Pre-installed XP Home

[Guest]

Hoping someone can help. Bought new PC three years ago (Pavilion) with XP
Home pre-installed. System crashed and had to replace motherboard and HD -
now can't restore since MB was replaced. Didn't I purchase a legal license
for XP Home when I bought the system - and shouldn't I be able to get a copy
of it from MS?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

You need to perform a 'Repair' install of XP after installing a new MB:

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

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Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Unless the motherboard is from the same manufacturer (HP) as the original,
your CDs will probably not work.
Since the computer is OEM, Microsoft does not provide support.
Also Microsoft does not have to provide you anything since it is OEM.
HP is your source of support.
However I think you will need to buy Windows XP or whatever OS you choose to
install since your CDs will not work with the new motherboard.

 

[Bob Harris]

Yes and No. When you bought the PC, you bought what is called an OEM
license. OEM means original equipment manufacturer, in your case, HP. OEM
licenses are tightly bound to the OEM hardware, in this case, the HP
motherboard. Unless you got the new motherboard from HP, neither they nor
Micrsoft will support it.

If that is the case, your only alternative is to buy a new license. I
suggest a "retail" license, the green XP box you see in any PC store. If
you happen to own a retail CD from 98 or ME or 2000, then you can ue the XP
upgrade (also a geen box, so read the lable carefully), and insert the CD
(98, ME, 2000) when asked about proof of a previous qualifying operating
system. If no older operating system CD, then you will need to get the full
retail version of XP.

However, you could buy another OEM licnese, although technically you should
have done that when you bought the motherboard. Beware: In this case YOU
are the OEM, and Microsoft will not even talk to you, except at many $$/hr.
If this lack of support makes you uneasy, get the retail license.

A final possibility would be to turn the whole PC over to a local PC shop.
They would probably use an OEM license to fix things, but then they know
what they are doing. Further, if they have been around for a while, they
might be a good choice for future major upgrades.