OEM Re-Installation Question

[Guest]

I have a new PC I'd like to transfer my copy of XP-Pro to from an older PC.
What is the registration procedure with MS?

 

[Computerflyer]

I have a new PC I'd like to transfer my copy of XP-Pro to from an older PC.
What is the registration procedure with MS?

If it is an OEM license like your subject indicates, you should go out
and buy another OEM license w/the PC, or a full retail license.

The OEM license is locked to your old PC. If you reinstall it, when
it tries to validate through the net (or by phone) it will fail as
already being registered. OTOH A retail license allows you to reuse
the license on another PC.

You can change some things on a PC to upgrade without breaking the OEM
license, but you cannot swap PCs. When you upgrade/change a PC with
either license, you usually get a "call Microsoft" message who will
conduct anything from a friendly chat (retail license) to the Spanish
inquisition of Software (OEM license) prior to giving you a rego code.

 

[Guest]

MS says one OS per computer. MS will tell you you can't use it on a new
computer.
Try it anyway and see what happens. There is no need to register the OS. You
will still get your updates. MS does not require registration. I never
register my software, then you'll just get a bunch of emails.

 

[Guest]

Before I get hammered, you still have to validate and activate, but this does
not require giving any personal informatiuon.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a new PC I'd like to transfer my copy of XP-Pro to from an older PC.
What is the registration procedure with MS?

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

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a new PC I'd like to transfer my copy of XP-Pro to from an
older PC. What is the registration procedure with MS?

You may not do this. The single biggest disadvantage of an OEM version is
that its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on
and it can never be moved to another.

 

[Jerry McBride]

You may not do this. The single biggest disadvantage of an OEM version is
that its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed
on and it can never be moved to another.

Wow... another wasted $140.00(us)...

 

[CS]

JanS wrote:

You may not do this. The single biggest disadvantage of an OEM version is
that its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on
and it can never be moved to another.

You're assuming he has an OEM version. Nothing in his post indicates
that. He may well have a boxed retail version which would mean he
could transfer it to the new PC.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

You're assuming he has an OEM version.

No, no one assumed that; the OP so stated, quite clearly, in the
subject line of the post.

Nothing in his post indicates
that.

Other than the subject line, that is.


--

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

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

You're assuming he has an OEM version. Nothing in his post indicates
that.

Nothing? Try reading his subject line (something I often don't do, but I did
this time).

 

[Rock]

Wow... another wasted $140.00(us)...

If you want transferability get a retail version. OEM is cheaper and that's
one reason why.

 

[Gordon]

one reason why.

I am still baffled by the logic (or not) of this. The only reason that the
OEM version is cheaper is that MS do not support OEM versions - the OEM
vendor does. So why should that curtail the User's right to move it to
another PC? Totally illogical, and unsupportable in law IMHO....

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

If you want transferability get a retail version. OEM is cheaper and
that's one reason why.

Yep! That's the reason I normally recommend a retail upgrade version instead
an OEM one (if you qualify for it). It's transferable, and it costs only
slightly more than the OEM version.

And even if you don't qualify for it, it's easy and cheap to satisfy that
requirement by buying a used copy of Windows 98 someplace like eBay.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am still baffled by the logic (or not) of this. The only reason
that the OEM version is cheaper is that MS do not support OEM
versions - the OEM vendor does.

That's your interpretation. I don't agree with it. My view is that the
reason it's cheaper is that it comes with *three* restrictions, not one:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on.
It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold, or given away.

2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.

3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them with
a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your OEM.

So why should that curtail the User's
right to move it to another PC?

You are stating that restriction 3 shouldn't cause restriction 1. I agree,
but I think that that cause and effect relationship you're imputing doesn't
exist. They are separate restrictions. Neither causes the other, but they
are equal, along with restriction 2.

Totally illogical,

I don't see it either as a matter of logic or lack or logic.at all. They
offer a license for sale that comes with certain restrictions. If you think
it's a good deal, then accept the offer. If you don't, then don't accept it.
They get to choose the terms of their offers. We, the customers, get to
accept their offers or not.

Personally, I don't think it's a good deal, and that's why I recommend
Retail Upgrades instead. But we each get to make our own choice.

But if I had my druthers, there would be only a single kind of license,
without this differentiation between Retail and OEM versions, and all the
confusion it causes.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I am still baffled by the logic (or not) of this. The only reason that the
OEM version is cheaper is that MS do not support OEM versions - the OEM
vendor does. So why should that curtail the User's right to move it to
another PC? Totally illogical, and unsupportable in law IMHO....

Ah! But that's *NOT* the only reason the OEM license is cheaper.

There are some very important reasons that an OEM license costs so
much less than a retail license. OEM licenses are very limited:

1) OEM versions must be sold with a piece of non-peripheral
hardware (normally a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC,
although Microsoft has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP)
and are _permanently_ bound to the first PC on which they are installed.
An OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another
computer under any circumstances. This is the main reason some people
avoid OEM versions; if the PC dies or is otherwise disposed of (even
stolen), you cannot re-use your OEM license on a new PC. The only
legitimate way to transfer the ownership of an OEM license is to
transfer ownership of the entire PC.

2) Microsoft provides no free support for OEM versions. If you
have any problems that require outside assistance, your only recourse is
to contact the manufacturer/builder of the PC or the vendor of the OEM
license. This would include such issues as lost a Product Key or
replacing damaged installation media. (Microsoft does make allowances
for those instances when you can prove that the OEM has gone out of
business.) This doesn't mean that you can't download patches and
service packs from Microsoft -- just no free telephone or email support
for problems with the OS.

3) An OEM CD cannot be used to perform an upgrade of an earlier
OS, as it was designed to be installed _only_ upon an empty hard drive.
It can still be used to perform a repair installation (a.k.a. an
in-place upgrade) of an existing WinXP installation.

4) If the OEM CD was designed by a specific manufacturer, such as
eMachines, Sony, Dell, Gateway, etc., it will most likely only install
on the same brand of PC, as an additional anti-piracy feature. Further,
such CDs are severely customized to contain only the minimum of device
drivers, and a lot of extra nonsense, that the manufacturer feels
necessary for the specific model of PC for which the CD was designed. To
be honest, such CDs should _not_ be available on the open market; but,
if you're shopping someplace on-line like eBay, swap meets, or computer
fairs, there's often no telling what you're buying until it's too late.
The "generic" OEM CDs, such as are manufactured by Microsoft and sold
to small systems builders, don't have this particular problem, though,
and are pretty much the same as their retail counterparts, apart from
the licensing, support, and upgrading restrictions.


--

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

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the input folks, it is an OEM version purchased from E-bay as
someone suggested, it has been well past the 120 days, I could use the CD rom
from the original box but that's about it. I'm going to try for a re-install
at some point, all they can say is no. Previously I had to swap out the vid
card and a CD, and an HD, that did require the call to MS but they did give
me the #. Again that was at least 6 months ago. Windows 2000 Pro is looking
better and better !

 

[Rock]

Thanks for all the input folks, it is an OEM version purchased from E-bay
as
someone suggested, it has been well past the 120 days, I could use the CD
rom
from the original box but that's about it. I'm going to try for a
re-install
at some point, all they can say is no. Previously I had to swap out the
vid
card and a CD, and an HD, that did require the call to MS but they did
give
me the #. Again that was at least 6 months ago. Windows 2000 Pro is
looking
better and better !

If you move it to a different computer, it will be a violation of the
license agreement. An OEM cannot be moved. The computer can be upgraded,
but the OS cannot be transferred.