whats the deal with the oem versions of vista

LabR@t

LabR@t

LabR@t

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30 Nov 2005
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Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit Edition DVD - OEM

what can I and what can't i do with this

ie can i install , upgrade and reuse this installation or is it locked to one system .
 
Hello LabR@t, If you have purchased the OEM license of Windows Vista, you can change any system component in your system as many times as you wish apart from the motherboard and you will still be licensed. Now you may have to re-activate Windows Vista after a hardware and/or configuration change either by the online process or if it fails for various reasons, you will have to ring Microsoft up. If you do have to ring them up and speak with a Microsoft Agent, just tell them the truth, what exactly has happened and they will happily re-activate your copy of Windows for you. You will not be violating the EULA and you are still within your rights to use Windows Vista.

Now if you change your motherboard for a performance upgrade (We are not talking about replacing your motherboard under warranty), then I am afraid you will have to purchase a new copy of Windows Vista (License). If you wish to use the same copy of Windows Vista with your brand new motherboard, the only way you are going to get Windows Vista re-activated is if you ring up Microsoft. You now may be activated but you are certainly no longer licensed and would have just broken the EULA. :)
 
The license is tied to the motherboard. You can replace the motherboard under warranty and still remain licensed and upgrade any other part of your PC (although you may well have to reactivate) with no problems. There is a wealth of info in the sticky.
Damm you Fire Wizard:D Too quick for me.
 
If you cannot find the same motherboard and get a replacement of a different make, call Microsoft and tell them you needed to change the motherboard due to a fault and you replaced it with the nearest type/make available.

They will reactivate the OEM licence again with no problems.
 
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Its not encouraging piracy is it. If your mobo breaks and the shop only has another make with similar specs, all I said was Microsoft will enable the licence again thats all.

I didn't say anything about piracy.
 
Realist said:
Its not encouraging piracy is it. If your mobo breaks and the shop only has another make with similar specs, all I said was Microsoft will enable the licence again thats all.

I didn't say anything about piracy.
Click to expand...

That's not what you said. You suggested that someone lied to activate Windows, which revokes the licence and is effectively piracy.

Burnsy
 
It makes me laugh when people complain about the price of an o/s.

PC game = ~£25-35 for ~6 hours single player gaming.
Retail O/S = ~£220 for 3+ years of gaming, plus anything else you do on your machine.

As it's one of the key parts of your machine, and is far more complicated than any game, i see no problem in paying substantially more for it.

And as Burnsy has already mentioned, you can always get an OEM copy for ~£90 and buy a new licence if you upgrade the motherboard.
 
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