Changing faulty motherboard

[kleefarr]

I read that changing a motherboard is now considered as a being a new
computer by Microsoft and requires a new licence.

This doesn't seem very fair if the motherboard has become faulty and needs
replacing. Will he have to get a new licence if I change his motherboard?
It will be a second hand one and not new.

 

[M.I.5¾]

I read that changing a motherboard is now considered as a being a new
computer by Microsoft and requires a new licence.

This doesn't seem very fair if the motherboard has become faulty and needs
replacing. Will he have to get a new licence if I change his motherboard?
It will be a second hand one and not new.

The motherboard itself is not on the list of hardware changes that
contribute to reactivation. However features of the motherboard may be. Of
all the items in the list, the only ones that I can see that will affect
reactivation are:

IDE Adaptor type - usually built into motherboard (1 change).

MAC address of built in Ethernet port - this will trip reactivation as it
counts as 3 changes.

If the new motherboard requires a new processor then this is 2 changes (1
for the processor type and 1 for the serial number)

If the hard disc requires reformatting for a clean install of Windows, there
goes another change.

7 items must remain unchanged* or missing for reactivation not to occur.

3 for a dockable PC. A dockable PC also includes PCs with a PC Card or
Express Card slot.

However, it must be noted that many OEM versions of XP whilst not
reactivated by hardware changes are specifically locked to the BIOS on the
old motherboard. Changing the motherboard will render that particular OEM
XP useless.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I read that changing a motherboard is now considered as a being a new
computer by Microsoft and requires a new licence.

Not correct.

First of all, note that a new computer requires a new licence *only*
if the license is an OEM one. There is no such restriction on retail
licenses.

Second, even with OEM licenses, a new motherboard does not mean it's
considered a new computer. For a long time this was unclear, but
Microsoft has now clarified this. See
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/a...
or http://tinyurl.com/384gx5

which states

"If you acquired Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer from a
major manufacturer (sometimes referred to as an Original Equipment
Manufacturer or OEM), Windows Vista will require re-activation if you
replace the motherboard with a motherboard not provided by the OEM."

That's about Vista, but the same would clearly apply to XP as well.

This doesn't seem very fair if the motherboard has become faulty and needs
replacing. Will he have to get a new licence if I change his motherboard?
It will be a second hand one and not new.

However, bear in mind that if the computer is one from a major OEM
(such as Dell), the copy of XP is very likely BIOS locked to the
original motherboard. Unless it's replaced with an identical one, the
old copy of Windows will no longer work on it.

 

[kleefarr]

Thanks for the input guys.

My dad had a retail version of XP Home so no problems. Activated straight
away.