Upgrade from OEM WinXP Pro to retail?

[Bill Mathews]

I assume that either of the retail versions of WinXP Pro will do an upgrade
install on a system running the OEM version of XP Pro - of course, I would
need the original OEM CD if I use the retail upgrade, rather than full,
version.

I want to do an upgrade rather than full install so I don't have to
reinstall all my software, recreate all user settings, etc.

I have a defective mbo that must be replaced, although the machine will
still boot and run with some of the RAM removed.(I know it's the mbo, not
the RAM, but that's another story.) So the system is still accessible.

The retail upgrade would be done before the mbo replacement, as the OEM
version will no longer function with a new mbo, which I imagine would cause
problems in trying to do an upgrade install.

I would appreciate knowing if there are any "gotcha's'" in doing such an
upgrade.

Would I have to reactivate the retail install after the new mbo is
installed? It would seem that not all ten of the things XP checks would be
changed, but does the mbo have special status for the retail versions as it
does for the OEM ones?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

No, you do not want to perform an upgrade. What you
should do is purchase a "Full Retail Version" of Windows
XP Professional and perform a "Repair Install".

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with XP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


|I assume that either of the retail versions of WinXP Pro will do an upgrade
| install on a system running the OEM version of XP Pro - of course, I would
| need the original OEM CD if I use the retail upgrade, rather than full,
| version.
|
| I want to do an upgrade rather than full install so I don't have to
| reinstall all my software, recreate all user settings, etc.
|
| I have a defective mbo that must be replaced, although the machine will
| still boot and run with some of the RAM removed.(I know it's the mbo, not
| the RAM, but that's another story.) So the system is still accessible.
|
| The retail upgrade would be done before the mbo replacement, as the OEM
| version will no longer function with a new mbo, which I imagine would cause
| problems in trying to do an upgrade install.
|
| I would appreciate knowing if there are any "gotcha's'" in doing such an
| upgrade.
|
| Would I have to reactivate the retail install after the new mbo is
| installed? It would seem that not all ten of the things XP checks would be
| changed, but does the mbo have special status for the retail versions as it
| does for the OEM ones?
|
| Thanks,
| Bill
|
|

 

[Bill Mathews]

Carey, thanks for your most prompt reply.

But I'm confused. In response to a message regarding the mbo problem that I
posted on the computer system vendor's forum, in which I raised the issue of
having to get a new OEM copy of XP and hence to have to do a complete
reinstall of software etc., one of their techs posted the following:

As for Windows XP, the OEM version will work with >a replacement

motherboard. As long as it is the >same model it will work without any
problems >when you put the board back in.

The OEM version [that was supplied with the >system] is a full version of

Windows, it is not >limited to one type of motherboard, if you change

models, or upgrade your computer later you will >have to reinstall it

fresh, but it will work fine. And >to repeat what I said above, if your just
replacing >the motherboard with the same model, Windows >won't even notice a
change and you will not have >to do anything special to it.

This seems in direct contradiction to the information on the Michael Stevens
site and what I had understood from various messages on MS WinXP news
groups. Both state clearly that replacing the mbo will cause an OEM version
of XP to consider that it has been installed on a new computer, and that,
for an OEM version, is not allowed - period.

I assume that the vendor tech is just wrong. Or is there a subtlety here
that I'm missing? (I would be replacing the mbo with the same make and
model.)

Thanks again,
Bill

No, you do not want to perform an upgrade. What you
should do is purchase a "Full Retail Version" of Windows
XP Professional and perform a "Repair Install".

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with XP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------


|I assume that either of the retail versions of WinXP Pro will do an upgrade
| install on a system running the OEM version of XP Pro - of course, I would
| need the original OEM CD if I use the retail upgrade, rather than full,
| version.
|
| I want to do an upgrade rather than full install so I don't have to
| reinstall all my software, recreate all user settings, etc.
|
| I have a defective mbo that must be replaced, although the machine will
| still boot and run with some of the RAM removed.(I know it's the mbo, not
| the RAM, but that's another story.) So the system is still accessible.
|
| The retail upgrade would be done before the mbo replacement, as the OEM
| version will no longer function with a new mbo, which I imagine would cause
| problems in trying to do an upgrade install.
|
| I would appreciate knowing if there are any "gotcha's'" in doing such an
| upgrade.
|
| Would I have to reactivate the retail install after the new mbo is
| installed? It would seem that not all ten of the things XP checks would be
| changed, but does the mbo have special status for the retail versions as it
| does for the OEM ones?
|
| Thanks,
| Bill
|
|

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If you are replacing the motherboard with an "identical make and model",
then you can still use the same OEM version of Windows XP.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Carey, thanks for your most prompt reply.
|
| But I'm confused. In response to a message regarding the mbo problem that I
| posted on the computer system vendor's forum, in which I raised the issue of
| having to get a new OEM copy of XP and hence to have to do a complete
| reinstall of software etc., one of their techs posted the following:
|
| >As for Windows XP, the OEM version will work with >a replacement
| motherboard. As long as it is the >same model it will work without any
| problems >when you put the board back in.
| >
| >The OEM version [that was supplied with the >system] is a full version of
| Windows, it is not >limited to one type of motherboard, if you change
| >models, or upgrade your computer later you will >have to reinstall it
| fresh, but it will work fine. And >to repeat what I said above, if your just
| replacing >the motherboard with the same model, Windows >won't even notice a
| change and you will not have >to do anything special to it.
|
| This seems in direct contradiction to the information on the Michael Stevens
| site and what I had understood from various messages on MS WinXP news
| groups. Both state clearly that replacing the mbo will cause an OEM version
| of XP to consider that it has been installed on a new computer, and that,
| for an OEM version, is not allowed - period.
|
| I assume that the vendor tech is just wrong. Or is there a subtlety here
| that I'm missing? (I would be replacing the mbo with the same make and
| model.)
|
| Thanks again,
| Bill
|
| | > No, you do not want to perform an upgrade. What you
| > should do is purchase a "Full Retail Version" of Windows
| > XP Professional and perform a "Repair Install".
| >
| > Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with XP Installed
| > http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
| >
| > How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
| > http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
| >
| > [Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]
| >
| > --
| > Carey Frisch
| > Microsoft MVP
| > Windows XP - Shell/User
| >
| > Be Smart! Protect your PC!
| > http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
| >
| > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
| ---------------
| >
| > | >
| > |I assume that either of the retail versions of WinXP Pro will do an
| upgrade
| > | install on a system running the OEM version of XP Pro - of course, I
| would
| > | need the original OEM CD if I use the retail upgrade, rather than full,
| > | version.
| > |
| > | I want to do an upgrade rather than full install so I don't have to
| > | reinstall all my software, recreate all user settings, etc.
| > |
| > | I have a defective mbo that must be replaced, although the machine will
| > | still boot and run with some of the RAM removed.(I know it's the mbo,
| not
| > | the RAM, but that's another story.) So the system is still accessible.
| > |
| > | The retail upgrade would be done before the mbo replacement, as the OEM
| > | version will no longer function with a new mbo, which I imagine would
| cause
| > | problems in trying to do an upgrade install.
| > |
| > | I would appreciate knowing if there are any "gotcha's'" in doing such an
| > | upgrade.
| > |
| > | Would I have to reactivate the retail install after the new mbo is
| > | installed? It would seem that not all ten of the things XP checks would
| be
| > | changed, but does the mbo have special status for the retail versions as
| it
| > | does for the OEM ones?
| > |
| > | Thanks,
| > | Bill
| > |
| > |
|
|

 

[Bill Mathews]

Carey, thanks once again.
One more question: Is the vendor tech therefore correct in saying that,
after the replacement mbo is installed, the system will boot and operate as
if nothing had changed, with no further action required - that is, no
reinstall/reactivate of XP?

Cheers,
Bill

If you are replacing the motherboard with an "identical make and model",
then you can still use the same OEM version of Windows XP.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------


| Carey, thanks for your most prompt reply.
|
| But I'm confused. In response to a message regarding the mbo problem that I
| posted on the computer system vendor's forum, in which I raised the issue of
| having to get a new OEM copy of XP and hence to have to do a complete
| reinstall of software etc., one of their techs posted the following:
|
| >As for Windows XP, the OEM version will work with >a replacement
| motherboard. As long as it is the >same model it will work without any
| problems >when you put the board back in.
| >
| >The OEM version [that was supplied with the >system] is a full version of
| Windows, it is not >limited to one type of motherboard, if you change
| >models, or upgrade your computer later you will >have to reinstall it
| fresh, but it will work fine. And >to repeat what I said above, if your just
| replacing >the motherboard with the same model, Windows >won't even notice a
| change and you will not have >to do anything special to it.
|
| This seems in direct contradiction to the information on the Michael Stevens
| site and what I had understood from various messages on MS WinXP news
| groups. Both state clearly that replacing the mbo will cause an OEM version
| of XP to consider that it has been installed on a new computer, and that,
| for an OEM version, is not allowed - period.
|
| I assume that the vendor tech is just wrong. Or is there a subtlety here
| that I'm missing? (I would be replacing the mbo with the same make and
| model.)
|
| Thanks again,
| Bill
|
| | > No, you do not want to perform an upgrade. What you
| > should do is purchase a "Full Retail Version" of Windows
| > XP Professional and perform a "Repair Install".
| >
| > Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with XP Installed
| > http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
| >
| > How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
| > http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
| >
| > [Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]
| >
| > --
| > Carey Frisch
| > Microsoft MVP
| > Windows XP - Shell/User
| >
| > Be Smart! Protect your PC!
| > http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
| >
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| ---------------
| >
| > | >
| > |I assume that either of the retail versions of WinXP Pro will do an
| upgrade
| > | install on a system running the OEM version of XP Pro - of course, I
| would
| > | need the original OEM CD if I use the retail upgrade, rather than full,
| > | version.
| > |
| > | I want to do an upgrade rather than full install so I don't have to
| > | reinstall all my software, recreate all user settings, etc.
| > |
| > | I have a defective mbo that must be replaced, although the machine will
| > | still boot and run with some of the RAM removed.(I know it's the mbo,
| not
| > | the RAM, but that's another story.) So the system is still accessible.
| > |
| > | The retail upgrade would be done before the mbo replacement, as the OEM
| > | version will no longer function with a new mbo, which I imagine would
| cause
| > | problems in trying to do an upgrade install.
| > |
| > | I would appreciate knowing if there are any "gotcha's'" in doing such an
| > | upgrade.
| > |
| > | Would I have to reactivate the retail install after the new mbo is
| > | installed? It would seem that not all ten of the things XP checks would
| be
| > | changed, but does the mbo have special status for the retail versions as
| it
| > | does for the OEM ones?
| > |
| > | Thanks,
| > | Bill
| > |
| > |
|
|

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

I have performed "same motherboard replacements" and have not
encountered any boot-up or activation request issues with Windows XP.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Carey, thanks once again.
| One more question: Is the vendor tech therefore correct in saying that,
| after the replacement mbo is installed, the system will boot and operate as
| if nothing had changed, with no further action required - that is, no
| reinstall/reactivate of XP?
|
| Cheers,
| Bill