Windows XP Pro OEM and dying motherboard

[N J Drew]

Hi,
It looks like Im in a situation where Im technically stuck and cant
fix/upgrade my PC.

Almost 7 years ago I built my PC from scratch using windows Millenium.

6 months ago I bought myself a new hard disk, DVD drive and the XP Pro OEM
version. The OEM version was put fresh on the new hard disk and all was
working perfectly.Recently the computer is not always starting up. Chipset
fan not working, BIOS settings lost twice and so it looks like the
motherboard is dying.

So the problem is this:
1. If I change the motherboard, will I have to buy ANOTHER windows XP OEM
(Ive only just bought it and technically I'd have two licenses for one
machine). The motherboard isnt in production anymore so it will have to be
completly different.
2. Will I still be able to get XP OEM anyway if its all being moved to
Vista? According to some reports XP OEM is not being produced now. Will I
have to go to VISTA? Vista cost 350 pounds here (700 dollars!) which is far
too expensive for a single home user especially as Ive just spend money to go
to XP. And theres no point buying the retail XP as its just as expensive and
is already obselete. If I upgrade to vista on the XP OEM will it still give
me activation problems if I change the motherboard afterwards?
3. If I do have to get another XP OEM will I have to blank the hard disk
that I just installed it on?

Neil

 

[Bob I]

The way I look at it, YOU are the manufacturer, and you are repairing
the PC. Install and activate your current copy of OEM XP

 

[Leythos]

So the problem is this:
1. If I change the motherboard, will I have to buy ANOTHER windows XP OEM
(Ive only just bought it and technically I'd have two licenses for one
machine). The motherboard isnt in production anymore so it will have to be
completly different.

Under the rules, past and present, replacing a motherboard for reason of
failure is permitted, even if it's a different motherboard. Since it's
been a long time you most likely won't even have to activate by phone.

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(e-mail address removed) (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[Alias]

Hi,
It looks like Im in a situation where Im technically stuck and cant
fix/upgrade my PC.

Almost 7 years ago I built my PC from scratch using windows Millenium.

6 months ago I bought myself a new hard disk, DVD drive and the XP Pro OEM
version. The OEM version was put fresh on the new hard disk and all was
working perfectly.Recently the computer is not always starting up. Chipset
fan not working, BIOS settings lost twice and so it looks like the
motherboard is dying.

So the problem is this:
1. If I change the motherboard, will I have to buy ANOTHER windows XP OEM
(Ive only just bought it and technically I'd have two licenses for one
machine). The motherboard isnt in production anymore so it will have to be
completly different.

Not a problem. Buy the new motherboard and reinstall XP and don't worry
about it. If it's been over 120 days since the last activation, it will
activate on line. If not, phone activate. Read your EULA and you will
find that upgrading a computer is fine and that includes replacing a
defective motherboard or upgrading to a better one.

Alias

 

[Nepatsfan]

Hi,
It looks like Im in a situation where Im technically stuck and cant
fix/upgrade my PC.

Almost 7 years ago I built my PC from scratch using windows Millenium.

6 months ago I bought myself a new hard disk, DVD drive and the XP Pro OEM
version. The OEM version was put fresh on the new hard disk and all was
working perfectly.Recently the computer is not always starting up. Chipset
fan not working, BIOS settings lost twice and so it looks like the
motherboard is dying.

So the problem is this:
1. If I change the motherboard, will I have to buy ANOTHER windows XP OEM
(Ive only just bought it and technically I'd have two licenses for one
machine). The motherboard isnt in production anymore so it will have to be
completly different.
2. Will I still be able to get XP OEM anyway if its all being moved to
Vista? According to some reports XP OEM is not being produced now. Will I
have to go to VISTA? Vista cost 350 pounds here (700 dollars!) which is far
too expensive for a single home user especially as Ive just spend money to go
to XP. And theres no point buying the retail XP as its just as expensive and
is already obselete. If I upgrade to vista on the XP OEM will it still give
me activation problems if I change the motherboard afterwards?
3. If I do have to get another XP OEM will I have to blank the hard disk
that I just installed it on?

Neil

If you haven't done so already, back up any files you consider important. That
should be your first priority.

After replacing your motherboard, use your XP installation CD to repair your
current installation. Here are a couple of articles that explain the procedure.

Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

How to replace the motherboard on a computer that is running Windows Server
2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824125

Once the repair is completed you'll probably be asked to activate Windows. If
you're lucky it will activate over the Internet. If your only option is to use
the phone activation, explain to the person you talk to that you replaced some
of the hardware in your computer and needed to reinstall XP. Provide only as
much information as needed to get your copy of XP activated.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[David B.]

You don't talk to a person for XP activation anymore, it's 100% automated
assistant. If validation fails the assistant asks you the same questions the
live person used to ask.

 

[Nepatsfan]

Thanks for passing along that information but, if at the end of this automated
process, the OP still can't activate Windows, what would you suggest as a course
of action? Give up and shell out big bucks for another copy of XP?

At some point in time, talking to a live human being may enter into the
equation. The point I was trying to make is that the OP should only volunteer
enough information to get Windows activated.

Nepatsfan

 

[David B.]

No argument here. So far I haven't had any fail, as long as you provide the
"correct" answers to the questions;
Installed on 1 PC: yes
First time activating: yes
Any recent hardware changes: no

You can still get to a person if need be.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,
It looks like Im in a situation where Im technically stuck and cant
fix/upgrade my PC.

Almost 7 years ago I built my PC from scratch using windows Millenium.

6 months ago I bought myself a new hard disk, DVD drive and the XP Pro OEM
version. The OEM version was put fresh on the new hard disk and all was
working perfectly.Recently the computer is not always starting up. Chipset
fan not working, BIOS settings lost twice and so it looks like the
motherboard is dying.

So the problem is this:
1. If I change the motherboard, will I have to buy ANOTHER windows XP OEM
(Ive only just bought it and technically I'd have two licenses for one
machine). The motherboard isnt in production anymore so it will have to be
completly different.

No, there should be no need to purchase another WinXP license, unles
what you originally purchased was actually a "System Builders One-Pack,"
which has a different EULA.

Some people mistakenly believe that the motherboard is the key
component that defines the "original computer," but the OEM EULA itself
does not make any such distinction. Others have said (tongue in cheek)
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 label w/Product Key. Again, the EULA does *not* specifically define
any single component as the computer. Licensed Microsoft Systems
Builders, who are allowed to distribute OEM licenses with computers they
build and sell, are _contractually_ obligated to "define" the computer
as the motherboard, but this limitation/definition can't be applied to
the end user until the EULA is re-written.

Microsoft has, to date, been very careful _not_ to *publicly*
define when an incrementally upgraded computer ceases to be the original
computer. The closest I've ever seen a Microsoft employee come to this
definition (in a public forum) 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 system yourself, and used a generic OEM CD, then _you_ are the
"OEM," and _you_ get to decide when you'll no longer support your product.

2. Will I still be able to get XP OEM anyway if its all being moved to
Vista? According to some reports XP OEM is not being produced now. Will I
have to go to VISTA? Vista cost 350 pounds here (700 dollars!) which is far
too expensive for a single home user especially as Ive just spend money to go
to XP. And theres no point buying the retail XP as its just as expensive and
is already obselete. If I upgrade to vista on the XP OEM will it still give
me activation problems if I change the motherboard afterwards?

I wouldn't expect you to have much trouble obtaining WinXP, as yet.
Even if Product has stopped, there still should be some in retail
channels for a while, yet.

3. If I do have to get another XP OEM will I have to blank the hard disk
that I just installed it on?

I can't imagine why.


--

Bruce Chambers

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