Icm76 wrote:BillyGoat wrote:The key is not 'tied' to the motherboard at all
it surely has to be tied to the board or specific Toshiba machines, otherwise it would be usable on other systems no? I was under the impression that while other components can be changed, generic OEM can be transferred to a new mobo
once only in the event of the hardware failing, and Microsoft being satisfied that it's like for like replacement. The alternative vendor specific OEM keys should only activate when the hardware & Windows version match?
The key itself is not entered when it's manufactured. It's activated via an OEM like Toshiba via something called SLP: when it's the factory fitted board (with SLIC in the BIOS), some files in the OS and the correct version of Windows - boom, activated. If the board is replaced via an authorised repair agent, then this information will be put back and nobody will notice and the machine will keep plodding along.
If you just stick another board inside (say it was a desktop and you just replaced it) or recovered with a normal Windows (7) OEM disc, you simply enter the product activation key from the COA on the unit. While the machine won't automatically activate, it won't have an issue activating with the key. Sure, if you then go changing the board again - you'll need to call, but I'm sure they won't mind.... 
BillyGoat wrote:You'd be surprised at how little they make from the whole process...
Of course it's all about profit, nickel and diming the end user. There is no way in hell these media only discs are worth anything like what they charge. imho it should be a free download or fair cost for a disc in the post. I've worked in development and publishing and seen cost breakdowns, the pressing cost is tiny compared to licence costs, development costs, publisher margin, distributor margin, retailer markup etc. How is it that all manner of software with licences can end up on store shelves for <£5 to ≈£40 and still be profitable, yet Toshiba et al can't produce a disc at reasonable price for a license that is
already paid for? Not to mention the possibility of being able to download the equivalent OS and drivers for free from other sources. I think the £30 fee just isn't convincing no matter what pleas the manufacturers want to make. [/quote]
I'll not convince you otherwise, but there are lots of reasons that the cost isn't 5 quid or whatever you feel it should be. A few points:
- Replication can't just be done by ANYONE, they have to use people who have the licence to replicate Microsoft bits (an authorised replicator)
- If it's an after market service to REPLACE discs, then it's either done on demand or a small run = not cheap
- Typically, most HDD based systems have a facility to create media which is only used in a TINY amount of cases which isn't the fault of the manufacturer. People don't care until it's too late
- Sure download......for you maybe. You try and tell someone to download them, burn the media and then install Windows, drivers and THEN any software they are missing and see the look you get - it's like you just sh*t in their mouth.
I'm quite genuine though, that if you think you can compete with the price when all is said and done (international shipping, replication on demand, systems, staff, locations, machinery, printing and all the tape that goes with it, not forgetting it's a business and you've got to make money from this - it's not a hobby) then you should do it....NOW!
I'll pretty much bet that if you produce them for a 5'er cost to the end user, you'll be the number one AR in about 6 months. If you have ANY money left to your name, is another matter.....you won't get rich any time soon......
BillyGoat wrote:It's also not tied to a Toshiba version of Windows - there is no such thing.
I don't know the details of Toshiba, but this vendor specific OEM vs generic OEM issue is, or was, real. I've seen it first hand with someone tearing their hair out trying to do a fresh XP install on a machine from one of the major brands (Dell or Compaq I think.) Neither SP0 or SP1 generic OEM would activate with the key, but once a disc with the manufacturers OEM media was obtained it activated just fine. The service pack wasn't the issue because a full set of generic OEM were on hand to try.
Maybe this doesn't happen any longer with W7 for any brand? It would be really nice to see this problem resolved if wine~o can just re-download the correct service pack version if that's the only barrier to a working laptop.
[/quote]
It's not real. For Windows 7 there is OEM and Retail SKUS. They keys will not work on each other. The key will only work on the version it was shipped with (SP1 key will not work on RTM for example). I'm ignoring all of the Enterprise SKUs, VL versions, etc for simplicity as it's not a concern here.
If you are talking XP, then matters are even more convoluted with versioning. It's possible that the media kit you used also had some kind of manufacturer protection built in which was quite common. It's all in the front end, easy to install even with that IF you know the backend bits 
BillyGoat wrote:I'd take a nice recovery set of discs... ...It's easier
It might be good in theory but I'd say the proof is in the pudding. I've rarely had to help anyone do a fresh install of generic OEM, but Dell, Toshiba, HP et al with their recovery partitions are a PITA every time I encounter them, and there's never an easy way to decline all the extras that are installed for you. wine~o has already told us that the generic disc works without trouble, but the Toshiba specific system is causing problems...[/quote]
[/quote
] Is ALL the stuff they install bad??
Someone set a laptop for my parents with a clean install. The buttons didn't work (extra software). They didn't have control over the external display (yeah, it worked but no overscan/underscan, etc - extra software). It didn't have any productivity, AV, other.
It had multiple partitions, that confused the hell out of my parents. 30GB and the rest on another primary. They THOUGHT they were backing up their photos, should the drive break....it's how they used to do it with an external drive (c to d). Imagine their surprise when it was pointed out that it was the same physical drive.
Would I have preferred them to have a build made by the manufacturer - sure I would.
It's horses for courses, just don't assume that everyone DOESN'T want the extra stuff. Some of it is useful. Just like some people hate it.....
BG
Edit - can't use or be bothered with quotes today, so I've made it all blue.
How do I find out ??
