Glen said:
My computer which was running an oem XP Home had a major motherboard
meltdown. As the computer itself was fairly old anyway, I have
taken the step of upgrading most of what was inside (only the hdds
and the dvd are the same).
So now it won't windows boot with the new hardware - oem eula
violation - because of the motherboard change. (It did display a
message re hardware changes or software changes effecting the OS)
So I want to know if I can just go and buy a full version XP Home
(or indeed another oem XP) and do a repair using the new XP Home CD
(licence) and have all my old settings, user accounts/documents
etc saved? Is this possible? Or would I
need do a re-install, and lose all the user accounts and associated
files?
Or would I even be able to do a Vista upgrade over the oem XP (even
if the computer won't load up to the welcome screen as it is now)?
Technically - you could likely use the OEM installation CD (*if* it has SP2
integrated into it - either already or you do it) to perform a repair
installation on the current installation, download and install the latest
hardware drivers for the new hardware (motherboard chipset, video card,
sound card, etc.) and then fix the install so it would be able to update
again after the repair install and move on with life - happy and content
with the same installation you have been using before your motherboard had
to be replaced.
From what I can tell - compliance with the EULA in your situation would be a
loosely defined and dependent on your version of the EULA thing... I do
know that if it was a Dell/HP/IBM (etc and so on with the major name brands)
and they had to replace your motherboard under warranty - the EULA would
allow them to replace it without you needing to get a new copy of Windows
XP. If you built your own machine from the ground up but chose to get an
OEM copy of the OS and had 'hardware failure' (immenent, etc) - then you are
the OEM that gets to decide what motherboard equivalent to replace things
with and your EULA just may stay intact. I am no lawyer/legal expert - nor
do I claim to be - but interpretation of the EULA seems to not be based on
anything certain in cases like yours (although it may well be if we knew
everything about your case.)
If you do not wish to take the chance with the EULA situation - the easiet
thing to do is to purchase another copy of Windows XP (Home I think you
said) of retail or OEM type with SP2 integrated and perform a repair
installation and get the drivers updated, the install fixed so it would be
able to update again after the repair install and move on with life - happy
and content with the same installation you have been using before your
motherboard had to be replaced, except for the product key and license.
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341
Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update,
from Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after
you repair a Windows XP installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
The Genuine Advantage Product Key Update Tool is only valid for
users attempting to change their current non-genuine Product Key
to a genuine COA sticker or genuine Product Key - all without a
reinstall!
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409