Certificate of Authenticity ?

[Rearview]

I've come acrross a few random loose CofA's at this job and I'm just wort of wondering how I am supposed to know what product they are for? It is just a square sheet with the intervoven metallic thread and a product key. Nowhere on it does it have any product, just "Microsoft" and a Product Key. This is an OEM CofA, and I assume it is for Windows 3.1 or 95 (possibly DOS), but how the heck can you tell?

It does have "PN 000-31904" at the bottom in small letters. A google search turned up inconclusive.. (DOS, windoes 95, and windows 3.11 all came up in my search)

 

[edfair]

Suspicion only , but the license key would suggest post DOS and 3.1.
I opened a 3.1 pak and it had no key. And DOS and 3.11 didn't use keys either.

But don't dlimit your quest for OS and GUI. It could be for any of the applications. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[diogenes10]

I have a sealed ms dos package (for distribution only with a new pc) with coa pn 000-06681 and it has a win95 type product id.

 

[diogenes10]

I just dug a bit
found a win95 book with a coa pasted on it PN 000-31904.
But I don't know if that proves that pn was used exclusively on win95.

 

[diogenes10]

i've also now come up with a sealed encarta encyclopedia with coa pn 000-31904.

 

[edfair]

Money, works, encarta. This has to be the blank form part number. The install code is printed later. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[Rearview]

So have we come to the conclusion that Microsoft was stupid by not labeling these, and we have no idea what product these are for? Hmm... sounds like I think it's a Windows one, since that way I can get a volume license upgrade to XP Pro with it

 

[edfair]

No , I wouldn't blame M$. I strongly suggest to all my customers that they put the product key on each install CD with a marking pen to identify what goes with it. And I follow the advice. That way I can cross check the info.
Haven't tried an upgrade that way, so I don't know whether they crosscheck the COAs. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[diogenes10]

I agree with Ed-probably not proper to blame microsoft for purchaser carelessness.
If you can come up with some win95 cds, or if your accounting department can look up old computer expenses and you could find some old purchase invoices for win95, that would strengthen your case considerably.