Or as M$ calls them COA [b]Certificate of Authenticity[/b] you can either go round and copy these off every computer slow and time consuming or use a M$ Supplied Auditing Tool which M$ was giving away to Partners several Partner Meetings ago so it may be available for the public or Business to comply with the necessary Audit Procedures.
I'm not sure what the key that the software you are using is generation as you didn't mention the software involved.
But this is where things get tricky Dell buys 1 license from M$ for so many computers something like a Volume License if you like but they then slipstream just the drivers that are required by that Hardware so every computer of the same model from the same batch should have identical hardware fitted. You can then use any of the Recovery CD's supplied to install on any system as the Recovery CD isn't tied to an individual computer.
The main Importance of the Product Key on the COA is that you can only use that Key on the Case so if you where to use the same Product Key on 2 computers you would effectively be breaking the Licensing Agreement with M$ and you or the company would be liable for the consequences.
Buying made computers in bulk isn't a great idea as they cause a major problem when it comes to Compliencing Issues it's really much better to buy however many computers that you need and then a Volume License for those Computers from M$ for Windows and Office and any other programs that you may require.
Then all that has to be done is to produce the Volume License Agreement and count the computers. If you have licenses for more computers that you actually have there are no problems but if you buy more computers you can load the Volume License Product onto them but you need to buy additional Licenses. So if you get hit with a Software Audit by M$ and you produce a Volume License Agreement for 2,500 computers and you only have 2,499 there isn't a problem but if you have 2,501 working computers you then have a problem and if it was only a minor issue like 1 computer M$ would most likely insist that you buy another 5 licenses or if you are decommissioning that particular computer that you do so now.
You only run into real problems when the number is different by a large amount so if you bought a 5 Site Volume License and install that onto 200 computers you would quite rightly be jumped on by M$ for stealing from them. As th Volume License Product doesn't come with Stickers you just have the 1 Install Disk and Product Key that you use on everything.
Dell however have a Product that works off the one license and has however many Product Keys that they chose to buy from M$ and these come with different Stickers and Product Keys.
Col
