(IDG) -- With PC makers increasingly focused on the first-time buyer, it's no surprise that they take great pains to improve the customer's so-called "out-of-box" experience the first time a new PC is booted up.

But Microsoft may be restricting some vendors' ability to make sure that initial power-on is a positive experience.

According to a report Thursday from Bloomberg News, Dell Computer is currently negotiating with Microsoft to get permission to perform a seemingly innocent task: Dell wants the okay from Microsoft to boot up Windows 98 on newly configured PCs. The idea is to exercise the machines to ensure that all the components and peripherals are working properly. The computer maker reportedly said that such testing could cut customers' setup time from 45 minutes to less than 10.

However, according to the news service, Microsoft currently prohibits Dell and other PC makers from essentially breaking the "seal" on Windows by running it. The first time Windows boots on a new machine, the user must type in a product key that's printed on the CD-ROM's package or in the software's manual.

MORE COMPUTING INTELLIGENCE

IDG.net home page

PC World home page

FileWorld find free software fast

Make your PC work harder with these tips

Reviews & in-depth info at IDG.net

IDG.net's desktop PC page
IDG.net's portable PC page

IDG.net's Windows software page

IDG.net's personal news page

Questions about computers? Let IDG.net's editors help you

Search IDG.net in 12 languages

News Radio

PC World News Radio

Computerworld Minute audio news for managers

A Microsoft spokesperson told IDG that the company doesn't publicly disclose the specifics of its licensing agreements with PC makers.

Industry analysts were shocked to hear that the company would prevent OEMs from performing "burn-in" testing with Windows 98 before shipping out a system.

"It doesn't make any sense," says Kimball Brown of Dataquest. "Why shouldn't Dell be able to test? Of course they should be able to test [Windows 98] any way they want. To me it's an absurdity. If Microsoft actually has a problem with this, then nothing makes sense with Microsoft."

Neither Brown nor his Dataquest colleague Chris LeTocq was aware of the Windows boot-up restriction. But LeTocq says that if reports are correct, Microsoft's desire to prevent illegal duplication of its software may drive the prohibition.

A Dell official said that the company performs extensive burn-in testing of all machines before they ship. But he wasn't able to confirm whether that testing involves actually booting up Windows, or whether it's limited to basic diagnostic tests run from a floppy disk, as is the practice with many PC makers.

Microsoft's restrictions on computer makers are at the core of the government's antitrust case against the company. However, Microsoft has shown signs recently of a willingness to loosen up those restrictions, and the reported agreement with Dell may be the latest instance of its new position.