OEM Windows locked to which mobo?

SlyReaper · 19 Nov 2008 at 13:23

I've installed my OEM coy of XP twice in its lifetime. First on a 945 chipset board, then on my P35 chipset board which I'm currently using. I was astonished that it activated online having changed the motherboard.

So my question is: which motherboard is my copy of Windows locked to? If I reinstall, will it tell me I'm using a different motherboard to the original?

Matteysan · 19 Nov 2008 at 14:19

The license is tied to the P45 board

Burnsy2023 · 19 Nov 2008 at 14:38

^^ Indeed, it's assigned to the first device you install it on.

SlyReaper · 19 Nov 2008 at 14:50

But I've never used a P45 board. :confused:

Edit: oh you mean the 945 board. So if it was locked to the first board, how was I able to install it on the second board?

Burnsy2023 · 19 Nov 2008 at 15:00

SlyReaper said:
But I've never used a P45 board.

Edit: oh you mean the 945 board. So if it was locked to the first board, how was I able to install it on the second board?

MS activation is a lot more lax than it should be. Either way you're not running a legal copy of Windows. You should buy another one.

stoofa · 19 Nov 2008 at 15:02

SlyReaper said:
But I've never used a P45 board.

Edit: oh you mean the 945 board. So if it was locked to the first board, how was I able to install it on the second board?

Search through the forums.
What you can physically do and what you can legally do are two entirely different things.
Basically speaking you've never been legally licensed on your P35 based system.

Matteysan · 19 Nov 2008 at 15:38

SlyReaper said:
But I've never used a P45 board.

Edit: oh you mean the 945 board. So if it was locked to the first board, how was I able to install it on the second board?

Yeah sorry the 945 board I read wrongly. As Burnsy & Stoofa said the activation is lax compared to what it should be & to be properly licensed on the new board you'd have to get a new copy as your not legally licensed

marlos · 19 Nov 2008 at 18:46

Does this appply to vista as well.

RJC · 19 Nov 2008 at 18:53

marlos said:
Does this appply to vista as well.

Yes, OEM Vista is tied to the original motherboard it was originaly activated on.

marlos · 19 Nov 2008 at 22:52

RJC said:
Yes, OEM Vista is tied to the original motherboard it was originaly activated on.

But how any times can you reinstall it on the same motherboard.

RJC · 19 Nov 2008 at 22:54

As many times as like, but it may fail the automatic activation and you have to speak to microsoft.
When I had to phone I went through the automatic service.

The_Abyss · 20 Nov 2008 at 01:52

I thought XP activation was still based on a points scoring system for the hardware you changed, which admittedly would score a mobo very highly but not necessarily force a new activation.

A few years back I had a PC from Mesh, and changed the motherboard with no problems. Then I changed the CPU and RAM with no problems. Then the graphics card change prompted a call to MS, in which I detailed the 'failure of hardware' to successfully reactive.

Vista though is I believe tied to the motherboard.

Burnsy2023 · 20 Nov 2008 at 02:52

The_Abyss said:
I thought XP activation was still based on a points scoring system for the hardware you changed, which admittedly would score a mobo very highly but not necessarily force a new activation.

A few years back I had a PC from Mesh, and changed the motherboard with no problems. Then I changed the CPU and RAM with no problems. Then the graphics card change prompted a call to MS, in which I detailed the 'failure of hardware' to successfully reactive.

Vista though is I believe tied to the motherboard.

OEM licences, whether XP or Vista are tied to the motherboard.