New BI Setup - PC questions
- Thread starter Chapin
- Start date
fenderman
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- Mar 9, 2014
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no, google is your friend. Microsoft stores all the information and its based off your pc hardware, primarily the motherboard. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
The media creation tool simply allows you to create a bootable windows 10 installation usb.
fenderman
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Dude you are just not listening or reading...READ THE FIRST LINE OF THE ARTICLE. IT THEN GOES ON TO EXPLAIN HOW TO PREVENT LOSING YOUR LICENSE IF YOU PLAN ON MAKING SIGNIFICANT HARDWARE CHANGES. ONE WAY TO DO THIS IS TO LINK TO AN ACCOUNT. You DONT need to do this unless you are swapping out the motherboard.
See, now, if you read, you learn. WTF do you think, I did this magically a bunch of times or im lying? Dont believe me fine, pay more.
Thanks forum people for your help. My computer came with windows 10 home edition. Should I install a clean windows 10pro? Will I lose my BI settings if I do? Next I would like to be pointed in the direction on how to make my system more secure. I’m currently using port forwarding . Thank’s again
fenderman
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You will not be able to install pro unless you pay for an upgrade. BI settings can be exported in the about tab. You need your key. Deactivate first.
use vpn..see vpn primer for noobs thread.
I'm just trying to understand how this works. They refuse to explain where this digital license is stored.
When you originally activate windows, Microsoft stores the info along with the original hardware. As long as no major changes the license is still valid
fenderman
Staff member
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Think!!!! It is stored on microsoft servers. It is based on unique identifiers of your motherboard.
J Sigmo
Known around here
- Feb 5, 2018
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The insidious thing is that hard drives, CPUs, etc., now all contain embedded, and unique serial numbers. Software can read these serial numbers, and since pretty much any software these days "phones home", it is easy for the software companies to record these unique serial numbers and use them to "enforce" a software license.
Later, if you need to restore the software, it will be allowed automatically based on the serial numbers that have been recorded in the software company's database. This happens without you even knowing it. This is what will allow you to simply install a fresh Win 10 on a PC that formerly had it.
I've transferred Photoshop, back before it was a subscription model, and it looked at the serial number of the hard drive on which it was installed. If you moved to a different PC, or installed a new hard drive, you simply transferred the license to the new HDD serial no. It sounded spooky, but worked without a hitch.
Recently, I moved Blue Iris from one PC to another, and by following the procedure that BI recommended, that, too, went without any problems.
Later, if you need to restore the software, it will be allowed automatically based on the serial numbers that have been recorded in the software company's database. This happens without you even knowing it. This is what will allow you to simply install a fresh Win 10 on a PC that formerly had it.
I've transferred Photoshop, back before it was a subscription model, and it looked at the serial number of the hard drive on which it was installed. If you moved to a different PC, or installed a new hard drive, you simply transferred the license to the new HDD serial no. It sounded spooky, but worked without a hitch.
Recently, I moved Blue Iris from one PC to another, and by following the procedure that BI recommended, that, too, went without any problems.
I had never thought that Microsoft could find enough software-readable unique serial numbers in a pc to make this type of scheme work, but I guess there are plenty. They might use the motherboard's MAC address as the first lookup. I guess it is unique. Then validate it with several more matched serial numbers. (FENDERMAN -- I am very sorry for annoying you with this question.)
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J Sigmo
Known around here
- Feb 5, 2018
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Privacy and anonymity are pretty much things of the past. The unique serial numbers of processors, chipsets, MAC addresses, etc., as well as hard drives and the like fingerprint us and leave traceable evidence everywhere these days.
The upside is the ease with which we can usually re-load software or transfer software licenses as long as we have an active internet connection. And from the software makers' perspectives, it gives them better control and lets them keep everyone updated to whatever revisions they like more easily.
I remember one of those crime solving TV shows from years ago where the bad guy wrote some kind of note on a PC at his church, and the forensics folks traced the file to that exact PC and date and time based on embedded metadata within the MS Word file. So Word has been storing a record of this sort of unique ID data into its files for a very long time.
I guess you still have to wear rubber gloves as you cut characters out of a newspaper and paste them to a sheet of paper to make a good ransom note these days!
The upside is the ease with which we can usually re-load software or transfer software licenses as long as we have an active internet connection. And from the software makers' perspectives, it gives them better control and lets them keep everyone updated to whatever revisions they like more easily.
I remember one of those crime solving TV shows from years ago where the bad guy wrote some kind of note on a PC at his church, and the forensics folks traced the file to that exact PC and date and time based on embedded metadata within the MS Word file. So Word has been storing a record of this sort of unique ID data into its files for a very long time.
I guess you still have to wear rubber gloves as you cut characters out of a newspaper and paste them to a sheet of paper to make a good ransom note these days!
I've never bought a PC from ebay. Are there preferred or known good vendors?
I would want the tower I have 2 x 8TB WD drives. Will the tower accommodate SSD + 2 x 3.5 drives?
How do you know win10 pro will load right up?
Can these machines accommodate 16GB RAM?
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I wanted to close the loop on this and say thanks to all for the responses.
I’ve ordered a Dell i7-8700 win10pro from eBay that should arrive next week for exclusive BI use.
Before now, I would’ve never looked at eBay for a pc.
I’ve ordered a Dell i7-8700 win10pro from eBay that should arrive next week for exclusive BI use.
Before now, I would’ve never looked at eBay for a pc.
I did all this except I moved the "BI clip database" to the purple drive too so not to thrash my C drive. Why would you want to keep this DB on the SSD?
fenderman
Staff member
- Mar 9, 2014
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The DB is a small file and will not thrash anything. It should be on your quickest drive as per the developers recommendation for best performance.