We have a 2 1/2 yr old machine which came from the manufacturer with no copy
of Windows XP Home, only a restore disk. On the occasion that we had to use
it, there was no option to reinstall Windows, only to reformat and start
over.

We bought a really fast CPU and fan on sale and realized that it is not
compatible with the motherboard on this machine, so then went out and bought
a new case and motherboard. We would like to move everything else from the
first machine (NIC, RAM, HDD, CD-RW, Video adapter, fans, etc) and have a
new faster machine.

However, when we put the hard drive in (which works OK now) onto the new
machine, what will it do to the Windows XP Home that is on the HDD but
thinks it belongs to the other motherboard and CPU?

Will it let this happen or totally scramble everything?

We are going to ghost it first just in case, but does anyone else have
experience, good or bad, doing this?

Since we already own this copy of Win XP Home, we don't want to have to buy
it again. The other machine will be gutted and useless.

Thanks,
Mich

You cannot transfer the license for a preinstalled OEM
version of Windows XP to a different computer. The
license is directly tied to the original computer's hardware.

You'll need to purchase a conventional version of
Windows XP for your new computer.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"M Skabialka" wrote:

| We have a 2 1/2 yr old machine which came from the manufacturer with no copy
| of Windows XP Home, only a restore disk. On the occasion that we had to use
| it, there was no option to reinstall Windows, only to reformat and start
| over.
|
| We bought a really fast CPU and fan on sale and realized that it is not
| compatible with the motherboard on this machine, so then went out and bought
| a new case and motherboard. We would like to move everything else from the
| first machine (NIC, RAM, HDD, CD-RW, Video adapter, fans, etc) and have a
| new faster machine.
|
| However, when we put the hard drive in (which works OK now) onto the new
| machine, what will it do to the Windows XP Home that is on the HDD but
| thinks it belongs to the other motherboard and CPU?
|
| Will it let this happen or totally scramble everything?
|
| We are going to ghost it first just in case, but does anyone else have
| experience, good or bad, doing this?
|
| Since we already own this copy of Win XP Home, we don't want to have to buy
| it again. The other machine will be gutted and useless.
|
| Thanks,
| Mich

Does it make a difference if I put the new motherboard and CPU in the old
case?

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> You cannot transfer the license for a preinstalled OEM
> version of Windows XP to a different computer. The
> license is directly tied to the original computer's hardware.
>
> You'll need to purchase a conventional version of
> Windows XP for your new computer.
>
> --
> Carey Frisch
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows - Shell/User
> Microsoft Community Newsgroups
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> "M Skabialka" wrote:
>
> | We have a 2 1/2 yr old machine which came from the manufacturer with no
> copy
> | of Windows XP Home, only a restore disk. On the occasion that we had to
> use
> | it, there was no option to reinstall Windows, only to reformat and start
> | over.
> |
> | We bought a really fast CPU and fan on sale and realized that it is not
> | compatible with the motherboard on this machine, so then went out and
> bought
> | a new case and motherboard. We would like to move everything else from
> the
> | first machine (NIC, RAM, HDD, CD-RW, Video adapter, fans, etc) and have
> a
> | new faster machine.
> |
> | However, when we put the hard drive in (which works OK now) onto the new
> | machine, what will it do to the Windows XP Home that is on the HDD but
> | thinks it belongs to the other motherboard and CPU?
> |
> | Will it let this happen or totally scramble everything?
> |
> | We are going to ghost it first just in case, but does anyone else have
> | experience, good or bad, doing this?
> |
> | Since we already own this copy of Win XP Home, we don't want to have to
> buy
> | it again. The other machine will be gutted and useless.
> |
> | Thanks,
> | Mich
>

You cannot replace the motherboard with a different motherboard
and use the original Windows XP license. You would have to use
the exact same motherboard.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"M Skabialka" wrote:

| Does it make a difference if I put the new motherboard and CPU in the old
| case?

"M Skabialka" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

> Does it make a difference if I put the new motherboard and CPU in the old
> case?

Carey, as usual, is wrong. You cannot, however, use the restore CD because
it was made for the previous motherboard and tied to its BIOS, not because,
as Carey says, it's a "different computer". Had the original seller of the
computer given you a generic OEM, yes, it would be an upgrade not a new
computer like the misnamed "MVP" Carey says. I would recommend you buy a
generic OEM, not a retail version if you want to save money and try a repair
install after backing up your data on the HD first and, if that doesn't
work, a clean install. As you live in Alabama, check out:

http://www.walmart.com/search/browse...%3A3951%3A3954

Alias
>
> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

>> You cannot transfer the license for a preinstalled OEM
>> version of Windows XP to a different computer. The
>> license is directly tied to the original computer's hardware.
>>
>> You'll need to purchase a conventional version of
>> Windows XP for your new computer.
>>
>> --
>> Carey Frisch
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows - Shell/User
>> Microsoft Community Newsgroups
>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/
>>
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> "M Skabialka" wrote:
>>
>> | We have a 2 1/2 yr old machine which came from the manufacturer with no
>> copy
>> | of Windows XP Home, only a restore disk. On the occasion that we had
>> to use
>> | it, there was no option to reinstall Windows, only to reformat and
>> start
>> | over.
>> |
>> | We bought a really fast CPU and fan on sale and realized that it is not
>> | compatible with the motherboard on this machine, so then went out and
>> bought
>> | a new case and motherboard. We would like to move everything else from
>> the
>> | first machine (NIC, RAM, HDD, CD-RW, Video adapter, fans, etc) and have
>> a
>> | new faster machine.
>> |
>> | However, when we put the hard drive in (which works OK now) onto the
>> new
>> | machine, what will it do to the Windows XP Home that is on the HDD but
>> | thinks it belongs to the other motherboard and CPU?
>> |
>> | Will it let this happen or totally scramble everything?
>> |
>> | We are going to ghost it first just in case, but does anyone else have
>> | experience, good or bad, doing this?
>> |
>> | Since we already own this copy of Win XP Home, we don't want to have to
>> buy
>> | it again. The other machine will be gutted and useless.
>> |
>> | Thanks,
>> | Mich
>>
>
>

Q. Can a PC with OEM Windows XP have its motherboard upgraded and keep the
same license? What if it was replaced because it was defective?

A. Generally, you may upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on
your customer's computer and the end user may maintain the license for the
original Microsoft® OEM operating system software, with the exception of an
upgrade or replacement of the motherboard. An upgrade of the motherboard is
considered to result in a "new personal computer" to which Microsoft® OEM
operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. If the
motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a
new computer has been created and the license of new operating system
software is required. If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective,
you do NOT need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC.

The reason for this licensing rule primarily relates to the end-user license
agreement (EULA) and the support of the software covered by that EULA. The
EULA is a set of usage rights granted to the end-user by the PC manufacturer
and relates only to rights for that software as installed on for that
particular PC. The System Builder is required to support the software on that
original PC. Understanding that end users, over time, upgrade their PC with
different components, Microsoft needed to have one base component "left
standing" that would still define that original PC. Since the motherboard
contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the motherboard
is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created.
The original System Builder, therefore, can not be expected to support this
new PC that they in effect, did not manufacture.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

What actually happens when you put the HDD on the new motherboard? Does it
look to the restore CD for new BIOS info, or scramble the XP installation?

I have a copy of Win XP Home upgrade that I am not using. Can you upgrade
from OEM XP to Win XP upgrade from older versions?

Also, what indication was there that I live in Alabama?

"Alias" <aka@[notme]maskedandanonymous.org> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "M Skabialka" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>
>> Does it make a difference if I put the new motherboard and CPU in the old
>> case?
>
> Carey, as usual, is wrong. You cannot, however, use the restore CD because
> it was made for the previous motherboard and tied to its BIOS, not
> because, as Carey says, it's a "different computer". Had the original
> seller of the computer given you a generic OEM, yes, it would be an
> upgrade not a new computer like the misnamed "MVP" Carey says. I would
> recommend you buy a generic OEM, not a retail version if you want to save
> money and try a repair install after backing up your data on the HD first
> and, if that doesn't work, a clean install. As you live in Alabama, check
> out:
>
> http://www.walmart.com/search/browse...%3A3951%3A3954
>
> Alias
>>
>> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>
>>> You cannot transfer the license for a preinstalled OEM
>>> version of Windows XP to a different computer. The
>>> license is directly tied to the original computer's hardware.
>>>
>>> You'll need to purchase a conventional version of
>>> Windows XP for your new computer.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Carey Frisch
>>> Microsoft MVP
>>> Windows - Shell/User
>>> Microsoft Community Newsgroups
>>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/
>>>
>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> "M Skabialka" wrote:
>>>
>>> | We have a 2 1/2 yr old machine which came from the manufacturer with
>>> no copy
>>> | of Windows XP Home, only a restore disk. On the occasion that we had
>>> to use
>>> | it, there was no option to reinstall Windows, only to reformat and
>>> start
>>> | over.
>>> |
>>> | We bought a really fast CPU and fan on sale and realized that it is
>>> not
>>> | compatible with the motherboard on this machine, so then went out and
>>> bought
>>> | a new case and motherboard. We would like to move everything else
>>> from the
>>> | first machine (NIC, RAM, HDD, CD-RW, Video adapter, fans, etc) and
>>> have a
>>> | new faster machine.
>>> |
>>> | However, when we put the hard drive in (which works OK now) onto the
>>> new
>>> | machine, what will it do to the Windows XP Home that is on the HDD but
>>> | thinks it belongs to the other motherboard and CPU?
>>> |
>>> | Will it let this happen or totally scramble everything?
>>> |
>>> | We are going to ghost it first just in case, but does anyone else have
>>> | experience, good or bad, doing this?
>>> |
>>> | Since we already own this copy of Win XP Home, we don't want to have
>>> to buy
>>> | it again. The other machine will be gutted and useless.
>>> |
>>> | Thanks,
>>> | Mich
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with XP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

You can use your copy of Windows XP to perform a
"Repair Install".

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User


"M Skabialka" wrote:

> What actually happens when you put the HDD on the new motherboard? Does it
> look to the restore CD for new BIOS info, or scramble the XP installation?
>
> I have a copy of Win XP Home upgrade that I am not using. Can you upgrade
> from OEM XP to Win XP upgrade from older versions?

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote

> Q. Can a PC with OEM Windows XP have its motherboard upgraded and keep the
> same license? What if it was replaced because it was defective?
>
> A. Generally, you may upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on
> your customer's computer and the end user may maintain the license for the
> original Microsoft® OEM operating system software, with the exception of
> an
> upgrade or replacement of the motherboard. An upgrade of the motherboard
> is
> considered to result in a "new personal computer" to which Microsoft® OEM
> operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. If
> the
> motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then
> a
> new computer has been created and the license of new operating system
> software is required. If the motherboard is replaced because it is
> defective,
> you do NOT need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC.
>
> The reason for this licensing rule primarily relates to the end-user
> license
> agreement (EULA) and the support of the software covered by that EULA. The
> EULA is a set of usage rights granted to the end-user by the PC
> manufacturer
> and relates only to rights for that software as installed on for that
> particular PC. The System Builder is required to support the software on
> that
> original PC. Understanding that end users, over time, upgrade their PC
> with
> different components, Microsoft needed to have one base component "left
> standing" that would still define that original PC. Since the motherboard
> contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the
> motherboard
> is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially
> created.
> The original System Builder, therefore, can not be expected to support
> this
> new PC that they in effect, did not manufacture.
>
> --
> Carey Frisch

Why oh why do you insist on posting this that does not apply to an end user,
Carey? It's been pointed out to you numerous times yet you keep posting it.
Are you dense or what?

Alias

M Skabialka wrote:

> What actually happens when you put the HDD on the new motherboard?
> Does it look to the restore CD for new BIOS info, or scramble the XP
> installation?
>
> I have a copy of Win XP Home upgrade that I am not using. Can you
> upgrade from OEM XP to Win XP upgrade from older versions?
>
> Also, what indication was there that I live in Alabama?
>

Do a clean install using your XP Home. You can do a clean install with
an upgrade; early in the install you'll be asked to supply a cd of an
older operating system to prove you're qualified for an upgrade.

Qualifying Media -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...ng/matrix.mspx

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install

I'm not sure why Alias thought you were in Alabama; a Whois of your IP
shows Qwest in Denver. The IP shows in your headers and isn't anything
to be concerned about. Naturally you have a firewall installed to
protect your computer anyway.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User