[vipejc]

Isn't there something in the Microsoft EULA that forces Microsoft to keep the activation servers for XP active forever? The software is the end user's forever. So what happens in, say, 2020. Is there a possibility that if you have to reinstall XP, you won't be able to because Microsoft shut down the activation servers? I highly doubt Microsoft would do that because there'd be an uproar, but just curious.

[Ponch]

vipejc, on 15 November 2011 - 03:07 AM, said:

there'd be an uproar

Sure. Of the scale like if today they'd stop the ability to install the DOS 6.0 that came out in 93.
Are you trying to resurect a closed thread ?

This post has been edited by Ponch: 15 November 2011 - 08:49 AM

[Tripredacus]

Even if Microsoft turns off the XP Activation server in the future, I'm sure you could still ring them up on the phone and do it the old fashioned way.

[jaclaz]

Tripredacus, on 15 November 2011 - 09:14 AM, said:

Even if Microsoft turns off the XP Activation server in the future, I'm sure you could still ring them up on the phone and do it the old fashioned way.

The only difference might be who will actually answer you on the phone :

Spoiler

jaclaz

[vipejc]

Ponch, on 15 November 2011 - 08:48 AM, said:

vipejc, on 15 November 2011 - 03:07 AM, said:

there'd be an uproar

Sure. Of the scale like if today they'd stop the ability to install the DOS 6.0 that came out in 93.
Are you trying to resurect a closed thread ?

No, I'm genuinely interested to know. Do you think it'll become a problem for retail versions as time goes on after 2014?

[dencorso]

vipejc, on 15 November 2011 - 02:35 PM, said:

Ponch, on 15 November 2011 - 08:48 AM, said:

vipejc, on 15 November 2011 - 03:07 AM, said:

there'd be an uproar

Sure. Of the scale like if today they'd stop the ability to install the DOS 6.0 that came out in 93.
Are you trying to resurect a closed thread ?

No, I'm genuinely interested to know. Do you think it'll become a problem for retail versions as time goes on after 2014?

I doubt there'll be any problem. I wouldn't worry, were I you.
BTW, do read this: The Life and Times of Windows XP

[cluberti]

Given acquiring Windows XP nowadays isn't possible in the retail or OEM channels without a separate agreement from Microsoft (and OEM and volume versions of XP don't activate with Microsoft anyway), the actual amount of XP activations nowadays is probably a very small number. Not sure about when or if they'll turn them off, so to speak, but I think the quip above about DOS 6.0 is probably pretty accurate .

[Glenn9999]

cluberti, on 18 November 2011 - 10:37 AM, said:

Given acquiring Windows XP nowadays isn't possible in the retail or OEM channels without a separate agreement from Microsoft (and OEM and volume versions of XP don't activate with Microsoft anyway), the actual amount of XP activations nowadays is probably a very small number.

Don't forget reinstalls, which would require activation again. And OEM licenses don't require activation? That's news to me since I have 2 of those here which do.

[jaclaz]

cluberti, on 18 November 2011 - 10:37 AM, said:

Given acquiring Windows XP nowadays isn't possible in the retail or OEM channels without a separate agreement from Microsoft (and OEM and volume versions of XP don't activate with Microsoft anyway), the actual amount of XP activations nowadays is probably a very small number. Not sure about when or if they'll turn them off, so to speak, but I think the quip above about DOS 6.0 is probably pretty accurate .

Yes and No, IMHO.

There is a number of OEM licenses that require activation unless I am mistaken, i.e. there are "common OEM" and "big OEM" (pre-installed) the latter may not need activation, but the former do.
http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php
And there is a (legitimate AFAIK) market for "used" copies of RETAIL XP.
The doubts are about OEM licenses (that are sold anyway all over the net) of the "first" kind.
This should be NOT a big problem since legally what you get is a licence to install that OS on a given hardware that probably won't last until after the servers will be shut down eventually, but still one might preserve an old machine (as an example for historical/collection purpose and need in the future to re-install the OS to it).

But say that you buy legitimately a RETAIL version of XP (or you already own one).

This might need to be activated when you re-install (for whatever reason, and since it is a RETAIL you have the right to install and use it on completely new hardware).

The good news are that Vista users will have eventually even greater problems :
http://www.msfn.org/...sta-activation/

jaclaz

[cdob]

Glenn9999, on 18 November 2011 - 11:12 AM, said:

And OEM licenses don't require activation? That's news to me since I have 2 of those here which do.

The manufactuer describes: Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP
http://technet.micro...y/bb457078.aspx

[Glenn9999]

cdob, on 18 November 2011 - 01:04 PM, said:

Glenn9999, on 18 November 2011 - 11:12 AM, said:

And OEM licenses don't require activation? That's news to me since I have 2 of those here which do.

The manufactuer describes: Preserving OEM Pre-Activation when Re-installing Windows XP
http://technet.micro...y/bb457078.aspx

I'll have to try that next time I do a reinstall. But since I assemble my own computers (and hence ordered my OEM copies from NewEgg), what would I have to do to "pre-activate" things? Is that on the OEM system builder disk (which I really didn't find much documentation on, and is for base XP anyway) or would there be some other documentation on it somewhere?

[Tripredacus]

jaclaz, on 18 November 2011 - 12:13 PM, said:

There is a number of OEM licenses that require activation unless I am mistaken, i.e. there are "common OEM" and "big OEM" (pre-installed) the latter may not need activation, but the former do.

jaclaz

Most people will refer to the System Builder kit as OEM version because it does indeed state the term "OEM" on the packaging, but this is due to how it is allowed to be sold. Its something that sales people need to realise that the general customer base will refer to the incorrect terms for the products and need to be able to decode what exactly a customer is talking about...

Glen9999 said:

I'll have to try that next time I do a reinstall. But since I assemble my own computers (and hence ordered my OEM copies from NewEgg), what would I have to do to "pre-activate" things? Is that on the OEM system builder disk (which I really didn't find much documentation on, and is for base XP anyway) or would there be some other documentation on it somewhere?

You cannot create a pre-activated install using the System Builder kit.

This post has been edited by Tripredacus: 18 November 2011 - 04:04 PM

[cdob]

Glenn9999, on 18 November 2011 - 03:37 PM, said:

But since I assemble my own computers

That's another case.

Pre-Activation relates to

Quote

Large PC Manufacturers

[mjdbb1]

Although I can't find the source now, I do remember reading in some documentation from Microsoft that if they were to discontinue the activation servers, they would release an update that would disable the need for activation. I'll update this post if I can find the original article...

[jaclaz]

Tripredacus, on 18 November 2011 - 03:58 PM, said:

Most people will refer to the System Builder kit as OEM version because it does indeed state the term "OEM" on the packaging, but this is due to how it is allowed to be sold. Its something that sales people need to realise that the general customer base will refer to the incorrect terms for the products and need to be able to decode what exactly a customer is talking about...

Not only the sales/marketing, also the Legal department may benefit from some plain-english.
Just for the record:
http://www.zdnet.com...-microsoft/1561
http://www.zdnet.com...icrosoftcom/535
http://www.edbott.co...icensing-terms/

That link to the TWO official MS documents, one still online:
http://www.microsoft..._hobbyists.aspx
and one removed by now, (and being behind the login portal has not been archived by the Wayback Machine) but for which some excerpts are given in the above blog post.

jaclaz

[5eraph]

 oem_licensing_2.jpg (40.52K)
Number of downloads: 0

Thanks for that, jaclaz. For a moment there I thought Microsoft was arbitrarily making me a criminal for using easily accessible/purchasable System Builder media for my own home-built PCs.

[submix8c]

http://unattended.ms...xp/view/web/29/

Methods 2 and 3. Method 2 is for (any) non-"real" OEM. Method 3 is for "real" OEM (e.g. Dell, HP, etc.) Having a "generic" key works for the kit. Method 3 is for big OEM's and requires the OEM key for the associated manufacturer/PC plus the four files. Big OEM's have a special agreement with MS to get those files.

Method 1 is the topic being discussed by the OP (the Activation Servers).

[jaclaz]

submix8c, on 19 November 2011 - 06:05 PM, said:

http://unattended.ms...xp/view/web/29/

Methods 2 and 3. Method 2 is for (any) non-"real" OEM. Method 3 is for "real" OEM (e.g. Dell, HP, etc.) Having a "generic" key works for the kit. Method 3 is for big OEM's and requires the OEM key for the associated manufacturer/PC plus the four files. Big OEM's have a special agreement with MS to get those files.

Method 1 is the topic being discussed by the OP (the Activation Servers).

Well, this does not answer the OP question.

Example:

• You have a nice PC you built yourself (you are a one-man-show OEM ).
  
• The install is activated online and you make a nice copy of WPA.DBL and WPA.BAK.
  
• Years pass by, you never need to reinstall.
  
• The hard disk dies, you buy a new or used working one and you want to reinstall legitimately your Windows XP OEM copy, you can find your original OEM CD with it's key but you cannot find anymore your backup of the files.
  
• The MS activation servers have been shut down in the meantime.

What can you do?

I hope that at the time MS will shut down the service they will give a "local" activation program or give a "good for all" key, or give the delta to make such OEM's VLK-like or however needing no activation.

jaclaz

[dencorso]

jaclaz, on 20 November 2011 - 07:54 AM, said:

I hope that at the time MS will shut down the service they will give a "local" activation program or give a "good for all" key, or give the delta to make such OEM's VLK-like or however needing no activation.

So do I. Yet, I fear this will never happen... then again, I do believe MS'll keep the service going for a long time, if not for any other reason, at least because shutting it down when about half the users worldwide (at least) still use XP would be courting a huge propaganda disaster.

[cluberti]

I would doubt that by 2014 it will be any larger than about 25% other than asia (piracy, mostly), given the trends even this year in 2011. Microsoft usually keeps updates and such available for at least 5 years after an OS officially hits End Of Life, although this will be the first OS that required activation to hit EOL, so I suppose we'll see. I would expect activation servers to be online for a few years after 2014, and 2019 (given their previous behavior with updates and articles, etc) seems like a reasonable time. If you can still find hardware and drivers to install XP onto properly in 2019, I'd be very surprised.

I guess "we'll see" is the answer, but Microsoft no longer supporting the OS but requiring activation will be the interesting bit once they start taking things down. Perhaps a hotfix to disable WPA is in the cards?