Legal OEM serial + less legal Win7 DVD = profit?

[Takeshi]

So I have this laptop: http://www.mitedb.dk/shop/acer-aspire-7540g-13926p.html

Now, of course there was a crap load of crap on it when I got it. An insane amount of software which made it slow, and which I would nether be using. Even after 4 restarts stuff continued to pop-up after restart.

Now I've freshly re-installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, the version which was on the laptop when I got it. Although I used a "less legal" DVD for the install. Now can I use the OEM that I got with the laptop to activate it? I could also use my magic, but I would much rather do it the legal way.

The only way is to phone so that's why I'm asking first since it's, what, 10-15 minutes, and those minutes can be spent better if it can't be done anyway.

Also, does anyone know how many times I can use the OEM on the same computer? I don't plan on using it on other computers, but isn't it like 3 times it can be used or maybe I'm thinking about Office?

[wolkec]

If you have original serial it doesnt matter what way you install it...

[isukianime]

If you have original serial it doesnt matter what way you install it...

yep.

[blubart]

Also, does anyone know how many times I can use the OEM on the same computer? I don't plan on using it on other computers, but isn't it like 3 times it can be used or maybe I'm thinking about Office?

if i remember right there is no limit if you are using the phone. a buddy of mine is basically friends with the tech guys there, judging from the number of times he already called them (and has his serial memorized too)

[Takeshi]

Also, does anyone know how many times I can use the OEM on the same computer? I don't plan on using it on other computers, but isn't it like 3 times it can be used or maybe I'm thinking about Office?

if i remember right there is no limit if you are using the phone. a buddy of mine is basically friends with the tech guys there, judging from the number of times he already called them (and has his serial memorized too)

Well, with mine you're only able to use the phone to it. That's where my suspicion began. But I was able to do it. I used to re-format my old, old comp a lot, and I remember memorizing the serial, too.

Anyway, I trust your statement. Although I don't plan on re-formatting anytime soon. It's just a troublesome process.

If you have original serial it doesnt matter what way you install it...

I was thinking if there was a difference between serials which comes with the laptop and editions you buy separately.

Anyway, thanks for clearing this up.

[Proin Drakenzol]

the disk is free. you only pay for the key.

[zherok]

I was thinking if there was a difference between serials which comes with the laptop and editions you buy separately.

Anyway, thanks for clearing this up.

OEM serials are different from stand-alone serials. But for the purposes of authentication it doesn't really matter.

I had to resintall Vista on my laptop after it biffed upgrading to 7. I didn't have a recovery disc, so I had to bootleg a copy. I have an OEM serial, but it wouldn't take it during the install. Which is fine, you just authenticate it after it finished within 30 days or whatever. But the non-OEM disc wouldn't take an OEM serial.

I know XP differentiated between the two as well, so I assume the same is true for 7.

[mgz]

Also, does anyone know how many times I can use the OEM on the same computer? I don't plan on using it on other computers, but isn't it like 3 times it can be used or maybe I'm thinking about Office?

if i remember right there is no limit if you are using the phone. a buddy of mine is basically friends with the tech guys there, judging from the number of times he already called them (and has his serial memorized too)

yea if you are calling and activating and lying to them it doesnt matter until they see like 50 activations on one cdkey in a very short period in which it becomes blacklisted for being one of the publicly released internet ones.

Or in some cases there are businesses that will buy a single copy and use it as a multiuser license to increase profit it doesnt go well for those folks

[kostya]

Or in some cases there are businesses that will buy a single copy and use it as a multiuser license to increase profit it doesnt go well for those folks

How many users were they using it for? Hundreds? Thousands? My old company had about 100 computers all using a single MS Visio and MS Project license (though it may have been a 10 user license or something). I would need to call it in every day or two. I once called in the same key 4 or 5 times in about an hour and that did not set off any flags.

[Proin Drakenzol]

Or in some cases there are businesses that will buy a single copy and use it as a multiuser license to increase profit it doesnt go well for those folks

How many users were they using it for? Hundreds? Thousands? My old company had about 100 computers all using a single MS Visio and MS Project license (though it may have been a 10 user license or something). I would need to call it in every day or two. I once called in the same key 4 or 5 times in about an hour and that did not set off any flags.

Microsoft has seemed to, traditionally, only worry about medium and large businesses attempting to get around the license. They seemed to have realized rather quickly that most of their profit from home OS and small business OS sales comes from the purchase of new computers... not individually packaged OSes; they then realized that attempting to investigate every somewhat fishy license key would cost way more than they would be protecting and said "fuck it" except on the big ones (e.g. a 1000+ employee company or something).

[mgz]

Or in some cases there are businesses that will buy a single copy and use it as a multiuser license to increase profit it doesnt go well for those folks

How many users were they using it for? Hundreds? Thousands? My old company had about 100 computers all using a single MS Visio and MS Project license (though it may have been a 10 user license or something). I would need to call it in every day or two. I once called in the same key 4 or 5 times in about an hour and that did not set off any flags.

Microsoft has seemed to, traditionally, only worry about medium and large businesses attempting to get around the license. They seemed to have realized rather quickly that most of their profit from home OS and small business OS sales comes from the purchase of new computers... not individually packaged OSes; they then realized that attempting to investigate every somewhat fishy license key would cost way more than they would be protecting and said "fuck it" except on the big ones (e.g. a 1000+ employee company or something).

yea the dont really waste time and money investigating unless its extreme, they do blacklist keys rather quick tho

[Lupin]

The big companies will probably have VLKs so they won't have issues with activation.

They will also most likely install new versions of windows on identical machines making almost every activation identical (the only info I can think of that activation sends that is different between these machine will be the MAC addresses of NICs).

[temuchin]

So I have this laptop: http://www.mitedb.dk/shop/acer-aspire-7540g-13926p.html

Now, of course there was a crap load of crap on it when I got it. An insane amount of software which made it slow, and which I would nether be using. Even after 4 restarts stuff continued to pop-up after restart.

Now I've freshly re-installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, the version which was on the laptop when I got it. Although I used a "less legal" DVD for the install. Now can I use the OEM that I got with the laptop to activate it? I could also use my magic, but I would much rather do it the legal way.

The only way is to phone so that's why I'm asking first since it's, what, 10-15 minutes, and those minutes can be spent better if it can't be done anyway.

Also, does anyone know how many times I can use the OEM on the same computer? I don't plan on using it on other computers, but isn't it like 3 times it can be used or maybe I'm thinking about Office?

you could have gotten rid of the bloatware by using PC Decrapifier
i gotta say though- i am seriously leary of downloading an operating system from some torrent or whatever.  heck; for programs i get the trial version and pop in a code.   2 many places for modifications of the code to go unnoticed.

[Xiong Chiamiov]

i gotta say though- i am seriously leary of downloading an operating system from some torrent or whatever.  heck; for programs i get the trial version and pop in a code.   2 many places for modifications of the code to go unnoticed.

You're right to be leery of any sort of executables that you don't have good reason to trust.  I download OSs all the time via bittorrent, but I'm not worried about it, because that's their official method of distribution.

[Lupin]

i gotta say though- i am seriously leary of downloading an operating system from some torrent or whatever.  heck; for programs i get the trial version and pop in a code.   2 many places for modifications of the code to go unnoticed.

if you have the SHA1 or MD5 hashes of the ISOs, you can check your installers for modifications

[fohfoh]

the disk is free. you only pay for the key.

I've begun to hear the opposite now. They now just give you the key free, have a partition, and the DVD costs like 15-30 bucks to obtain. Except for highly expensive comp builds from certain companies.

[Proin Drakenzol]

the disk is free. you only pay for the key.

I've begun to hear the opposite now. They now just give you the key free, have a partition, and the DVD costs like 15-30 bucks to obtain. Except for highly expensive comp builds from certain companies.

Sorry, should have been more specific.

If you purchase a copy of Windows separate from a computer you are paying for the license key, not for the disc.

Nor does it violate the Windows EULA to obtain a "clean copy" disc and install that on your HP/Dell/Acer computer and use the license key that came with the computer.

The key isn't "free" when buying a prebuilt, it's part of the cost of the computer. And you're not getting the license directly from MS, you're getting it from whomsoever you got the computer through.

The license key, not the physical disc, is what authorizes you to use the OS.

This is similar to things like Steam where you buy the games and the proof of ownership is the licensing key since no physical disc is present.

Another example: I use a "hacked" copy of Diablo II: LoD, but I use the legit key I got when I bought it. I'm not breaking any rules.

[Xyresic]

Also, does anyone know how many times I can use the OEM on the same computer? I don't plan on using it on other computers, but isn't it like 3 times it can be used or maybe I'm thinking about Office?

Activation pairs your product key with your hardware configuration and helps verify that your copy of Windows hasn't been used on more computers than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.

So unless you make so many hardware changes the activation key doesn't recognize it as the same computer anymore, you can activate the same computer an infinity amount of times.

[rl9009]

Now I've freshly re-installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, the version which was on the laptop when I got it. Although I used a "less legal" DVD for the install. Now can I use the OEM that I got with the laptop to activate it? I could also use my magic, but I would much rather do it the legal way.

Actually activating it using the SLP Key+Certificate method is perfectly legal in the terms of the License. Hell, even HP supplied me with a Vista Business DVD for my 6930p with a OEM Certificate embedded into the DVD!

[Neco]

I avoid this mess by downloading the version of "insert OS" that does not require activation, or serial input by me,  and always passed WGA tests