I've never had the need to do this yet, but was wondering when restoring the preloaded OS to its original factory state (using either F11 at bootup with the original hidden service partition or the recovery disks burned when the machine was still new), will I need to enter the 25 digit OEM Windows activation key found on the Windows sticker placed on the machine?

No, it will be pre-activated exclusively for that machine, however it will only work for that machine.


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The factory install version of Windows from Lenovo has an embedded volume distribution key, with a licence that is valid as long there is an individual COA with a key for the exact same same version of the OS attached to the Thinkpad....... so you don't need to enter any key.


No, that's not the way it works at all.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Hi Bill .... Is the volume distribution key embedded embedded in the BIOS?

I didn't think hunterman223's answer to that was corrent because I can swap HDDs between nearly identical T6X machines without problem (which still have the original preloads in both, but one is WinXP and the other is Vista Business).

Interesting that they can be mixed between Operating Systems w/o compatibility issues ..... I suppose I should just leave it at that and not ask why (since they work nicely as emergency spares for each other).

Thanks

No, that's not the way it works at all.

Cheers,

Bill B.[/quote]
Uh, is that not basically what I just said? I was referring to OEM pre-activation and the use of "royalty" OEM media, where SLP keys are matched with information embedded into the BIOS. Therefore, the media will not activate when using a machine without the information in the BIOS. I imagine if you are swapping HDDs then windows is already activated and won't complain.


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No.

Basically, Microsoft System-Locked Pre-installation licences used by PC/Laptop vendors (these are not OEM licences) look for a SLIC code in the BIOS firmware of the vendor concerned. The SLIC code applies to any BIOS from that vendor, and has nothing to do with exclusivity to a single instance of the BIOS, or exclusivity to a single model/configuration of hardware.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Thanks for clarifying, I suppose I was being to general with my explanation. That's what I was getting at, but I didn't quite get there.

To OP, without any further detail, basically no key is needed from you during install, provided you use the correct media. (I should have left it at that to begin with)


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Okay let me see if I undertand ..... I have 3 nearly identical T6X series units:

One unit with a WinXP Pro COA sticker on the bottom with the activation key numbers, plus one set of Lenovo branded WinXP Pro recovery disks sent directly to me from Lenovo, plus;

Two units with Vista Busines COA stickers sticker on the bottom with the activation key numbers, but only one set of Lenovo branded recovery disks sent directly to me from Lenovo right after I bought new the first of these twins.

1. Do I need to order a second set of Lenovo recovery disks for the Vista twins, or will the one set I have work on both?

2. So if the SLIC code activation method does not require exlcusivity to a single instance of the BIOS, or exclusivity to a single model/configuration of hardware, is this the core reason why can I swap hard drives between not just the Vista twins, but also to the WinXp Pro machine without being asked for a activation code each time?

I actually only use WinXP Pro and have the original Vista HDDs stored unused in my spare parts drawer.

It will work with both.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Thanks Bill .... I'm good with that.