Okay, yeah, and I went off on a different tangent because of it.  No, the activation process isn't stopping the pirates from using bootleg copies, just making it more difficult/complicated for honest folk with additional hoops to jump through.  What I don't understand is how just one product key can be activated on so many systems.  Like if I or anybody needs to reinstall a legitimate copy Windows, and the product key has recently been in use, we have to go through all the hassle of ringing MS to get a new activation code, so why can't MS determine that a product key has been used multiple times with illegal copies and block those activations and/or render tham useless? 

It seems to me that MS has the technology at its disposal to do this... or is there another agenda... like making more money from litigation/taking all those pirates to court than it can from selling copies of Win 8? 

Hehe, how I love a good conspiracy theory.... even when there really isn't a conspiracy going on.

Ya that's what went through my mind, that and how sometimes you have to call them even if you've done some hardware changes on a machine.  I haven't seen the story, don't know exactly what happened there, but something doesn't quite add up and seems like a big systemic "FAIL".

Guess they'd better fire the CEO.    That always gets lots free publicity anyway, the "GoTo" move, and gets the masses cheering.

kona, picture this:

IT Department decides to upgrade; 100-1,000  plus PC's get returned on lease. Odds are, all will be wiped clean and sold to wholesalers. Still plenty of life in them.

Anyone could take 1-100 of those and install the same OS (OEM) that came on the rig using the same disc on every machine. It's the key on the COA sticker that has to make it past validation, not the install disk. Reloading an OEM machine and getting it activated with its original OEM key is legit , not hard to do and needed sometimes.  If that sticker is missing, well, time for some recycling unless the hardware is new enough to be worth buying an OS for it.

Now if I bought 100 Win 7 machines and wanted to sell them loaded with Windows 8, then I'd be shelling out a good chunk of cash for those keys.

If I bought 100 XP or Vista machines....I'd need my head checked

My drink is now on my monitor....thanks bunches. 

If I've said it once, I've said it.....well, once.

The key is what you pay MS for, not the disc.

I've seen computers using a key that belongs to another computer attempt to authenticate with Microsoft and it works.

 And they only just got him, too.  Now if it was still Ballmer I'd be all for it... in fact I'd stand in line to sign the petition.

That's what DaveRI and I were saying, that the activation process is a farce when honest customers are made to jump through hoops, while pirates and other miscreants too often get away with activating illegal copies.