[sclug] Cheap'n'nasty Tesco Linux machines

[Tom Carbert-Allen]

All dell machines can be installed with the same DELL OEM cd (which can 
be found online) and then you don't need to enter any code or activate. 
It will install on the basis of having a dell motherboard alone.
If you then use a key finder you will see all dell machines have the 
same code. The one on the sticker is just incase there are any problems 
down the line and you need telephone support.

This is totally legal (well apart from downloading the CD, but you can 
just as easily use a cd from another shop bought DELL machine)

Also, MS may tell you you can't resell XP with a machine, the rights 
stay with the original purchaser. This is complete FUD in Europe, where 
the right to resell software that was bought with a one off payment is 
in the law. Only annually paid software can't be re-sold without permission.

TCA

M.Blackmore wrote:
> On Fri, 2008-03-14 at 13:57 +0000, Tom Carbert-Allen wrote:
>   
>> 	
>>
>> 8 of Dell Optiplex GX280 DHS Pentium 4 2800Mhz 512Mb Ram, 38.1Gb HDD, 
>> CDROM Drive, FDD, O/B ethernet, SoundOnBoard, 8 x USB Port, Win XP/P 
>> COA, DeskTop, Black
>>
>> ?699.99  Inc. p&p & VAT
>>
>>     
> Well, that certainly does put it into perspective. 
>
> Would be worth putting together a local consortium in the village of
> people wishing to upgrade and doing a bulk purchase and I could load
> them all up with Linux (or xp I suppose for those with the stickers on
> the side who insist on such things). 
>
> Incidentally, do the stickers come with a serial number so one can just
> run the XP onto the boxes off any media at hand, or is each CD
> individually coded at pressing?
>
> Its been so long since I wound up my computing consultancy due to
> health-enforced "retirement" that I predate XP!!!!
>   
>
>