Replacement motherboard and reinstall of XP Home

[Guest]

Ive got a company fixing my emachines 5 year old PC Theyve replaced the
motherboard and tell me my copy of XP is 'illegal' and say I have to buy a
new licence. I know it came preinstalled and have a restore CD (though it
says microsoft works etc on the cover). Do I need to buy a new licence, or
should the person fixing it be able to get microsoft to agree to reinstall if
he explains what he's done.

Is it showing as 'illegal' because of the change of mother board? I have had
conflicting advise from colleagues - some say you cant reinstall xp after
motherboard has been changed unless you use exactly the same make and model
of motherboard. Others say you can do it. Im really confused and would like
to know what my repairer should have done. He said he is licensed with
microsoft.

Help

 

[Guest]

When the MoBo went out of warrantee, and then it broke, you lost your
"Certificate of Authority" for it. The new hardware will require a new cert.
You need to buy a new license. You will probably find one for around $80 US.
Windows Marketplace: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=82282

 

[peter]

The problem is thata a lot of "pre-installed" systems use an OEM version of
XP that is tied to the mobo or BIOS of the system.The License is only valid
with the same "parts".
A retail version (non OEM) is licensed to you and it does not matter what
parts are in the system and can be easily reinstalled/repaired if you change
the Mobo.
Even a Retail OEM version of XP has more leeway on the changing of
parts...even if it is also tied to the Mobo .
peter