebrfp9s@4ax.com...
>> On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:54:25 GMT, Karl Groves
>> <karl@NOSPAMkarlcore.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of
>>> which, obviously, came with their own set of copies of the
>>> preinstalled software. All three sets were promptly thrown in a
>>> desk drawer without marking which computer they came with.
>>>
>>> Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and
>>> use the "wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and
>>> legal serial) will I have any problems?
>>>
>>> I heard a rumor somewhere that the disk now has to match the serial
>>> number.
>
> Its actually disk plus other bits of hardware. When you activated
> Windows Microsoft got to keep a record of your key plus signatures of
> other bits of hardware. So you can reactivate it on the same pc with
> no problems (probably), but do it on the wrong pc and it won't work.
> However, if you use the wrong key I think (not entirely sure) that it
> will give you the opportunity to enter a different key.
>
>>>
>> Why not download Jellybean KeyFinder and let it tell you which serial
>> is installed on it now, so you can be sure to put the same one back?
>
> I'm posting this reply for two reasons:
> 1. Karl, you may not have seen it because most people now have
> nullified kill-filed.
> 2. Its the right answer.
> Link is first one on google:
> http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml.

what?
karl using a pussy killfile?

nah

Karl Groves wrote:
> Mark Goodge <usenet@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in
> news:2hutd3p63np4e36q1qbbkvb08df0lme1v9@news.marks house.net:
>
>> On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 17:54:25 GMT, Karl Groves put finger to keyboard
>> and typed:
>>
>>> I have three Windows XP machines here at my house. All three of
>>> which, obviously, came with their own set of copies of the
>>> preinstalled software. All three sets were promptly thrown in a desk
>>> drawer without marking which computer they came with.
>>>
>>> Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use
>>> the "wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal
>>> serial) will I have any problems?
>> Yes, probably. But you can find out the serial number by
>> right-clicking on the "my computer" icon and selecting "properties" -
>> it's under the "general" tab - so you can then match that up with the
>> disks. Even if you've already formatted one of the machines, you can
>> work out which one it is by checking the others and using a process of
>> elimination :-)
>>
>
> Well, my problem is, none of the disks have the serial number on them/ near
> them. The serial number tag is on the computers themselves. :-(
>
>


The disks should all be identical, the number is mated to the
machine not to the disk. You can use one disk to load Windows on all
three machines and use the code that is stuck to the machine to register
it. If nothing has changed since it was new or if it's been about 4
years since you first registered it, it will work without a hitch. If
you changed something major like the main board, CPU or something then
you may have to call the toll free number. I've used one disk to install
to 24 machines and then use the number plastered on the machine.

--
"....a couple of belts of .50 BMG individually
engraved "Unsubscribe" - Cadbury Moose

Karl Groves wrote:

> Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use the
> "wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal serial)
> will I have any problems?

No. You won't have any problems whatsoever. As you mentioned elsewhere
in the thread, and is the norm with OEM copies of Windows, the serial
number is on a sticker affixed to the PC case. The Windows discs are
identical, but the serial numbers are associated with the machines they
were first used to register against, so using the serial number that is
stuck to each machine will work fine regardless of which disc you use.

--
Dylan Parry
http://electricfreedom.org | http://webpageworkshop.co.uk

The opinions stated above are not necessarily representative of
those of my cats. All opinions expressed are entirely your own.

Dylan Parry <usenet@dylanparry.com> wrote in
news:fbod4t.1jo.1@dylanparry.com:

> Karl Groves wrote:
>
>> Here's my question: If I format the HD on one of my computers and use
>> the "wrong" Windows disk (despite having a correct, good, and legal
>> serial) will I have any problems?
>
> No. You won't have any problems whatsoever. As you mentioned elsewhere
> in the thread, and is the norm with OEM copies of Windows, the serial
> number is on a sticker affixed to the PC case. The Windows discs are
> identical, but the serial numbers are associated with the machines
> they were first used to register against, so using the serial number
> that is stuck to each machine will work fine regardless of which disc
> you use.
>

Excellent. Thanks to everyone who participated in the thread.



--
Karl Groves
http://www.8pistons.com
http://www.thehotrodclassifieds.com
http://www.grayscalecms.com
http://www.karlcore.com

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:17:31 GMT, "Brian Cryer"
<brian.cryer@remove.127.0.0.1.this.ntlworld.com> wrote:
>> Why not download Jellybean KeyFinder and let it tell you which serial
>> is installed on it now, so you can be sure to put the same one back?
>
>I'm posting this reply for two reasons:
>1. Karl, you may not have seen it because most people now have nullified
>kill-filed.
>2. Its the right answer.
>Link is first one on google:
>http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml.

Ooops, forgot to switch identities.

nullified wrote:
> On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:17:31 GMT, "Brian Cryer"
> <brian.cryer@remove.127.0.0.1.this.ntlworld.com> wrote:
>>> Why not download Jellybean KeyFinder and let it tell you which
>>> serial is installed on it now, so you can be sure to put the same
>>> one back?
>>
>> I'm posting this reply for two reasons:
>> 1. Karl, you may not have seen it because most people now have
>> nullified kill-filed.
>> 2. Its the right answer.
>> Link is first one on google:
>> http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml.
>
> Ooops, forgot to switch identities.

LOL