3 ms·

Is this a hardware or a software boycott? Because I have trouble finding anything remotely decent when it comes to macbookpro alternatives. Then again, I just s

by meritt 11y ago

Is this a hardware or a software boycott? Because I have trouble finding anything remotely decent when it comes to macbookpro alternatives. Then again, I just sorta assumed most people always did clean installs and wiped the pre-installed shit that every PC vendor bundles.

potatolicious 11y ago
Honest question: could you even do that without buying an extra copy of Windows? Back in the old days you got a CD key with your PC, so you can install a fresh copy of Windows easily from your own media. But nowadays it seems like not all keys are equal, and I'm under the impression that short of buying your own copy you can only reinstall the OEM, hacked-up version.
- Already__Taken 11y ago
  The key is in the bios now so you should be able to load any OS that's the same version i.e. pro or home. I've never tried though. I don't know if there is still a different version for OEM or VL windows like XP had different key types.
  - lashkari 11y ago
    I just went through this with a new Dell XPS for my dad. I performed a wipe/reinstall (with media created directly from a Microsoft download) and Windows 10 never asked me for a key after reinstalling it, and it reports as being activated. Seems like they've moved away from requiring an OEM key in addition to the SLIC BIOS signature.
    - sfilipov 11y ago
      They went a step further. Once a Windows 10 machine is activated, a "hash" of its hardware is taken and associated with the product key. When you reinstall Windows 10, the activation service matches your hardware information with the product key. You need to enter a product key only the first time you install Windows 10 on a particular machine.
      - Already__Taken 11y ago
        When I was building machines and asked about the OEM licence, this hardware hash is related to the motherboard. MS consider a new motherboard a new PC, everything else you should get away with changing.
z3t4 11y ago
The problem is that the vendor OS disk is just a "factory reset" and not a clean windows copy.
tacticus 11y ago
The problem is if you only do a software boycott they can just reinstall their crap https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150812/11395231925/lenovo-busted-stealthily-installing-crapware-via-bios-fresh-windows-installs.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150812/11395231925/lenov...

by meritt 11y ago

potatolicious 11y ago

Honest question: could you even do that without buying an extra copy of Windows? Back in the old days you got a CD key with your PC, so you can install a fresh copy of Windows easily from your own media. But nowadays it seems like not all keys are equal, and I'm under the impression that short of buying your own copy you can only reinstall the OEM, hacked-up version.

Already__Taken 11y ago
The key is in the bios now so you should be able to load any OS that's the same version i.e. pro or home. I've never tried though. I don't know if there is still a different version for OEM or VL windows like XP had different key types.
- lashkari 11y ago
  I just went through this with a new Dell XPS for my dad. I performed a wipe/reinstall (with media created directly from a Microsoft download) and Windows 10 never asked me for a key after reinstalling it, and it reports as being activated. Seems like they've moved away from requiring an OEM key in addition to the SLIC BIOS signature.
  - sfilipov 11y ago
    They went a step further. Once a Windows 10 machine is activated, a "hash" of its hardware is taken and associated with the product key. When you reinstall Windows 10, the activation service matches your hardware information with the product key. You need to enter a product key only the first time you install Windows 10 on a particular machine.
    - Already__Taken 11y ago
      When I was building machines and asked about the OEM licence, this hardware hash is related to the motherboard. MS consider a new motherboard a new PC, everything else you should get away with changing.

z3t4 11y ago

The problem is that the vendor OS disk is just a "factory reset" and not a clean windows copy.

tacticus 11y ago

The problem is if you only do a software boycott they can just reinstall their crap https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150812/11395231925/lenovo-busted-stealthily-installing-crapware-via-bios-fresh-windows-installs.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150812/11395231925/lenov...