OEM XP Pro Transfer

[Wayne A Lewis]

I was planning on buying an OEM version of XP Pro, but I read somewhere on
the Internet that the non-preinstalled OEM version can only have hardware
upgrades but not a change of motherboard. What if I decide it would be
better a different machine then the one it would be activated on? It sounds
like I would have to get another license. Is this true? Where can I get a
definitive answer? Is there a Microsoft link? I need to know so I can
decide which version to buy. The OEM is much cheaper, but if I can't
transfer it , it may not be worth it.

 

[Cerridwen]

I was planning on buying an OEM version of XP Pro, but I read
somewhere on the Internet that the non-preinstalled OEM version can
only have hardware upgrades but not a change of motherboard. What if
I decide it would be better a different machine then the one it would
be activated on? It sounds like I would have to get another license.
Is this true? Where can I get a definitive answer? Is there a
Microsoft link? I need to know so I can decide which version to buy.
The OEM is much cheaper, but if I can't transfer it , it may not be
worth it.

*ALL* OEM licences - whether preinstalled, or obtained with hardware, cannot
be transferred once activated. I would advise against OEM if you plan to
transfer, otherwise it could conceivably be a costly mistake.

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

I was planning on buying an OEM version of XP Pro, but I read somewhere on
the Internet that the non-preinstalled OEM version can only have hardware
upgrades but not a change of motherboard. What if I decide it would be
better a different machine then the one it would be activated on? It sounds
like I would have to get another license. Is this true? Where can I get a
definitive answer? Is there a Microsoft link? I need to know so I can
decide which version to buy. The OEM is much cheaper, but if I can't
transfer it , it may not be worth it.

Wayne,

The reason the OEM product appear so much cheaper is related to issues such
as:-
One Time Use license - once installed to a machine it may not be moved - it
dies with the machine
No direct support from Microsoft - your OEM provider is entirely responsible
for any and all support issues with the operating system (you can still use
Windows Update and Service Packs and Hotfixes from the Microsoft Web Site)

If you intend to change your machine at some point in the future and wish to
transfer your Windows XP license then an OEM product may not be your best
choice.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Wayne;
Others have pretty much stated it.
I will just add that is one of the many reasons OEM is cheaper than
retail.
Also if you want something definitive, the EULA that comes with it
spells it out.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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 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 installed 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/model of PC, as an additional anti-piracy feature.
Further, such CDs are often 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 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:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Wayne A Lewis]

I appreciate all the answers, but what I am more concerned about from what I
had read on the Internet was if my motherboard fries I would have to buy
another license -- correct?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Not necessarily. The motherboard is a technological deciding
factor only for those specific OEM CDs that are branded and "locked"
to a specific BIOS.

Some people do believe that the motherboard is the key component
that defines the "original computer," but the OEM EULA does not make
any such distinction. Others have said that one could successfully
argue that it's the PC's case that is the deciding component, as that
is where one is instructed to affix the OEM CoA w/Product Key.

According to the EULA, an OEM license may not be transferred from
one distinct PC to another PC. However, this doesn't prevent one from
repairing/upgrading that PC.

Microsoft has, to date, been very careful _not_ to define when an
incrementally upgraded computer ceases to be the original computer.
The closest I've seen a Microsoft employee come to this definition is
to tell the person making the inquiry to consult the PC's
manufacturer. As the OEM license's support is solely the
responsibility of said manufacturer, they should determine what sort
of hardware changes to allow before the warranty and support
agreements are voided. To paraphrase: An incrementally upgraded
computer ceases to be the original computer, as pertains to the OEM
EULA, only when the *OEM* says it's a different computer.

If you've built the PC yourself, and used a generic OEM WinXP CD,
I'd have to conclude that *you* are the OEM, and *you* get to decide
when you're going to stop supporting the system and its OS.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Wayne A Lewis]

Thanks. Here is the page where I read about not being able to change the
motherboard with the OEM: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

Yes. I'm referring to a generic OEM, and I am the builder.

Also, what do you know about restrictions or anything to do with the
academic retail version? -- I found one on Ebay.

Thanks.

 

[Cerridwen]

Thanks. Here is the page where I read about not being able to change
the motherboard with the OEM:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

Yes. I'm referring to a generic OEM, and I am the builder.

Also, what do you know about restrictions or anything to do with the
academic retail version? -- I found one on Ebay.

Thanks.

You are referring to 'BIOS-locking' the practice used by many system
manufacturers. You see, all the major manufacturers define the motherboard
as the system and encode their 'system recovery' or Windows disc. You
replace the board and you'll need another Windows or recovery disc.

As for the Academic licence you saw on eBay, please report the seller as
eBay strictly prohibits the sale of Academic licences. See
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/academic-software.html for details.

 

[Wayne A Lewis]

Ahh! I figured something was up with that academic version. Maybe I will
report them. I play by the rules (that's why I posted before purchasing.)
They should have to play by the rules also.

Thanks

 

[Wayne A Lewis]

Well, I reported it to Ebay. Bought me a new full retail version, more
then I was hoping to pay, but worth it.

Thanks all.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

A refreshing attitude. I commend you, sir.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

I see where you could get confused over the issue. This is, as I
implied, a very grey area.

Unfortunately, I cannot say whether Michael's interpretation of
the OEM EULA is right or not, because I'm not a "registered OEM
builder," so I cannot visit the official link to get Microsoft's
"official" stance on the issue. I, like that rest of the general
public, have only the text of that EULA upon which to base my
decision. And that OEM EULA does _not_ make any mention of the
motherboard in and way shape, or form.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Jack]

Wayne...Wayne..

Come on...just buy a normal copy of XP...your confused enough...no need for
all this....