Read windows key dead mobo

Even warranty repairs with OEM supplied replacements is not guaranteed. Back when this BIOS imbedded key started with W8 I used to do a few OEM warranty repairs for HP. Not only did they have instructions for addressing this problem I actually ran into it a few times. Apparently some of their replacement motherboards were shipped directly from the manufacturer ( Foxconn, etc) warehouse.

On the chip reader thing. As I mentioned before, from what I have read, this development is intended improve security. Basically it's to prevent an Evil Maid type of attack.
 
Current Dell replacement mainboards DO NOT come with a key. Dell provides a key on a card during replacement. The OEM license is locked to the mainboard, you arne't legally allowed to replace it without a license replacement. Enjoy that little fun joy that's now enforceable.

If you white box, you still get a key and you can do what you've always done thanks to the sticker. If you get a tier 1 machine, and the mobo faults, you get to use the warranty service to replace, or you get a new machine. Because the cost of mobo + windows is a new machine. Of course if you're in MS's refurbishment program you can get a refurb seat for far less money... but I haven't tried to navigate that paperwork yet.
 
Ah, but can you take for disposal a non-working system and sell them a refurb that you've replaced the motherboard in?

Because everyone loves a barracks lawyer.
 
fencepost said:
Ah, but can you take for disposal a non-working system and sell them a refurb that you've replaced the motherboard in?

Because everyone loves a barracks lawyer.
Click to expand...

That would be my question as well, you can't "fix" the machine, but can you "sell them a refurb" that happens to be made out of the recycled remains of their old one?

The answer is probably yes, but it also probably requires a fresh install.
 
I am always appalled with the repair techs who are also refurbishers that would be willing to break the refurbishers agreement to make an extra buck after all the hoops to become a refurbisher and "if" get caught lose the right and extra income of refurbishing when doing it right.

Look at eBay and all of the "refurbisher only" keys and disks being sold. Now that many of the computers hitting the market for refurbishing have Win 8 and a bios key, having the status as a small refurbisher is not that important anymore. The chance that anyone getting caught/prosecuted for selling a refurb without a refurb sticker on it is slim to none so many don't care anymore.

Now we compound the fact by even talking about skirting the rules of the MS EULA's on a forum where people come to learn about the computer repair business and in a sense showing inexperienced members how to game the rules/system.
 
Sky-Knight said:
That would be my question as well, you can't "fix" the machine, but can you "sell them a refurb" that happens to be made out of the recycled remains of their old one?

The answer is probably yes, but it also probably requires a fresh install.
Click to expand...

NO, but you CAN take their existing computer in on trade and get them into a new computer. Then you can refurbish their old one and resell it to SOMEONE ELSE.

Just because something "works" doesn't mean that it's properly licensed. The ONLY type of key you're allowed to use when replacing a motherboard is the original OEM key that's slipstreamed into the motherboard's firmware or a full retail license. OEM licenses are only if you're building a new system from scratch and SELLING it to someone. Refurb licenses are ONLY to be used when you're refurbishing a computer to resell. You can't use those licenses on a client's system that you're just fixing for them.
 
sapphirescales said:
NO, but you CAN take their existing computer in on trade and get them into a new computer. Then you can refurbish their old one and resell it to SOMEONE ELSE.

Just because something "works" doesn't mean that it's properly licensed. The ONLY type of key you're allowed to use when replacing a motherboard is the original OEM key that's slipstreamed into the motherboard's firmware or a full retail license. OEM licenses are only if you're building a new system from scratch and SELLING it to someone. Refurb licenses are ONLY to be used when you're refurbishing a computer to resell. You can't use those licenses on a client's system that you're just fixing for them.
Click to expand...
I know many here do not agree with him on most things but in this case he is 1000% correct and understands the EULA.
 
Porthos said:
I know many here do not agree with him on most things but in this case he is 1000% correct and understands the EULA.
Click to expand...

Yup. I'm expensive but there's a reason for that. I'm good at my job. I do things right, I don't cut corners, and I do everything legitimately. I buy Samsung SSD's rather than the cheapest thing I can find and then I charge the difference to my clients. I put in what I would personally put into my OWN system. I follow license agreements, buy the proper software, and live up to my agreements. Somebody gives me net30 terms, I make d@mned sure they get paid on time. I try to live every day being the best human being I know how to be. But living this way and doing business this way costs a lot more so I have to charge more. It's simple economics and business. But hey - I sleep well at night.

Some people think that my prices are akin to swindling someone, but if both parties agree to a transaction and everyone's happy, there's nothing wrong with that. I have loyal clients that would defend me to to the end even if they knew the ins and outs of the business simply because their time and making sure the computer is fixed RIGHT is way more important to them than saving a few bucks (or even a few hundred bucks). I'm not claiming to be the cheapest in town or telling them to replace things that don't need to be replaced. I offer my services for a certain price and they say yes or no. There's nothing wrong with that. Nobody's holding a gun to their head and forcing them to do business with me.
 
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And here's where you're still not completely in the clear...

The way Microsoft defines a computer, basically is the mainboard. So, if you take the scraps in on tradein for a new unit, and sell them that new units made out of the parts from the old one, it's STILL a new "unit" because you put a different mobo in it.

That being said such a process isn't terribly efficient. If you're refurbishing you've got other known good units ready to go. Why would you take the time fixing that specific pile of parts? Putting the client on another already licensed and ready unit while the parts go into the bin for the next batch of stations makes more sense. I wouldn't want to be on the hook for a warranty made out of untested stuff.
 
NirSoft's ProduKey allows you to pull the key from the registry of the system's drive. Just remove the HDD/SDD and mount in in a working PC. Run the tool and point it to the Windows directory of the drive in question.

I used this procedure to get the Office key from an unbootable system with a broken mobo. The utility lets you select the source.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html
 
mr m said:
NirSoft's ProduKey allows you to pull the key from the registry of the system's drive. Just remove the HDD/SDD and mount in in a working PC. Run the tool and point it to the Windows directory of the drive in question.

I used this procedure to get the Office key from an unbootable system with a broken mobo. The utility lets you select the source.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html
Click to expand...
Only if the Office installed is 2010 or OLDER.:rolleyes:;)
 
And Office 2010 support ends in October, 2020. If you have clients moving from Windows 7 boxes (EOL January 2020), the cost of Office 2019 or O365 is simply part of the cost that they're going to have to pay. Don't even talk to them about whether you can retrieve keys (most 2010 isn't licensed to move to new systems anyway, but this gives you another response to "But can't you just do it for meeee, it's so expensive (puppy dog eyes)."). Key retrieval simply isn't an option.
 
fencepost said:
And Office 2010 support ends in October, 2020. If you have clients moving from Windows 7 boxes (EOL January 2020), the cost of Office 2019 or O365 is simply part of the cost that they're going to have to pay. Don't even talk to them about whether you can retrieve keys (most 2010 isn't licensed to move to new systems anyway, but this gives you another response to "But can't you just do it for meeee, it's so expensive (puppy dog eyes)."). Key retrieval simply isn't an option.
Click to expand...

Depends on the license type. I still haven't figured this out but sometimes you CAN retrieve a WORKING product key from the registry. I've done it with Office 2013 and 2016. I have no idea what type of license this works with, but I always check anyway (takes 2 seconds with their HDD/SSD connected to my backup/imaging computer.) It always seems to be Office Professional Plus. Never seen it work with Home & Student or Home & Business or plain old Professional.
 
Other than clients that we got it for because they were on terminal servers I'm not sure I've ever seen a Professional Plus that I thought was legitimate, though I admit that I haven't made a stink about existing installs either - it's just that when that machine dies or is replaced the suspect Office goes with it to the grave.
 
Yeah, and while 365 costs more, it's made business tracking of licenses so brain dead easy. Even for Home users, $100 / year for 6 people to have up to 5 active installations? That's enough to cover pretty much every home user use case I've ever seen. If you're military, there's a discount! Even my penny pinching mother made the switch. Now everyone in the house has the same version of Office...

The only problem? My dad works for a Google Apps company... so he has office at home, and Google at work, and he HATES Google...
 
Porthos said:
Only "IF" the home user actually remembers the email address used to set it up. Many dontremember it ot a family member set it up and has no clue.
Click to expand...

Then you make a new one for $100. The onprem software is $200 per computer, and locked to an email as well. So if you lose the emails that's $200 / machine, whereas it's never more than $100 to get it sorted out via a new subscription.

That's a pretty reasonable stupid tax for people that don't keep tabs on their own property if you ask me.
 
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