MS - "OEM Vista on home built PCs is UNLICENSED"

V3g3tto said:
And yes it's tied to the motherboard of installation once it has been activated, but again, read a few more threads, you don't need to activate for months, ...legally.
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Hello V3g3tto, if you have purchased an OEM license, it is tied to the motherboard you originally installed it on, regardless if you have activated it or not.

May I also ask, why would you want to wait months to activate your copy of Windows? :)
 
How could it possibly be tied to the motherboard without activation?

1. It can't change any files on the disk to state i've used the key before.
2. The only way would be if it somehow stored information in BIOS, which i can easily get rid of.
3. Or, it secretly transmits data to microsoft, thus negating the need to activate in the first place.

How is that possible?

In my case, i would have only a couple of days left to install 64-bit before my activation time ran out and as i didn't want to re-activate it if i did upgrade, i needed the extra leg room.

Oh Burnsy, was confused about that one, but retailers say Microsoft want you to buy with hardware. Didn't know if retailers would say no if you bought it on its own.
 
V3g3tto said:
How could it possibly be tied to the motherboard without activation?

1. It can't change any files on the disk to state i've used the key before.
2. The only way would be if it somehow stored information in BIOS, which i can easily get rid of.
3. Or, it secretly transmits data to microsoft, thus negating the need to activate in the first place.
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It is LEGALLY tied to the motherboard. It is illegal to re-install an OEM version on a new motherboard wether you CAN or not.

- Pea0n
 
Lol, classic.

Legally, you're not supposed to buy OEM in the first place without what they class as a core component, i.e. CPU, HD, Motherboard,etc. It's against Microsoft terms and conditions, EULA, whatever. It's upto retailers to enforce it, majority of which do not.

Edit: above is wrong :)

So, that whole tied to motherboard thing, whats the fuss about? ha
 
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Should have said that you bought it from a really large international online store (nile). It would have been funny to see this guy pursue this against them.
 
Ok, researched this again:

The tied to motherboard thing is directly linked to activation. If it aint activated, you don't have a problem and can reinstall it over and over again, on a different machine if you want.

As i said above, i can install my OEM on my Dad's PC, no trouble, the disk doesn't know, i just couldn't activate it IF i already had before.

Right that's that cleared up.

Just like to point out i'm not going to do the above, but that everywhere stating the Vista is actually tied to your motherboard is wrong. Activation is.

Oh and for the record, yes changing motherboards will cause it to get angry, but erm...drivers? Changing a core component like that, the install settings you chose for Vista would no longer be viable, you'd kinda want to do a fresh isntall anyway.
 
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And of course you can always activate over the phone with a retail copy with no problems at all, and not counting for an activation, not sure if this applies to an OEM install.
 
V3g3tto said:
How could it possibly be tied to the motherboard without activation?
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Hello V3g3tto, it is tied to the motherboard in regards to the license.

V3g3tto said:
Ok, researched this again:

The tied to motherboard thing is directly linked to activation. If it aint activated, you don't have a problem and can reinstall it over and over again, on a different machine if you want.
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No you cannot, certainly not without violating the EULA. Just because you have an activated copy of Windows does not mean that you are necessary licensed. There is a small but very important difference between being licensed and being activated.

The OEM licensing terms are as follows: 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 after a hardware and/or configuration change either by the online process or if it fails for various reasons, you will have to ring them 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.

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 (License).

V3g3tto said:
Just like to point out i'm not going to do the above, but that everywhere stating the Vista is actually tied to your motherboard is wrong. Activation is.
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In regards to the OEM license, it is tied to the motherboard that you originally installed it on. Once again, activation has no bearing effect on weather you are using an licensed copy of Windows or not. :)
 
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V3g3tto said:
Ok, researched this again:

The tied to motherboard thing is directly linked to activation. If it aint activated, you don't have a problem and can reinstall it over and over again, on a different machine if you want.

As i said above, i can install my OEM on my Dad's PC, no trouble, the disk doesn't know, i just couldn't activate it IF i already had before.

Right that's that cleared up.
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Ummm - no it isn't.
Please don't post incorrect information when you really aren't sure as other people may read your posts and assume you know what you are talking about.
 
V3g3tto said:
Ok, researched this again:

The tied to motherboard thing is directly linked to activation. If it aint activated, you don't have a problem and can reinstall it over and over again, on a different machine if you want.

As i said above, i can install my OEM on my Dad's PC, no trouble, the disk doesn't know, i just couldn't activate it IF i already had before.

Right that's that cleared up.

Just like to point out i'm not going to do the above, but that everywhere stating the Vista is actually tied to your motherboard is wrong. Activation is.

Oh and for the record, yes changing motherboards will cause it to get angry, but erm...drivers? Changing a core component like that, the install settings you chose for Vista would no longer be viable, you'd kinda want to do a fresh isntall anyway.
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That's amazing. Not one thing in there is actually accurate. What awful sources are you researching from?

Burnsy
 
lol. Afraid you're wrong guys.

I can do all i said in the above, it's fact. Simply stating EULA saying it's naughty doesn't change the fact i can do it.

So what i say is accurate. It's tied to your motherboard because the EULA says it is, nothing is stopping me switching motherboards and re-installing it is there? No.

What's stopping me using my OEM disc on another PC? Besides EULA? I would love to be proven wrong here.
 
stoofa said:
Ummm - no it isn't.
Please don't post incorrect information when you really aren't sure as other people may read your posts and assume you know what you are talking about.
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Point out where i made any errors?

Do you think the DVD magically knows what the hell my PC is? I can re-install Vista on another PC, fact.

It's fact and i'm shocked you are so blatantly saying i'm an idiot. What's stopping me? Be as technical as you want i'm sure i'll understand.


AND NO, EULA IS NOT STOPPING ME IS IT, IT IS NOT STOPPING ME DOING WHAT THE HELL I WANT, SO EVERYONE STOP USING IT LIKE IT'S A TECHNICAL RESTRICTION.
 
V3g3tto said:
AND NO, EULA IS NOT STOPPING ME IS IT, IT IS NOT STOPPING ME DOING WHAT THE HELL I WANT, SO EVERYONE STOP USING IT LIKE IT'S A TECHNICAL RESTRICTION.
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Why buy a copy if you don't care about being legal? By doing all of the things you suggest you may as well pirate, it'll be just as legal.

Burnsy
 
Yes the EULA = Law. As i said, that's whats stopping me.

Telling people you physically can't do it is incorrect. I stated you can, i stated without activation, it can be isntalled on another PC. And to be honest, i have no moral issue with that, i am using it on one PC only, fully paid for
 
V3g3tto said:
lol. Afraid you're wrong guys.
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Hello V3g3tto, I'm afraid we are not, certainly not in regards to the legal aspect side of things.

V3g3tto said:
I can do all i said in the above, it's fact. Simply stating EULA saying it's naughty doesn't change the fact i can do it.
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There is a difference between what you can physically do and what you can do legally. :)
 
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