deportes

I bought a used HP/Compaq desktop that is windows vista ready/compatible.
I was planning on installing my original copy of Windows XP, will XP work Ok?
When I bought the used computer I did not see the original receipt.
Can I find out if it is in fact hot?
When I hook up to the internet and log my windows XP copy, does the computer send more info than the IP adress? I sure don't wnat to loose my freedom because the computer may be traced to me if it is hot.

Thanks.

Jinn

If you've installed this copy of Windows XP (technically, this CD key), it is only valid for one machine. A large change of hardware - like a totally new computer - will require you to call Microsoft and let them know of the change. You will be able to install it without a problem, but Windows Activation (a feature within Windows) will nag you for 30 days and then lock you out until you call them.

When you activate your copy of XP, a lot more information than your IP is sent, but they claim it is nothing personally identifiable:

"To ensure the end user's privacy, Microsoft uses a one-way mathematical algorithm to create the hardware hash used by Product Activation to create the Installation ID. Once created, the hash information cannot be calculated back to its original values. Hardware information is sent through the algorithm in the software on the PC-not at Microsoft-to create the hash. The raw hardware information is not known or sent to Microsoft. Ensuring end user privacy is a No. 1 design goal for Microsoft with Product Activation."

I don't personally trust them, but that is their official stance and the one they'd have to defend in court if they were caught collecting additional information.

If your computer is "hot," Microsoft has no interest in finding out or reporting you to the authorities. Physical computer theft is incredibly hard to trace, as there is very little to tie a physical machine to its physical owner.

Keep in mind, however, that in the event that local authorities somehow manage to track you down, they can confiscate (e.g. take) the machine without compensating you, as it is stolen goods. Likewise, contents on that machine (like any illegally licensed software you have) would be admissible against you in legal proceedings.

So, in short:

(1) Don't buy computers you think might be hot, unless you can handle the risk of having them confiscated from you at any time, with no compensation, and with the possibility of your personal data/software use being known to authorities.

(2) If you _do_ need to install Windows XP on multiple machines, pirate Windows. Pirated copies don't need to be activated, and work very nicely.

__________________
"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

Daemon1313

You can legally use your CD key to run XP on one computer on any given time. So if you wiped the old computer, you can install it on the new PC legally without issue. You can use the automatic activation a couple of times even with major hardware changes (5 times I think). After that you have to do the phone process which is time consuming but easy.

The activation key is generated using a one-way hash of serial number from various pieces of hardware. There is no way to reverse the process and get the serial numbers back out of the activation key.

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A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

Anexkahn

if you bought a new machine with a legit vista key, you can install xp using any working key, and within 30 days call microsoft to phone activate...you give them your vista key and xp install id and they will give you a valid code to activate.. i had to escalate once doing this, to find someone that knew what i was talking about, but a second time the first calltaker was able to do it...

you still need to keep your box stickered for vista, and you can't use that vista key on another machine -- but if you ever want to go back to vista..... like say after service pack 3ish.... you can do that no problem.

deportes

Thank's guys for your responses, very informative. I will buy the same model from ebay refurbished and keep the hot one for parts.
What parts are usable is the question. What parts are traceable?

Power supply
DVD drive
Monitor?
Case
ram

Jinn

Strictly speaking, none of them. They're not "tagged." It is nigh impossible for the previous owner (in the event that it is hot) to know the serial numbers for every peripheral in his computer. I sure as hell don't.

At the most, the hard drive could have a hidden sector which contained owner information, but that's similarly unlikely.

__________________
"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel