O/S license for s/h computers?

"HaroldA" wrote in message
...

If I buy and sell s/h computers which come to me with W98 already on, do I
need
a MS license? And if I were to regularly load W98 onto formatted hdds,
what
would a license cost me?

Most people don't provide licenses for some reason or another. It is
technically/legally dubious to do so but AFAIK microsoft stopped supporting
Windows '98 (or am I thinking of '95?) so you probably couldn't buy a
license anyhow.

"HaroldA" wrote in message
...

If I buy and sell s/h computers which come to me with W98 already on, do I
need
a MS license? And if I were to regularly load W98 onto formatted hdds,
what
would a license cost me?

I always though you did but a while back I was requesting a set of master
CDs from Compaq for some machines which were still under warranty and I
asked them what I should do regarding the fact that they were sending master
CDs but there was no licence/COA stickers with the machines.

Their reply was, without hesitation, to inform me that I would not have to
enter a key code when installing as the software on the master CD would
automatically read the licence key code applicable to the machine from the
motherboard.

Sounds like ******** to me but is a huge company like Compaq are saying
this, is there any truth in it?






--

Best Regards
Niel Humphreys
Snowdon Computers Ltd

(HaroldA) wrote:

If I buy and sell s/h computers which come to me with W98 already on, do I need
a MS license? And if I were to regularly load W98 onto formatted hdds, what
would a license cost me?

You will need licenses if you sell the PCs with the OS pre-loaded. If
you're not getting the certificates with the machines you'll need to
buy them.

Windows 98 is no longer available as a retail product but system
builders are still able to purchase licenses. The original version
will also cease to be available as of the end of next month and 98 SE
at the end of March.

--
iv Paul iv

[ Mail: ]
[ WWW: http://www.hopwood.org.uk/ ]

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 21:09:01 +0100, "Snowdon Computers"
wrote:

"HaroldA" wrote in message
m...

If I buy and sell s/h computers which come to me with W98 already on, do I
need
a MS license? And if I were to regularly load W98 onto formatted hdds,
what
would a license cost me?

I always though you did but a while back I was requesting a set of master
CDs from Compaq for some machines which were still under warranty and I
asked them what I should do regarding the fact that they were sending master
CDs but there was no licence/COA stickers with the machines.

Their reply was, without hesitation, to inform me that I would not have to
enter a key code when installing as the software on the master CD would
automatically read the licence key code applicable to the machine from the
motherboard.

Sounds like ******** to me but is a huge company like Compaq are saying
this, is there any truth in it?

If its from an OEM image set (rather than a rebranded MS Win 98 disk)
that may have a certain amount of truth. My toshiba laptop comes with
XP on a disc set that is essentally and installer and a drive image.
In this case it checks that the target machine is the Toshiba laptop
in question. They may be doing this these days.

Or he could be just confused over the Windows XP licence code
generator :-)
--
This post does not reflect the opinions of all saggy cloth
cats be they a bit loose at the seams or not
GSX600F - Matilda the (now) two eared teapot, complete with
white gaffer tape, though no rectal chainsaw

"Snowdon Computers" wrote:

I always though you did but a while back I was requesting a set of master
CDs from Compaq for some machines which were still under warranty and I
asked them what I should do regarding the fact that they were sending master
CDs but there was no licence/COA stickers with the machines.

Their reply was, without hesitation, to inform me that I would not have to
enter a key code when installing as the software on the master CD would
automatically read the licence key code applicable to the machine from the
motherboard.

Sounds like ******** to me but is a huge company like Compaq are saying
this, is there any truth in it?

It's not *quite* true, in that they don't read the licence key from
the machine per se, but it's true some of the larger OEMs (Dell,
Toshiba and Compaq spring to mind) use customised versions which don't
require entry of a CD key. The key is "embedded" within the setup
files and the installation simply checks that the target machine is
manufactured by the vendor in question to satisfy the terms of the
licence agreement.


--
iv Paul iv

[ Mail: ]
[ WWW: http://www.hopwood.org.uk/ ]

In message , Snowdon Computers
writes
Sounds like ******** to me but is a huge company like Compaq are saying
this, is there any truth in it?

Certainly possible.. Certain versions of MS OS'es as supplied to
"Select" customers never needed a licence number either software added
one when needed or just bypassed the serial number routine - not a
compaq fan and never seen such a beast - but I wouldn't be surprised if
the software generates a number at install time claiming it came from
the Mobo. The logistixcs are a lot easier than having the chip on a mobo
supply the number (though technically wasy..


--
njc AKA (Fastpay, Paypal & nochex e-mail)

In message , Bagpuss
writes
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 21:09:01 +0100, "Snowdon Computers"
wrote:

"HaroldA" wrote in message
om...

If I buy and sell s/h computers which come to me with W98 already on, do I
need
a MS license? And if I were to regularly load W98 onto formatted hdds,
what
would a license cost me?

I always though you did but a while back I was requesting a set of master
CDs from Compaq for some machines which were still under warranty and I
asked them what I should do regarding the fact that they were sending master
CDs but there was no licence/COA stickers with the machines.

Their reply was, without hesitation, to inform me that I would not have to
enter a key code when installing as the software on the master CD would
automatically read the licence key code applicable to the machine from the
motherboard.

Sounds like ******** to me but is a huge company like Compaq are saying
this, is there any truth in it?

If its from an OEM image set (rather than a rebranded MS Win 98 disk)
that may have a certain amount of truth. My toshiba laptop comes with
XP on a disc set that is essentally and installer and a drive image.
In this case it checks that the target machine is the Toshiba laptop
in question. They may be doing this these days.

Or he could be just confused over the Windows XP licence code
generator :-)

Ahh but does it check the actual Model (easy) or the inividual machine
(not so easy)


--
njc AKA (Fastpay, Paypal & nochex e-mail)

In message , Paul Hopwood
writes
It's not *quite* true, in that they don't read the licence key from the
machine per se, but it's true some of the larger OEMs (Dell, Toshiba
and Compaq spring to mind) use customised versions which don't require
entry of a CD key. The key is "embedded" within the setup files and
the installation simply checks that the target machine is manufactured
by the vendor in question to satisfy the terms of the licence agreement.

Sounds a far more likely scenario..

--
njc AKA (Fastpay, Paypal & nochex e-mail)

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 19:41:24 +0100, "nigel. carron"
wrote:

In message , Bagpuss
writes
On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 21:09:01 +0100, "Snowdon Computers"
wrote:

"HaroldA" wrote in message
. com...

If I buy and sell s/h computers which come to me with W98 already on, do I
need
a MS license? And if I were to regularly load W98 onto formatted hdds,
what
would a license cost me?

I always though you did but a while back I was requesting a set of master
CDs from Compaq for some machines which were still under warranty and I
asked them what I should do regarding the fact that they were sending master
CDs but there was no licence/COA stickers with the machines.

Their reply was, without hesitation, to inform me that I would not have to
enter a key code when installing as the software on the master CD would
automatically read the licence key code applicable to the machine from the
motherboard.

Sounds like ******** to me but is a huge company like Compaq are saying
this, is there any truth in it?

If its from an OEM image set (rather than a rebranded MS Win 98 disk)
that may have a certain amount of truth. My toshiba laptop comes with
XP on a disc set that is essentally and installer and a drive image.
In this case it checks that the target machine is the Toshiba laptop
in question. They may be doing this these days.

Or he could be just confused over the Windows XP licence code
generator :-)

Ahh but does it check the actual Model (easy) or the inividual machine
(not so easy)

I would suspect Model as its a pressed disk rather than a gold CDR. Of
course it could check CPU id if applicable or the MAC address of the
network card (if installed or on board). Most likley it will be just
model type, as it would be a PITA supplying replacement disks else.
--
This post does not reflect the opinions of all saggy cloth
cats be they a bit loose at the seams or not
GSX600F - Matilda the (now) two eared teapot, complete with
white gaffer tape, though no rectal chainsaw