Hello Adz
Thank you for posting with us today. Your post is out of scope for the WGA program forum as well as out of our expertise. The product key located on the Certificate of Authenticity "COA" sticker is to be used explicitly for installing the OEM SLP XP bits. Let me provide more details below.
1. OEM-SLP: Computers built by large commercial manufacturers that come with Vista Pre-installed come with two (2) Product Keys; SLP and COA Key. SLP stands for System Locked Pre-install. OEM manufacturer’s add an OEM identifier string to the system BIOS during manufacturing. Windows verifies this identifier during the boot process. In this way the end user will not be required to activate Windows. The OEM SLP Key is geared to work with the special instructions found on that Manufacturer’s computer hardware. The Product Key is available on the COA sticker and not installed in the computer. For example all DELL OEM SLP Windows Vista systems use a single product key but the COA sticker on the machine contains the unique COA. The key located on the COA sticker should only be used in limited situations and requires telephone activation. Example should you require to reformate the computer the key from the COA sticker would be used.
Should you have further questions regarding Software Licensing Terms can be found at the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/default.aspx
Volume licensing customers can use the Microsoft Volume Licensing site to find contact information in their locations. See the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/default.mspx
For additional information about Certificates of Authenticity (COA), see the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/default.aspx?displaylang=en
Additional Information:
For licensing questions, please call 1-800-426-9400 (select option 4), Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (PST) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist.
Thank you,
Stephen
