Can I use one serial key on two identical computers?

[letsmakedonuts]

I know windows activation links your product key with the computer hardware, so does this mean I can use the same serial key on two computers with the same exact model number? And if so does it matter if they are both connected to the internet (will Microsoft see that the same serial key is being used at the same time on two or more computers)

 

[Psychoticus]

I know windows activation links your product key with the computer hardware, so does this mean I can use the same serial key on two computers with the same exact model number? And if so does it matter if they are both connected to the internet (will Microsoft see that the same serial key is being used at the same time on two or more computers)

NOTE:What you are asking is Illegal, I also doubt anyone here will assist you in circumventing windows activation.

 

[letsmakedonuts]

not saying I am going to do it, or that I have two computers that are the same model... just want to know how windows activation works. I just got asked on an interview and have no idea if I gave the correct answer or not.

 

[Xander]

No.

Despite being the same model number, parts have specific serial numbers. I'm 99% sure these get factored into the activation process somewhere.

Oh, and it wouldn't be worth finding out the hard way.

 

[iisjman07]

I'm sure if this did work more people would be doing it, but I think activation also goes by the individual motherboard serial number. I'm 99% sure in the end it won't work

 

[geekhelp4u]

The answer to this question is Yes and No. It depends on the COA license. If the license is a VLK than you can install that key on as many machines as the VLK is licensed to and only for the company in which the license was purchased for. Additionally - many vendors such as HP and Dell will sell their machines with a multiple license OEM. If you look at the COA on the case - it will say 1-2 machine license. This means that two machines were sold with the same key. Both of these machines will have the same key on the COA. If you do not meet these requirements - then installing the same single license key on more than one machine is against Microsoft's EULA. Additionally - using a key from one exact model machine to activate windows on another exact model machine (unless they not have the same 1-2 license as mentioned above) is also against the EULA.

 

[usacvlr]

Typically you can use the same key on up to 3 different systems. Microsoft's activation system is much more lax than it was several years ago.

I know windows activation links your product key with the computer hardware, so does this mean I can use the same serial key on two computers with the same exact model number? And if so does it matter if they are both connected to the internet (will Microsoft see that the same serial key is being used at the same time on two or more computers)

 

[KompuKare]

Motherboard serial #? I think it's based on a sum of hardware PLUS the MAC so even '100%' identical machines will not have the same act. key.

I always, though the 1-2 OEM COA meant 1-2 CPUs that it was licensed for more than one core? Or was that only relevant in the days of NT5 or W2K?

 

[MrUnknown]

I am pretty sure the 1-2 means processors. When XP first came out I don't think there were dual core processors? Can't really remember. Either way, each copy of Windows is only ever licensed for one computer. Despite that you may be able to install it on 3 before casusing the system to flag it, it is still only legally for one system.

 

[TriadPCSolutions]

Technically and legally are separate issues. A company I have worked for, did successfully clone a license in a way that using 3 images cover 350 machines with 3 licenses. I didn't bother to blow the whistle on it due to the fact that they did legally have nearly 400 legal licenses and install disks sitting in the closet, just the concept that the images had to be mass produced and at the time neither I nor they were familiar with sysprepping. I'm not going to explain how here, but yes all of those were successfully activated and ran without a hitch getting updates and everything for a full year while I was there. Around the time I was leaving that job they were attempting to negotiate with microsoft a bulk license deal, they hated the idea of it due to not wanting to pay twice for it.

Now in my view from that scenario, the one in the legal right was clearly Microsoft, however the one in the moral wrong would be the countless microsoft licensing support representatives that they talked to, who told them there was no legal solution for their problem besides re-purchasing the full 400 licenses. (with my knowlege these days I know they could have sysprepped and used the images on the systems, however I didn't know that 8 years ago)

 

[Alan22]

I am pretty sure the 1-2 means processors. When XP first came out I don't think there were dual core processors? Can't really remember.

Correct. The 1-2 means processors. When XP was first released there were no dual core processors on the market, but there were motherboards that supported 2 or more physical processors.

 

[Haktar]

im pretty sure the key is activated using the OEM ID of the SLIC portion of the bios for an OEM key anyway, you could extract the SLIC portion of the BIOS and insert it into another boards BIOS using a hex editor although its very illegal.

 

[MrUnknown]

im pretty sure the key is activated using the OEM ID of the SLIC portion of the bios for an OEM key anyway, you could extract the SLIC portion of the BIOS and insert it into another boards BIOS using a hex editor although its very illegal.

The key on the side of the computer is a full key and can be activated like a regular key. The key you get from the computer with a keyfinder has OEM in it and is activated by the BIOS and such.

 

[smlie4]

Typically you can use the same key on up to 3 different systems.

I think this is correct of Windows Full Retail Version, but to my knowledge OEM versions are not so flexible.

 

[meanderer]

like some members mentioned, the legal issue and the technical issues are separate here.
I remember I heard some long time ago that a retail version is legal for 1 desktop and 1 laptop owned by the same person... but with laptops being a lot of people's main or only laptop I think that probably changed.

It is possible to use the same key to install both computers if you are using some factory image with OEM keys. and if you installed the same OS that the computer came in, you should have no legal troubles even if the image are the same. But there maybe technical issues when you activate them.

 

[parttimetechie]

Windows Activation has to do with "weights and flags". If you change a motherboard, it will be such a massive change you will need to reactivate windows and it can not be used on another system. If you change video cards, ram, etc then the flags are smaller and weigh less. Two identical systems will not be activated under the same key because as mentioned, they have different HW SN's and windows checks these. IMO Microsoft goes to great lengths to piss the average tech off and makes it difficult to reinstall a computer. I always liked Linux because of this, that is one of the huge factors for Linux is no product activation. I think even Mac requires activation now.

 

[hondablaster]

Typically you can use the same key on up to 3 different systems. Microsoft's activation system is much more lax than it was several years ago.

Solidifying was usa said...

(well me speaking about xp right now) Studying for the A+ my material covered the XP licensing scheme in detail in terms of activation, its not as complex as you would(well the math definitely is) think its just a hash of hardware sizes more or less. And with all that Microsoft deletes their data after a specific amount of time, I believe it was either, 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years. Basically if you reactivated after that time frame (making sure your serial is not flagged of course) your 3 activations in that window should still be valid. From what I understand M$ does not track their COA for the long term.

Speaking about XP there are many ways around its system without hacking or cracking anything. These are preventions from mass piracy/distribution.

http://www.tipsdr.com/windows-xp-activation.html

http://www.licenturion.com/xp/fully-licensed-wpa.txt

While on topic its a common mistake to think you need a new license to go from Vista 32 to 64, simply activate by phone go through the hassle. and if lets say you went from 32 to 64 if you need to reactive the 64bit you can do it online. If you go from 64 back down to 32 call activate by phone again and the next time that serial activates @ 32 bit you can simply do it online. My original Vista is a 32 bit license. Its been 64 for years and Microsoft acknowledges and used to tout each license covers both. I wonder if W7 is similar.

 

[brokenmachine]

Windows Telephone activation is almost always automated and if you answer the automated prompts "correctly" it will always give you back a confirmation ID.

How you use that information is up to you,
Brokenmachine

 

[geek12]

I know windows activation links your product key with the computer hardware, so does this mean I can use the same serial key on two computers with the same exact model number? And if so does it matter if they are both connected to the internet (will Microsoft see that the same serial key is being used at the same time on two or more computers)

No.

Because your serial key is ictivated.

 

[BOSS]

It seems there was a local tech, years ago, who got caught building identical computers, and cloning hard drives and selling them. In my opinion, be leary of any computer running Windows that does not have a COA on it. Sounds like trouble to be.