XP License (Transfering)

[Durby vend]

My old XP machine break down (motherboard & harddisk damaged),
I plug the old processor in to my new pc, then use back old Pc's product key
to install XP, but the activation fail... what can i do to use back my XP
license..
pls don't ask me to buy a new XP license.. it's soooo expensive!!!

I called Microsoft, they said i cannot transfer my OEM license to a new PC,
strange, although the old pc is pre-loaded with XP, but the label on the old
pc
didn't show that it's a OEM license.

Please help me. Thanks!

 

[Gordon]

My old XP machine break down (motherboard & harddisk damaged),
I plug the old processor in to my new pc, then use back old Pc's product
key
to install XP, but the activation fail... what can i do to use back my XP
license..
pls don't ask me to buy a new XP license.. it's soooo expensive!!!

I called Microsoft, they said i cannot transfer my OEM license to a new
PC,
strange, although the old pc is pre-loaded with XP, but the label on the
old pc
didn't show that it's a OEM license.

Please help me. Thanks!

MS are quite correct (!) Pre-installed copies of XP are OEM and the EULA
specifically states that you cannot transfer to a new machine. What you CAN
do is to replace the motherboard and HDD in your old machine. Then you enter
into the oft-disputed grey area as to what constitutes a new machine...

 

[Alias]

MS are quite correct (!) Pre-installed copies of XP are OEM and the EULA
specifically states that you cannot transfer to a new machine. What you CAN
do is to replace the motherboard and HDD in your old machine. Then you enter
into the oft-disputed grey area as to what constitutes a new machine...

That would only work if the OP replaces the motherboard with an
identical motherboard as OEMs tend to tie their XPs to the motherboard.

Alias

 

[Alias]

My old XP machine break down (motherboard & harddisk damaged),
I plug the old processor in to my new pc, then use back old Pc's product key
to install XP, but the activation fail... what can i do to use back my XP
license..
pls don't ask me to buy a new XP license.. it's soooo expensive!!!

I called Microsoft, they said i cannot transfer my OEM license to a new PC,
strange, although the old pc is pre-loaded with XP, but the label on the old
pc
didn't show that it's a OEM license.

Please help me. Thanks!

Check out http://www.ubuntu.com/ and order the free CD. You can install
it on as many computers as you like; it's free and it's very user
friendly. You can also set the BIOS to boot from the CD first and test
it out before installing it. Ubuntu is a form of Linux.

Alias

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The fact the label is on the PC indicates it is OEM.
Retail has the label on the CD packaging.

Normally OEM are permanently tied to the original computer regardless the
condition of the original computer.

If you want to continue to use that Windows XP license, you will probably
need to buy a motherboard by the same manufacturer as the original.

Otherwise your options are to replace the existing operating system.

 

[Dave B.]

Not true, I've replace many an OEM board with a retail board, done a repair
install if needed, called Microsoft..."got an HP, had to replace a defective
motherboard, need to reactivate" they never asked if the board was an OEM
replacement.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Not true, I've replace many an OEM board with a retail board, done a repair
install if needed, called Microsoft..."got an HP, had to replace a defective
motherboard, need to reactivate" they never asked if the board was an OEM
replacement.

Count yourself fortunate that you managed to get your OS activated.
This also proves that if you are not aggressive and/or demanding when
dealing with MS staff, you could get away with most things in life.
Politeness costs nothing!! In my dealings wih MS over the years, I have
found that the staff are very reasonable provided you are reasonable as
well. At the end of the day, we are dealing with fellow human beings
who like to be respected for what they are doing.

Kind regards,

 

[Alias]

Not true, I've replace many an OEM board with a retail board, done a repair
install if needed, called Microsoft..."got an HP, had to replace a defective
motherboard, need to reactivate" they never asked if the board was an OEM
replacement.

You did this with an HP restore disk or the hidden partition? My
understanding is that the restore disks are tied to the BIOS of the old
motherboard but I could be wrong, and, if so, great!

Alias

 

[Dave B.]

No, when a repair install was necessary I used an actual XP OEM disk, you
are correct that almost all recovery CD's will not work with the non OEM
board.

 

[Dave B.]

I've done it probably close to a hundred times, never had a problem.

 

[AJR]

There has been a lot of misinformation regarding activation of OEM supplied
OS and retail OS. There is no difficulty with activating OEM OS - note the
following information provided by Microsoft"

"Every single piece of hardware could be changed on a PC with SLP (System
Locked Reinstallation) and no reactivation would be required - even the
motherboard could be replaced as long as the replacement motherboard was
original equipment manufactured by the OEM and retained the proper BIOS. In
the unlikely scenario that the BIOS information does not match, the PC would
need to be activated within 30 days by contacting the Microsoft activation
center via the Internet or telephone call - just as in a retail scenario.

OEMs may also activate Windows XP by contacting Microsoft in the same way
the consumer would activate. Activation done in this way is the same as
activating a retail boxed version of Windows XP. This is discussed in more
detail further below.

For OEMs who do not employ either of the above two methods of
pre-activation, a new PC acquired with Windows XP preinstalled must be
activated by the customer. This activation is completed in the exact same
way as would someone who acquired Windows XP by purchasing a boxed version
at a retailer."



The document from which the above was quoted also included information on
the "ten" items upon which activation is based and the weight assigned tom
each.

 

[Dave B.]

I don't find that the 30 day time frame is accurate, I usually see 3 days or
an immediate lockout.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My old XP machine break down (motherboard & harddisk damaged),
I plug the old processor in to my new pc, then use back old Pc's product key
to install XP, but the activation fail... what can i do to use back my XP
license..
pls don't ask me to buy a new XP license.. it's soooo expensive!!!

If you can afford a new computer, you should also be able to afford an
OS license for it.

I called Microsoft, they said i cannot transfer my OEM license to a new PC,
strange, although the old pc is pre-loaded with XP, but the label on the old
pc
didn't show that it's a OEM license.

The very fact that the label is affixed to the computer case is proof
that it's an OEM license, which is non-transferable.





--

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

 

[Durby vend]

Meaning if i replace the motherboard & HDD in the old PC,
the activation will works ?

anyone try before ?

 

[Alias]

Meaning if i replace the motherboard & HDD in the old PC,
the activation will works ?

anyone try before ?

Yes, and I didn't even have to activate but the MB I used was very
similar to the one I replaced. The worst that would happen is you would
have to phone activate and MS says the only thing you need to tell them
is the code that appears when you choose phone activation.

Alias

 

[Nina DiBoy]

If you can afford a new computer, you should also be able to afford
an OS license for it.

That is becoming more and more untrue. You can buy a cheap computer for
$300 or less, but Windows Oses cost more than that with the release of
Vista.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

That is becoming more and more untrue.

No, it'll never be untrue. Without an operating system, a computer is
just so much dead weight. If one can't afford to get an OS along with
the computer, than one can't afford the computer. Period.


--

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

 

[Nina DiBoy]

No, it'll never be untrue. Without an operating system, a computer
is just so much dead weight. If one can't afford to get an OS along
with the computer, than one can't afford the computer. Period.

That is false too. I have purchased computers before without an OS and
then installed Linux. I did this and had no problem affording the computer.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

That is false too.

No, it's not false.

I have purchased computers before without an OS and
then installed Linux.

The very fact that you had to get Linux in order to use the computer
proves my point.

I did this and had no problem affording the
computer.

And no problem affording the OS....

What part of this is confusing you? I can explain it to you, but I
can't understand it for you.


--

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

 

[Nina DiBoy]

No, it'll never be untrue. Without an operating system, a
computer is just so much dead weight. If one can't afford to get an
OS along with the computer, than one can't afford the computer.
Period.


No, it's not false.


The very fact that you had to get Linux in order to use the
computer proves my point.

No it doesn't. What it does prove is that one can afford a computer
even if one chooses to purchase it without the OS. One can choose (like
I did) to put a free OS on it instead, therefore if one makes that
choice, they can afford the cost of the computer based on the cost of
the computer alone, esp. if the cost of the OS is free.

And no problem affording the OS....

Exactly. You just contradicted yourself, LOL.

What part of this is confusing you? I can explain it to you, but I
can't understand it for you.

Maybe you ought to take a step back and make sure you understand it
yourself.