Yes, the COA key comes in handy when you need to do a clean install, mostly for folks who never got a restore disk and failed to make recovery disks/ image their system. Otherwise, people just continue using their SLP installs, theres no reason not to.
When you validate an SLP system, the certificate is naturally one of the key indicators that is verified. There are many others- the mobo brand, computer maker, bios maker, bios date, product key, bios flag etc.
If I understand correctly, what you mean is that either OEM computers should not require validation at all or validation should be restricted to some select components. In an ideal world, that could be possible. Unfortunately, there exist ways to circumvent the system.
Also, this is part of the broader MS anti-piracy initiative which covers the different types of licenses. Piracy hurts MS, so anturally one would expect innovation to come from them rather than from the OEMs. Also, there really isnt that much effort going into it as you might think. WAT calls home only once in 90 days, and it hasnt evolved too much since it was introduced, but thats another topic......
I came across the summary below which was interesting.
I never recall activating my Acer OS and I think it falls into the category OEM:SLP described in the link. It states that the OEM:SLP activation is carried out offline without contacting MS. I can imagine how the security of these systems could be very tight and avoid MS costly overheads.
My PC appears to have a COA sticker so I think it may fall into the category OEM:COA with OEM:SLP key preinstalled.
They mention the OEM:NONSLP which does need to be activated by phone or online. I'm guessing that if I activate my OS with the COA key it then falls into the OEM:NONSLP category.
Introduction to windows 7 product key
Correct.I never recall activating my Acer OS and I think it falls into the category OEM:SLP described in the link
The SLP activation scheme has loopholes which have been exploited but by no means is this MS's biggest headache. However, newer EFI bios's are already around and will become mainstream, these will be far more difficult to manipulate. I believe MS and the OEMs are cooperating on this.It states that the OEM:SLP activation is carried out offline without contacting MS. I can imagine how the security of these systems could be very tight and avoid MS costly overheads.
Please remember that its not that MS cant catch this kind of rogues. Technically its quite possible but the logistics are somewhat prohibitive plus false positives ratchett up support calls.
No, your PC will fall into the COA category only if you use the COA key to activate windows.My PC appears to have a COA sticker so I think it may fall into the category OEM:COA with OEM:SLP key preinstalled.
When you do that, it'll fall in the COA category. OEM-NONSLP is a different license, it refers to system builder oem installs. Thats the kind you buy cheap from Newegg etc. or the types used by white box vendors, they work and behave like retail keys but are cheaper because MS support is not bundled.I'm guessing that if I activate my OS with the COA key it then falls into the OEM:NONSLP category.
Yes ok. My PC is effectively OEM:SLP at the moment but can be made OEM:COA with a clean install and activating windows.
Where I started from was the idea that with OEM:SLP you are less likely to get activation issues (on the same PC of course). Moving to OEM:COA could introduce the occasional need to reactive like OEM:NONSLP which both seem to involve MS in ongoing activation checks.
Therefore there could be an advantage in retaining the OEM:SLP activation state.
Well, if you stick to the original factory install or reinstall using the recovery disks/restore disk, then activation issues are unlikey to crop up.
What activation issues? No activation issues here in 100+ factory OEM clean reinstalls with COA activation.
A factory install is compromised from the start with bloatware including useless factory utilities which needlessly duplicate superior features in Win7, and which are nearly impossible to remove without corrupting System Files. It is a corrupt install.
Therefore a clean reinstall makes any factory install "better than new."
Activation issues are negligible.
Clean reinstall tips: re-install windows 7
Attempt to clean up factory OEM tips: HP laptop has used up all four primary partitions
Dont worry, I'm not advocating factory installs, the statement about activation was not exclusive of other types of licenses.
As I now see it the best approach is if you have an OEM:SLP (most bought systems)
(1) Clean up the trial software. If some residual components remain, clean them up manually (or with things like Revo Uninstaller) or forget about them unless they cause problems.
(2) Go to OEM:COA if (1) is proving to be a problem or you want certain changes to your partition structure. With the COA sticker you can always go from OEM:SLP to OEM:COA at a later stage.
With (1) it appears to be less likely you will get reactivation issues later on. eg. with older images.
Retail, OEM:COA, OEM:NONSLP may all require MS reactivation at some stage. This should be straightforward and able to be done with a phone call or online.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the conclusion I have come to so far in this discussion (including the little bit of information I refer to).
My current OEM:SLP has 4 primary partitions:
Factory Recovery; System Reserved; Win 7 OS; Data
I think I could (if I wanted!) change the Data partition to Extended & have multiple logicals.
I know through the forum advice how to go OEM:COA / clean install if and when I want to.
Quote