Upgrade components on a PC running XP Pro(OEM version)

[Janice]

I have read that XP will only allow some upgrading of components before a
reactivation is necessary. My son would like to upgrade his motherboard,
processor and ram. Will he be able to use his existing XP Pro or will it
require a new licence to be bought? How much upgrading does XP allow?

Thanks

Janice

 

[mccoyn]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;302878

The above website has most the information you will need.
Reactivation is required when more than 3 points are
changed. Most likly you will have new IDE adapter, RAM
amount, processor type and processor serial number, which
means reactivations will be required. I've heard that
people havn't had trouble with this, but I havn't done it
myself. I doubt you will need to get a new license.

Display adapter
SCSI adapter
IDE adapter
Network adapter media access control address
RAM amount range (for example, 0-64MB or 64-128MB)
Processor type
Processor serial number
Hard disk device
Hard disk volume serial number
CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive

 

[Janice]

Thanks.

Janice

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;302878

The above website has most the information you will need.
Reactivation is required when more than 3 points are
changed. Most likly you will have new IDE adapter, RAM
amount, processor type and processor serial number, which
means reactivations will be required. I've heard that
people havn't had trouble with this, but I havn't done it
myself. I doubt you will need to get a new license.

Display adapter
SCSI adapter
IDE adapter
Network adapter media access control address
RAM amount range (for example, 0-64MB or 64-128MB)
Processor type
Processor serial number
Hard disk device
Hard disk volume serial number
CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive

 

[cimex]

Janice, this gets discussed a lot here. So far, have not heard one actual
"horror story," only a bit of speculation. Your son's upgrade and
reactivation should go fine.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I have read that XP will only allow some upgrading of components
before a reactivation is necessary. My son would like to upgrade his
motherboard, processor and ram. Will he be able to use his existing
XP Pro or will it require a new licence to be bought? How much
upgrading does XP allow?

Reactivation does not mean having to but a new license. If he
changes enough hardware, he will have to reactivate, but that's
no problem. It's free, and it's quick and easy. Depending on how
long it's been, he may be able to do it over the internet just
like the first time. Worst case, he'll be required to make a
quick voice phone call to an 800 number, and explain what he did.

 

[Ian]

I'm a little confused by all of this!, my understanding is that if you buy a
Windows XP OEM version the license agreement allows you to install the
software on a new home built machine. When that machine is replaced the
license "dies" with it, i.e. you can't build a new PC to replace your old
one and use the same OEM license, you need to buy a new license.

At the moment I have a home built PC that I would like to install Windows XP
on, so if I buy an OEM license and then in 6 months I replace the
motherboard, processor, memory, hard disk etc. etc. is the OEM license still
valid ?, what constitutes a "new" PC ?

I don't want to buy a OEM license and phone up to reactive it after serious
hardware upgrades and find that I need to buy a new one! If anyone can shed
light on this it would be very much appreciated!

Ian.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I'm a little confused by all of this!, my understanding is that if
you buy a Windows XP OEM version the license agreement allows you to
install the software on a new home built machine. When that machine
is replaced the license "dies" with it, i.e. you can't build a new PC
to replace your old one and use the same OEM license, you need to buy
a new license.

That's correct.

At the moment I have a home built PC that I would like to install
Windows XP on, so if I buy an OEM license and then in 6 months I
replace the motherboard, processor, memory, hard disk etc. etc. is
the OEM license still valid ?, what constitutes a "new" PC ?

In my view, this is an exceedingly gray area--one which Microsoft
has never officially defined precisely (and I suspect that lack
of a definition is on purpose). You'll probably get several
different opinions here--motherboard, processor, etc. Silly as it
may sound, I think one could argue that the computer consists of
the *case*, since that's where Microsoft requires that the
Product Key sticker be placed.

I know that doesn't answer your question and tell you what to do,
but it's the best I can do.

Why not buy an upgrade CD instead? It's around the same price as
an OEM CD, and doesn't have the restriction. If it's because you
want to do a clean installation, despite what many people will
tell you, you *can* do an clean installation with an upgrade
version. The requirement to use an upgrade version is to *own* a
previous qualifying version's installation CD (not an OEM restore
CD), not to have it installed. When setup doesn't find a previous
qualifying version installed, it will prompt you to insert its CD
as proof of ownership. Just insert the previous version's CD, and
follow the prompts. Everything proceeds quite normally and quite
legitimately.

 

[Tom Lake]

At the moment I have a home built PC that I would like to install Windows
XP

on, so if I buy an OEM license and then in 6 months I replace the
motherboard, processor, memory, hard disk etc. etc. is the OEM license still
valid ?, what constitutes a "new" PC ?

I don't want to buy a OEM license and phone up to reactive it after serious
hardware upgrades and find that I need to buy a new one! If anyone can shed
light on this it would be very much appreciated!

To buy an OEM version legally, it must come with a piece of hardware. Some
dealers sell the OEM version with a power cord and that's legal since a
power cord is hardware. If you get rid of the hardware that was sold with
the OEM version, you have to get rid of the OEM version as well but not
until. In other words, if you buy a motherboard with the OEM version
included, you can replace any part of your computer except the motherboard
and keep the OEM version. If you buy a hard drive with the OEM version, you
can replace any part of the computer except the hard drive. If you buy the
power cord mentioned above, you can replace any part except the power cord
and it will be legal to continue to use the OEM version! This goes against
the spirit of the agreement if not the letter but even the biggest MS
customers do it all the time so why worry?

Tom Lake

 

[cimex]

There is absolutely NO potential of enforcement of such a rule, if it
actually exists in print. MS currently has no means of tracking the hardware
purchases of its licensees.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Normally, using a retail WinXP License, unless the new motherboard
is virtually identical to the old one (same chipset, same IDE
controllers, same BIOS version, etc.), you'll need to perform a repair
(a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation, at the very least:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
important data before starting.

This may also require re-activation. If it's been more than 120
days since you last activated that specific Product Key, 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.

However, if you're dealing with an OEM license, you will very
probably have to obtain the new motherboard from the PC's original
manufacturer. Otherwise, the OEM license may not work. In which
case, you would need to buy a new, retail license. Ask the PC's
manufacturer before proceeding.


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 --

According to the EULA, an OEM license may not be transferred from
one distinct PC to another PC.

However, 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. 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,
*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

I'm a little confused by all of this!, my understanding is that if you buy a
Windows XP OEM version the license agreement allows you to install the
software on a new home built machine. When that machine is replaced the
license "dies" with it, i.e. you can't build a new PC to replace your old
one and use the same OEM license, you need to buy a new license.

At the moment I have a home built PC that I would like to install Windows XP
on, so if I buy an OEM license and then in 6 months I replace the
motherboard, processor, memory, hard disk etc. etc. is the OEM license still
valid ?, what constitutes a "new" PC ?

I don't want to buy a OEM license and phone up to reactive it after serious
hardware upgrades and find that I need to buy a new one! If anyone can shed
light on this it would be very much appreciated!

Ian.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

This is incorrect. The OEM EULA clearly states that, even though
the WinXP OEM license may have been purchased with a single hardware
component, the OS, once installed, becomes an integral part of the
entire computer. It ceases to be bound to any single component, but
is bound to the entire computer.

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

 

[Janice]

Thank you all for your replies. It's a very grey area from the sound of it.
I think we'll check with the PC supplier although my son wanted to do this
upgrade himself.

Janice

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

You're welcome.

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