build new PC....been told I need another XP disk???

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wee Peem
  • Start date Start date
W

Wee Peem

Hi there.
I have currently a slightly old home built PC built around a Gigabyte
motherboard and a full version of XP home.
I have had to format several times already due to various problems.

But now I want a new faster PC. Been to a local computer shop and they have
told me I cant put on my version of XP, I need to buy another disk from them
and put that on, because it makes a note to the motherboard????
Does this sound correct. It seems to me that this is way out of order.

Thanks
George
 
You can install to one computer.
If it has been more that 120 days since you registered the old installation,
then you can register online.
Otherwise, you will have to use your phone.
 
Wee said:
Hi there.
I have currently a slightly old home built PC built around a Gigabyte
motherboard and a full version of XP home.
I have had to format several times already due to various problems.

But now I want a new faster PC. Been to a local computer shop and
they have told me I cant put on my version of XP, I need to buy
another disk from them and put that on, because it makes a note to
the motherboard???? Does this sound correct. It seems to me that
this is way out of order.
Click to expand...

If it is a "full retail" version of XP then the local computer shop either
don't know what they are doing or are trying to rip you off. Full retail
copies of XP can indeed be taken off one machine and installed onto
another - you might need to follow the instructions to activate by phone
during install but that should be about all that happens.

If it is a "OEM" Copy of windows, then what they've said is correct,
according to the licence terms for the product.

--
--
Rob Moir, MS MVP
Blog Site - http://www.robertmoir.com
Virtual PC 2004 FAQ - http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html
I'm always surprised at "professionals" who STILL have to be asked "Have you
checked (event viewer / syslog)".
 
Wee Peem said:
Hi there.
I have currently a slightly old home built PC built around a Gigabyte
motherboard and a full version of XP home.
I have had to format several times already due to various problems.

But now I want a new faster PC. Been to a local computer shop and they
have told me I cant put on my version of XP, I need to buy another disk
from them and put that on, because it makes a note to the motherboard????
Does this sound correct. It seems to me that this is way out of order.
Click to expand...


If you have a regular non-OEM version of XP
and it's uninstalled from your original computer...
you can legally install it on your new one...
though you may have to phone Microsoft for activation
 
If the XP CD is an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and was installed
by the local computer shop you refer to in your post then the answer is yes
the software may be linked to the motherboard or more correctly the system
BIOS. As they installed the software originally it is obvious that the copy
of XP installed has been BIOS locked and, therefore, cannot be transferred
to another machine. In this instance you will need to buy a new copy of XP -
unless, again, the software is pre-installed.

I agree it does sound unfair, but OEM copies of XP are a lot cheaper than
the full retail version and the reduction in cost is past on to the
consumer - well theoretically.

Retail versions of XP are more expensive but they are not locked. If one
machine breaks down and you build another one you can install the retail
copy onto the new machine. The only stipulation is that you remove the
version from the old.


--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this post. The Author shall not be liable for any
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this post..
 
John Barnett MVP said:
If the XP CD is an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and was installed
by the local computer shop you refer to in your post then the answer is
yes the software may be linked to the motherboard or more correctly the
system BIOS. As they installed the software originally it is obvious that
the copy of XP installed has been BIOS locked and, therefore, cannot be
transferred to another machine. In this instance you will need to buy a
new copy of XP - unless, again, the software is pre-installed.
Click to expand...


Is there any way of checking in the BIOS whether it has been locked???
 
Wee said:
Is there any way of checking in the BIOS whether it has been locked???
Click to expand...

Right click on My Computer. Does the long letter/number combo say Retail
or OEM?

Alias
 
Wee said:
Hi there.
I have currently a slightly old home built PC built around a Gigabyte
motherboard and a full version of XP home.
I have had to format several times already due to various problems.

But now I want a new faster PC. Been to a local computer shop and they have
told me I cant put on my version of XP, I need to buy another disk from them
and put that on, because it makes a note to the motherboard????
Does this sound correct. It seems to me that this is way out of order.
Click to expand...


Assuming a retail license (OEM licenses are not legitimately
transferable), simply remove WinXP from the computer it is currently on
and then install it on the new computer. If it's been more than 120
days since you last activated that specific Product Key, the you'll most
likely be able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's
been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm




--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry
 
If your have a Windows XP OEM license:

Your current OEM license for Windows XP is directly
tied and bound to the first hardware configuration it was
installed and activated on. You can change every piece
of internal hardware, except for the motherboard. If you
upgrade to a different motherboard, then your current
OEM license becomes invalid and you'll need to purchase
a new Windows XP license for the new PC configuration.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

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

:

| Hi there.
| I have currently a slightly old home built PC built around a Gigabyte
| motherboard and a full version of XP home.
| I have had to format several times already due to various problems.
|
| But now I want a new faster PC. Been to a local computer shop and they have
| told me I cant put on my version of XP, I need to buy another disk from them
| and put that on, because it makes a note to the motherboard????
| Does this sound correct. It seems to me that this is way out of order.
|
| Thanks
| George
 
Carey said:
If your have a Windows XP OEM license:

Your current OEM license for Windows XP is directly
tied and bound to the first hardware configuration it was
installed and activated on. You can change every piece
of internal hardware, except for the motherboard. If you
upgrade to a different motherboard, then your current
OEM license becomes invalid and you'll need to purchase
a new Windows XP license for the new PC configuration.
Click to expand...

Not true. One can update or replace defective hardware on one's
computer, including the motherboard, as per the EULA. Carey must get a
commission. What you can't do is install it on two machines simultaneously.

Alias
 
The OP stated he is building an entirely new
computer, not merely replacing a defective
motherboard. Therefore, your assertion
is factually incorrect.
 
Carey said:
The OP stated he is building an entirely new
computer, not merely replacing a defective
motherboard. Therefore, your assertion
is factually incorrect.
Click to expand...

I was responding to what you said, to wit:

"You can change every piece of internal hardware, except for the
motherboard."

Read for content. You maintain that changing the motherboard with a
generic OEM necessitates buying XP again. I disagree.

Aliassimultaneously.
 
Not that i know of. You could try installing the XP CD that you have on
another pc to see if it installs okay. Call me synical but i have a feeling
that you may think the shop owner is trying to pull as fast one on you. Well
it has been done before, so i'm not going to defend the shop owner; if there
is money to be made the retailer will do everything in his power to make a
profit. See if it will install on another pc. And before i get loads of
posts on this one. Yes it is infringing the EULA but the OP is only
'testing' to see if theCD is locked to the original machine BIOS. As sson as
he/she find out that it is or isn't the installed copy 'must' be removed.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this post. The Author shall not be liable for any
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this post..
 
bumtracks said:
Actually the guy say's he's got a Home built computer and the Full version
of XP
Click to expand...

Generic and Retail XPs are both "full versions", so your point is?

Alias
 
Wee Peem said:
Is there any way of checking in the BIOS whether it has been locked???
Click to expand...

1. Right-click on "My Computer" and select Properties.
Look at the 20 character Product i.d. code which is displayed as the
last line in the "Licensed to:" section. Note that this is not the
same as the 25 character product key code used to install Windows XP.

If the second segment (3 characters) of the product i.d. reads OEM
then your Windows XP is an OEM version. If it is numeric then your
Windows XP is either a Retail or a Volume Licensed version.

2. If your Windows XP is an OEM version then you can check to see if
it is BIOS Locked by looking in Start - All Programs - Accessories -
System Tools for an "Activate Windows" menu item. If that item is
not present then your OEM version of Windows XP is BIOS Locked. These
versions are self-activation if installed on a computer with a
motherboard BIOS from that specific manufacturer/assembler and cannot
be activated on a computer with a different motherboard BIOS.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
Hello Bruce
Out of sheer devilment I went to the direct link you gave re
piracy/basic/activation. I have been to all pages within that link and
tested for the authenticity of my label and disk.
I was wondering if MS update to take into account the changes of the labels
etc or have they been the same, for whatever type of purchase, since their
original issue.
Despite the fact that I was able to validate my OEM version immediately on
receipt, I have failed the test for genuine MS product.
I selected the nearest label type(orange)but on the right side of the label
there is no 'vertical' interwoven metallic thread with well-defined letters
running through a porthole. I do however have an 'horizontal' thread
running through two portholes across the centre of the label.
Re the CD, the nearest I could find was for XP Pro, but at least it was
copper coloured.
Again the test failed on the 'security patch' - four different members of
the family have failed to get the word Microsoft to change to Genuine.
So it would appear that I have possibly got a pirated version of XP home
that has been successfully validated!
I will not bother to report this suspect product.
Three out of four in each test isn't that bad - if my home edition was
pirated then I would probably have failed on all tests.
Rgds
Antioch
 
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