Isn't this wrong?

I bought 2 IBM SFF machines from the same seller on eBay.Both are 8090 models with P4 3.0GHz HT cpus with 40GBHDDs and Windows XP Pro (OEM). I call them my twins.
I didn't realize how true that was until I looked closely at the SIW (System Information for Windows reports.The Windows Key Code and the Serial number are the EXACT same.
I had always heard that it is not supposed to work that way.So what is up?:confused

 

If both PCs were loaded with the same WinXP disc, likely an OEM disc from IBM, then it makes perfectly good sense that they have the same info. I remember a few years ago I was working on 2 HP towers that one guy bought at the same time and they both had identical product keys, I didn't check product ID numbers. The product keys were HP OEM keys and I have since seen the same key many MANY times on other HP systems. The pre-installed OEM key will always be different from the key on the COA sticker. You can (technically speaking) use the preinstalled OEM key to install the OS, but it will not activate. Even if you try to call it in via the customer service toll-free number, it will NOT activate and they'll say it's an invalid key (trust me, I tried it rolleyes ). So the key on the COA sticker is the one to use for installs....

 

Always heard that OEM was valid for 1 machine and 1 machine only.
Possible that they clone the drive to insert into an identical machine to fool MS?
If so, no telling how many other machines are being sold with the same Key Code.
These machines, now that I look, don't have a COA sticker. Seller has a 99.8% rating on eBay.

 

There is NO COA stickers on either machine.

 

Just right clicked on My Computer.
Numbers match exactly on both machines.

 

Xp came pre-installed on both machines.
No disks were shipped with either.
If a reinstall is needed, will just buy a new copy that I know will be legal.

 

OK. Where would I find the Product Key to check?

 

Already stated(posts 4 and 6), that there is no COA sticker.Top,sides,front,back,or bottom.

 

It's the "slightly odd" that concerns me.
A 99.8 % approval rating doing that? Who would have thought it?
Could always follow their example and create a clone if something goes wrong. NOT.
Weren't brought up that way.
Thanks for responding.

 

If neither PC has a product key/COA sticker, and they both have the same key installed, and they both pass Microsoft WGA validation, then it's safe to assume that Windows was installed with an OEM disc from IBM. Is this legal? I dont know.... for example: a friend of mine has 2 Dell laptops, and older Latitude c600(?) (a Pentium 3 I think) and newer (but still kind of old) Inspiron, it's one of the blue and silver ones, I think it's a 5100 or 1100. Anyway, the Inspiron shipped with a Dell branded Windows XP Home disc. He used this same CD to install Windows XP Home on the old Latitude which originally had Win2000. It installed fine, did not prompt for a product key, did not prompt for activation, and has been updating and passing WGA checks for at least a couple years. Both laptops have been installed with the same CD numerous times (at least twice a year per laptop for at least 3 years) and their has never been any issues with WGA or activation or anything. Is this legal? I have no idea, but it worked for him....

 

But it is very odd that neither PC has a COA sticker..... even if it's an old Win2000 sticker.... it's weird that there's no sticker at all.... this means that someone at some time went through the trouble to remove it; the stickers are designed to be difficult to remove and they do NOT come off 'by themselves' or 'accidentally'.... it may or may not have been the seller that removed the sticker, it's impossible to say, but maybe you could ask?

 

Both machines were refurbished by the sellers company before selling.
Both machines came from the same lot of "off-lease" machines.
When I bought my second one,they were vshowing more than 90 left for sale.
Doing that kind of volume as a business, I believe they would know about the COA stickers.

 

This tool will show you the Product Key. http://www.winkeyfinder.com/remository/winkeyfinder/win-keyfinder-1.73-rc2/download.php

 

Thanks for the link.
Shows nothing different than what I have found already.
SIW and Magic JellyBean shows the same numbers.

 

The you have the product keys.

 

2 machines with the same key code? NOT how I've always heard it was supposed to be.

 

It is not supposed to be....unless you have a Volume License.

Honestly, because there is no COA on the side of the box...you probably got screwed with a pirate install on both machines.

If you are not seeing the Product key...you have to be doing something wrong. Especially with Magic Jellybean...it has been around for years and have always been what actual Computer Techs use to find Product keys.

 

Just heard from another source and they believe it may be an Enterprise version for mass installs since all were "off-lease" machines.
Has any of you heard about this Enterprise angle?

 

It's not actually called "Enterprise" it's is referred to as Corporate and used the Volume Licenses I mentioned above. It is sold to companies that have a large number of computers but for the sake of simplicity, they all use a single Product Key and rarely have a COA sticker.

Unfortunately, Windows XP Corporate is the most commonly Pirated version of windows out there...so you may still be in a bad situation.

If you want to PM me and give me an email address I can give you a program that will tell you the Product key AND exactly what version (OEM, Retail, Corporate) of XP your machine has on it.

But if both machines pass WGA on windows update.. it means the Product keys have not been "blacklisted" by MS and you are probably in good shape.

 

I may have been concerned over nothing then, since both machines have already been to the Update Center and passes inspection with no problem appearing.
Thanks to all who responded.

 

Well we have both learned something because I have never heard of this kind of thing. For the Product Key in the OS not to match the COA is very odd..

 

The VLK/Corporate/Enterprise keys are usually, if not always, different from the COA sticker attached to the computer. This is because Dell, HP, Compaq, etc. simply clone hard drives from a standard image per computer model/type.

OEM keys may be different in that OEM versions of Windows can be legally purchased with a piece of computer hardware (mouse even!?) by anyone.

 

Just ran WGATool on both machines.Doesn't say anything about Corporate or Enterprise, but both showed as having the same identical numbers, but also showed as Genuine.
PASS.

 

When I click the Licensing tab, under Licensing info it shows N/A on both machines.