Vista OEM license and changing motherboard

[JH]

My motherboard died on me, and because it was an AMD socket 939 board, and
those are hard to find these days, and because I didn't want to dump any
more money into an obsolete platform and because of the massive Intel price
cuts, I purchased a Core 2 Duo E6700, new board and DDR2 RAM.

The problem is my Vista Home Premium is an OEM version. Will I be able to
call Microsoft and get this activated without having to purchase a new
license given that I am replacing the board because it was defective or do
they have restrictions that it has to be the same board, same socket, same
processor type, etc?

Because of all the problems I have had with the now dead board (data
corruption issues requiring complete reinstalls), I have already had to do 4
reinstallations since January on the same hardware and had to call MS each
time to reactivate. Am I likely to run into any problems getting this done?

 

[Joe Guidera]

All you can do is call and explain the situation. Like as not they'll
re-activate you.

Joe

 

[Not Me]

TBH, I'm not sure.
When I buy an OEM, I buy it with the case as the major component.
As far as I am concerned, whatever guts I put in it are legal to use with
the software.

 

[Alias]

My motherboard died on me, and because it was an AMD socket 939 board,
and those are hard to find these days, and because I didn't want to dump
any more money into an obsolete platform and because of the massive
Intel price cuts, I purchased a Core 2 Duo E6700, new board and DDR2 RAM.

The problem is my Vista Home Premium is an OEM version. Will I be able
to call Microsoft and get this activated without having to purchase a
new license given that I am replacing the board because it was defective
or do they have restrictions that it has to be the same board, same
socket, same processor type, etc?

Because of all the problems I have had with the now dead board (data
corruption issues requiring complete reinstalls), I have already had to
do 4 reinstallations since January on the same hardware and had to call
MS each time to reactivate. Am I likely to run into any problems
getting this done?

If you tell them the truth, you will probably have to buy a new license.
If you tell them you got a virus and reinstalled Vista and play dumb,
they will probably activate it for you.

In either case, here is yet another example of how activation
inconveniences paying customers and does nothing to stop piracy. Why
should you even have to worry about the effects of replacing a defective
motherboard?

Alias

 

[Tom Scott]

That same thing happened to me, the licence is basically tied to the
motherboard, but i just told them that i changed the hard disk... i mean
ive paid for vista, i just told them a little white lie lol!

 

[Alias]

That same thing happened to me, the licence is basically tied to the
motherboard, but i just told them that i changed the hard disk... i mean
ive paid for vista, i just told them a little white lie lol!

Gosh, the motherboard waltzed into a store and bought itself a copy of
Vista?

Ah, the joys of Microsoft's activation scam.

Check out Ubuntu: www.ubuntu.com/

What are the benefits of Ubuntu?

1. No activation

2. Can be installed on multiple computers for free.

3. No WGA

4. Safe surfing

5. Meets most people's needs and if you need Windows for a special
program, create a Window for it and, if you like, its very own Desktop
which would be only one click away.

6. It's free.

7. It doesn't require buying new hardware like Vista does.

8. No need for an anti virus or firewall.

9. No need for anti spy/mal/ad ware apps.

10. No reactivation if you update your drivers, hardware or BIOS.

11. Linux Update updates *everything* on your computer. No need to be
looking for a driver here, an update to Java there, Office here, Windows
there, Thunderbird here, Fire Fox there. You get the idea.

Alias

 

[JH]

That is the funny thing; I am using the same hard drive. What are the
chances the Vista installation would survive moving to a new board,
processor type and manufacturer and let me boot to the point I could upgrade
over itself? That might circumvent having to activate.

I think if I get any flak I will just demand a supervisor and kick up a huge
fuss. Basically, I have a full version of XP Home retail, so I qualified
for the upgrade version of Vista, which was about the same price and I
probably should have gotten instead. The reason I didn't was because of
MS's stupid procedure on upgrade versions where you have to either install
XP first, or install Vista and upgrade Vista over itself. It's almost like
they are trying to make upgrade versions unusable to force people to buy
full versions even when they qualify.

 

[Nina DiBoy]

My motherboard died on me, and because it was an AMD socket 939 board,
and those are hard to find these days, and because I didn't want to dump
any more money into an obsolete platform and because of the massive
Intel price cuts, I purchased a Core 2 Duo E6700, new board and DDR2 RAM.

The problem is my Vista Home Premium is an OEM version. Will I be able
to call Microsoft and get this activated without having to purchase a
new license given that I am replacing the board because it was defective
or do they have restrictions that it has to be the same board, same
socket, same processor type, etc?

Because of all the problems I have had with the now dead board (data
corruption issues requiring complete reinstalls), I have already had to
do 4 reinstallations since January on the same hardware and had to call
MS each time to reactivate. Am I likely to run into any problems
getting this done?

Yes, because it is none of their business what is going on with your
machine. The only mandatory information for you to provide is the
hardware hash and the product ID. See:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_facts.mspx

Mandatory Product Activation Data

* The Installation ID is unique to each product and comprises two
components:

1. Product ID. Unique to the product key used during installation
2. Hardware hash. Non-unique representation of the PC

* The country in which the product is being installed (for Office
XP and Office XP family products only)

You don't need to sit there and explain yourself to their endless
questions (IF they ask them, some of their people are nosier than others
I'm sure).

Good luck.

--
Priceless quotes in m.p.w.vista.general group:
http://protectfreedom.tripod.com/kick.html

Most recent idiotic quote added to KICK (Klassic Idiotic Caption Kooks):
"It would be nice if there was a check to see if you were running an
activated/validated version of Windows before you were allowed to post
in any
of these news groups. If you're not activated/validated your post
automatically gets deleted.
That would get rid of the Linsux Luzzzzzzzzers once and for all."

"Good poets borrow; great poets steal."
- T. S. Eliot

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My motherboard died on me, and because it was an AMD socket 939 board,
and those are hard to find these days, and because I didn't want to dump
any more money into an obsolete platform and because of the massive
Intel price cuts, I purchased a Core 2 Duo E6700, new board and DDR2 RAM.

The problem is my Vista Home Premium is an OEM version. Will I be able
to call Microsoft and get this activated without having to purchase a
new license given that I am replacing the board because it was defective
or do they have restrictions that it has to be the same board, same
socket, same processor type, etc?

Because of all the problems I have had with the now dead board (data
corruption issues requiring complete reinstalls), I have already had to
do 4 reinstallations since January on the same hardware and had to call
MS each time to reactivate. Am I likely to run into any problems
getting this done?

You shouldn't, although you will most likely have to activate by telephone.


--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

What are the benefits of Ubuntu?

1. No activation

A minor inconvenience.

2. Can be installed on multiple computers for free.

This is about the only thing good about Linux, for desktop use.

3. No WGA

True, but it's of little significance. Only thieves need worry about WGA.

4. Safe surfing

No safer than any other OS on the planet; it depends entirely upon the
user's habits.

5. Meets most people's needs ....

Not even close.

and if you need Windows for a special
program, create a Window for it and, if you like, its very own Desktop
which would be only one click away.

Don't see much use for this, myself, but others might.

6. It's free.

Unless one's timer is of any value, in which case it becomes very
expensive to learn and maintain. How many months did it take you to get
your printer and fax working? Documentation is virtually nonexistent.

7. It doesn't require buying new hardware like Vista does.

No, but it also doesn't support nearly as many different devices as
Vista does, and many manufacturers provide no Linux support of any kind.

8. No need for an anti virus or firewall.

That's an absurd and dangerous mis-statement. Are you deliberately
trying to help the malware creators?

9. No need for anti spy/mal/ad ware apps.

That's an absurd and dangerous mis-statement. Are you deliberately
trying to help the malware creators?

10. No reactivation if you update your drivers, hardware or BIOS.

True, but, again, it's a very minor advantage; not worth all of the
other hassles.

11. Linux Update updates *everything* on your computer.

That's an excellent reason to avoid Linux, at all costs. The last
thing I'd want is some anonymous "committee" somewhere deciding what to
update on my computer. With Vista, I have control.






--

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

If you tell them the truth, you will probably have to buy a new license.

Do you have something to substantiate this claim?

If you tell them you got a virus and reinstalled Vista and play dumb,
they will probably activate it for you.

So, you advise people to lie? Given this demonstration of your
integrity, why should the OP listen to anything else you have to say?



--

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

 

[Alias]

Do you have something to substantiate this claim?

Why take a chance?

So, you advise people to lie? Given this demonstration of your
integrity, why should the OP listen to anything else you have to say?

Um, *everybody* lies. MS is accusing you of being a pirate with
activation and you don't have a problem with that LIE but you do with
one that will allow the user to continue using something he or she paid
for? Where is YOUR integrity?

Alias

 

[Alias]

A minor inconvenience.

An insult and a total waste of time.

This is about the only thing good about Linux, for desktop use.



True, but it's of little significance. Only thieves need worry
about WGA.

As many posts have proven, WGA has been known to show false positives.
You are being accused of being a thief and you consider that a "minor
inconvenience"? I guess you're so used to it you think it's normal.

No safer than any other OS on the planet; it depends entirely upon
the user's habits.
False.


Not even close.

Yes, it does. Most people don't need auto cad, fancy dancy MS Office
configurations or knitting programs.

Don't see much use for this, myself, but others might.

If gives you the best of both worlds, of course.

Unless one's timer is of any value, in which case it becomes very
expensive to learn and maintain. How many months did it take you to get
your printer and fax working?

Once I got around to it, about five minutes.

Documentation is virtually nonexistent.
False.


No, but it also doesn't support nearly as many different devices as
Vista does, and many manufacturers provide no Linux support of any kind.

Then boycott them until they come to their senses.

That's an absurd and dangerous mis-statement. Are you deliberately
trying to help the malware creators?

No, it's true. You obviously know little about Linux.

That's an absurd and dangerous mis-statement. Are you deliberately
trying to help the malware creators?

No, it's true. You obviously know little about Linux.

True, but, again, it's a very minor advantage; not worth all of the
other hassles.

Maybe you like being accused of being a thief until you prove otherwise.
I don't.

That's an excellent reason to avoid Linux, at all costs. The last
thing I'd want is some anonymous "committee" somewhere deciding what to
update on my computer. With Vista, I have control.

So far, over 300 updates and no problems whatsoever. With Vista, MS has
control of your computer with its WPA, WGA and DRM.

Alias