Once again an activation question (not issue!)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Manu
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Manu

I put together a desktop for my cousin using an OEM Windows XP Home that was
bundled together with a motherboard and AMD 64 CPU from Fry's a couple of
months ago. The motherboard got fried yesterday for reasons too painful to
recount here. That same model is no longer available at Fry's.

Can that OEM be installed on the PC if it is rebuilt with a different
motherboard (same CPU) and activated? Either automatically or by phoning in
is fine with me! I am not too sure if I would try a repair install on the
original drive because it also is making clicking noises - but is
accessible, and I have already copied over all documents and files. I
already have a motherboard and drive that can be used.

I know that a OEM install is tied to the hardware it is first installed on -
but I don't know what to do in this case so far. I thought I would ask here
before spending on another Windows XP Home CD.

Regards and thanks in advance.

Manu
 
Manu said:
I put together a desktop for my cousin using an OEM Windows XP Home that was
bundled together with a motherboard and AMD 64 CPU from Fry's a couple of
months ago. The motherboard got fried yesterday for reasons too painful to
recount here. That same model is no longer available at Fry's.

Can that OEM be installed on the PC if it is rebuilt with a different
motherboard (same CPU) and activated? Either automatically or by phoning in
is fine with me! I am not too sure if I would try a repair install on the
original drive because it also is making clicking noises - but is
accessible, and I have already copied over all documents and files. I
already have a motherboard and drive that can be used.

I know that a OEM install is tied to the hardware it is first installed on -
but I don't know what to do in this case so far. I thought I would ask here
before spending on another Windows XP Home CD.

Regards and thanks in advance.

Manu
Click to expand...

If it is just a standard OEM version you should be OK, the following
link may help you identify what type of OEM CD you have:-
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/coa.mspx .

As to weather it would be legal to do, that depends on the EULA and
the laws governing EULAs that prevail in your particular part of the
world.
 
My response is at the bottom of this post:

GreenieLeBrun said:
If it is just a standard OEM version you should be OK, the following
link may help you identify what type of OEM CD you have:-
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/en/coa.mspx .

As to weather it would be legal to do, that depends on the EULA and
the laws governing EULAs that prevail in your particular part of the
world.
Click to expand...


Thanks very much for that helpful link. I checked the label with the
information there and do also think I should be okay. I will be doing the PC
rebuild and fresh OS install sometime this weekend! I am in Los Angeles
County, California and, for my knowledge sake, will read the EULA in detail
too sometime by then.

Regards.

Manu
 
Manu said:
I put together a desktop for my cousin using an OEM Windows XP Home that was
bundled together with a motherboard and AMD 64 CPU from Fry's a couple of
months ago. The motherboard got fried yesterday for reasons too painful to
recount here. That same model is no longer available at Fry's.

Can that OEM be installed on the PC if it is rebuilt with a different
motherboard (same CPU) and activated? Either automatically or by phoning in
is fine with me! I am not too sure if I would try a repair install on the
original drive because it also is making clicking noises - but is
accessible, and I have already copied over all documents and files. I
already have a motherboard and drive that can be used.

I know that a OEM install is tied to the hardware it is first installed on -
but I don't know what to do in this case so far. I thought I would ask here
before spending on another Windows XP Home CD.

Regards and thanks in advance.

Manu
Click to expand...


According to its EULA, an OEM license may not be transferred from
one distinct PC to another PC. There is nothing said about prohibiting
one from repairing or upgrading the PC on which an OEM license is
installed.



--

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
 
Manu said:
I put together a desktop for my cousin using an OEM Windows XP Home that was
bundled together with a motherboard and AMD 64 CPU from Fry's a couple of
months ago. The motherboard got fried yesterday for reasons too painful to
recount here. That same model is no longer available at Fry's.

Can that OEM be installed on the PC if it is rebuilt with a different
motherboard (same CPU) and activated? Either automatically or by phoning in
is fine with me! I am not too sure if I would try a repair install on the
original drive because it also is making clicking noises - but is
accessible, and I have already copied over all documents and files. I
already have a motherboard and drive that can be used.

I know that a OEM install is tied to the hardware it is first installed on -
but I don't know what to do in this case so far. I thought I would ask here
before spending on another Windows XP Home CD.

Regards and thanks in advance.

Manu
Click to expand...

Notwithstanding Bruce Chamber's reply, there is just one
vital question that needs to be answered...just who (and
how) bundled the OEM Windows XP home to the motherboard
and the CPU? The answer will determine whether or not you
are the designer/builder or just the assembler and this
governs how the OEM Windows version can be used.
 
My response at the bottom of post:

Mistoffolees said:
Notwithstanding Bruce Chamber's reply, there is just one
vital question that needs to be answered...just who (and
how) bundled the OEM Windows XP home to the motherboard
and the CPU? The answer will determine whether or not you
are the designer/builder or just the assembler and this
governs how the OEM Windows version can be used.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the response.

I assembled the PC with parts procured from a few different sources.

The motherboard, CPU and Windows XP Home OEM were part of a sale bundle (aka
"combo" item) at the Fry's Electronics store in the City of Industry a
couple of months back. Other parts - case, power supply, graphics, memory,
storage and opticals..... - were sourced from Newegg.com and
Tigerdirect.com. The monitor was an existing one but the WiLAN card,
keyboard, mouse and speakers came from Fry's as well. Nice place, they are.

Regards.

Manu
 
Manu said:
My response at the bottom of post:
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response.

I assembled the PC with parts procured from a few different sources.

The motherboard, CPU and Windows XP Home OEM were part of a sale bundle (aka
"combo" item) at the Fry's Electronics store in the City of Industry a
couple of months back. Other parts - case, power supply, graphics, memory,
storage and opticals..... - were sourced from Newegg.com and
Tigerdirect.com. The monitor was an existing one but the WiLAN card,
keyboard, mouse and speakers came from Fry's as well. Nice place, they are.

Regards.

Manu
Click to expand...

The EULA for the "generic" OEM version of Windows XP is open
to some interpretation. Typically, it is the "do-it-yourself"
builder who obtains all of the components, usually from a
number of different sources, and then assembles the computer.
In one broad interpretation, the "builder" has the power of
an OEM in determining how a system can be repaired. However,
the OEM of record in this case is Fry's Electronics, since it
bundled Windows XP HE OEM together with the motherboard and
the CPU. Essentially, the Windows XP license has been linked
to the original system. It is Fry's election to do a warranty
service. Just how did the motherboard get fried?
 
Manu said:
I put together a desktop for my cousin using an OEM Windows XP Home that was
bundled together with a motherboard and AMD 64 CPU from Fry's a couple of
months ago. The motherboard got fried yesterday for reasons too painful to
recount here. That same model is no longer available at Fry's.

Can that OEM be installed on the PC if it is rebuilt with a different
motherboard (same CPU) and activated? Either automatically or by phoning in
is fine with me! I am not too sure if I would try a repair install on the
original drive because it also is making clicking noises - but is
accessible, and I have already copied over all documents and files. I
already have a motherboard and drive that can be used.

I know that a OEM install is tied to the hardware it is first installed on -
but I don't know what to do in this case so far. I thought I would ask here
before spending on another Windows XP Home CD.

Regards and thanks in advance.

Manu
Click to expand...

Do it. If you have to phone in, just tell them you reinstalled Windows
and have no idea why it's asking for phone activation. Play dumb. The
ONLY information they can ask you for is the code number.

Alias
 
Manu said:
I put together a desktop for my cousin using an OEM Windows XP Home that
was bundled together with a motherboard and AMD 64 CPU from Fry's a couple
of months ago. The motherboard got fried yesterday for reasons too painful
to recount here. That same model is no longer available at Fry's.

Can that OEM be installed on the PC if it is rebuilt with a different
motherboard (same CPU) and activated? Either automatically or by phoning
in is fine with me! I am not too sure if I would try a repair install on
the original drive because it also is making clicking noises - but is
accessible, and I have already copied over all documents and files. I
already have a motherboard and drive that can be used.

I know that a OEM install is tied to the hardware it is first installed
on - but I don't know what to do in this case so far. I thought I would
ask here before spending on another Windows XP Home CD.

Regards and thanks in advance.

Manu
Click to expand...

I have used the same OEM XPPro (slipstreamed by now) through
an Asus CUL2C, an Abit BH7, a Gigabyte GA900, to an Intel D875P,
I did not even have to phone in. This is just my experience. _NOT HERESAY_
 
My response at the bottom:

GHalleck said:
The EULA for the "generic" OEM version of Windows XP is open
to some interpretation. Typically, it is the "do-it-yourself"
builder who obtains all of the components, usually from a
number of different sources, and then assembles the computer.
In one broad interpretation, the "builder" has the power of
an OEM in determining how a system can be repaired. However,
the OEM of record in this case is Fry's Electronics, since it
bundled Windows XP HE OEM together with the motherboard and
the CPU. Essentially, the Windows XP license has been linked
to the original system. It is Fry's election to do a warranty
service. Just how did the motherboard get fried?
Click to expand...



That seems to make sense.

Anyway I have decided to go ahead and use the OEM CD later this weekend.
Also, I will be stopping by Fry's this afternoon (sales! sales! sales!) and
will then get their opinion too.

The motherboard apparently got fried because a nameless someone inserted a
PCI device in a slot while the PC was still running. At least thats the
story I was given! After the PC was brought back to my place I checked it
out and found that while the motherboard does power up and boot into BIOS,
the hard drive and the optical one cannot be seen. The hard drive also was
noisy - it still seemed to have power. The power supply checked out fine.

Regards and thanks.

Manu
 
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