motherboard = New “Microsoft: Upgraded windows Licence”

clapton is god · 16 Feb 2006 at 14:39

http://www.av02/15/micriransplace.c.../2006/osoft-upgraded-motherboard-new-licence/

.aviransplace.com/index.php/archives/2006/02/15/microsoft-upgraded-motherboard-new-licence/
i was browsing on bluesnews today and noticed the above link.

as i bought my copy of Xp home edition from ocuk
( and ocuk being a site from many up-graders) will i *not* be able to use the o/s if i switch mobos ie. agp mobo to my next mobo being pci-express mobo ?

nade · 16 Feb 2006 at 14:50

http://www.aviransplace.com/index.p...5/microsoft-upgraded-motherboard-new-licence/

Bloody microsoft.

They are gonna shoot themselves in the foot with licensing. The parent company of my employer is considering moving away from microsoft to use linux.

I've heard rumours about microsoft possibly charging a license for dns lookups or something. Which i think would mean every item would need yet another license.

clapton is god · 16 Feb 2006 at 14:52

thanks, my link was kinda flakey

nade · 16 Feb 2006 at 14:53

clapton is god said:
thanks, my link was kinda flakey

I've edited and put a sensible comment in.

clapton is god · 16 Feb 2006 at 14:56

i thought the only difference between o.e.m version was that there was no phone support but there is with a retail version.

nade · 16 Feb 2006 at 14:59

Yeah i think that's right. They sell the OEM's cheap to the manufacturers because they will not support the OEM's.

But yeah afaik with the retail versions you should be able to get support direct from microsoft, whether it be email/phone/fax/etc.

clapton is god · 16 Feb 2006 at 15:05

if ms is going to insist on this rule, then can ocuk please highlight it in their website.

vanandjuanunited · 16 Feb 2006 at 15:12

I use an oem license and have had no problems reactivating it when changing mobo's. Had to ring them to get the code and they ask how many pc's its on and what make of pc it is but other than that no issues.

EDIT: This must have changed after monday cos I last validated on Monday pm. As far as I can see you tell them the mobo is dead and this was the replacement sent and you should be fine. No big deal.

Al Vallario · 16 Feb 2006 at 15:12

clapton is god said:
i thought the only difference between o.e.m version was that there was no phone support but there is with a retail version.

You don't get phone support, a fancy box or printed manual.

If this news is confirmed (I've only seen it on two sites - one quoting from the other - so far), and the implications are as we think, this can't be good for computer enthusiasts

williamw11 said:
I use an oem license and have had no problems reactivating it when changing mobo's. Had to ring them to get the code and they ask how many pc's its on and what make of pc it is but other than that no issues.

That's how it has been, but according to this article Microsoft are now changing that.

lordedmond · 16 Feb 2006 at 15:55

well if this is true its a bad day , you have a m/b fail get it replaced have to buy a new license two months later the same thing happens now its cost three licenses about 200 quid for big Bill :mad:

so what they are now saying its the mb that is the pc then why is the sticker stuck onto the case or should be

they might as well bundle a copy of the os with each mb sold :mad:

Caged · 16 Feb 2006 at 16:00

If the motherboard fails and you replace it, then you can use the OEM version, if you upgrade, then you buy a new license. That's what OEM licenses have always been. If you want to buy one copy and move it around tons, then you pay for retail.

mattbrown91 · 16 Feb 2006 at 16:01

I can forsee a few people switching to Linux, Macs and the suchlike

Caged · 16 Feb 2006 at 16:06

I suppose that's an option if you like paying £90 for what amounts to service packs. Also, how would switching to a Mac solve anything? If you buy a new Mac then you pay for a new OS. If your motherboard on your in-warranty Dell fails, then they replace it. It only affects the home-build users who are prepared to spend £300 on a graphics card but then about £80 for the OS they are going to use for the next five years. The OEM licenses were never meant to be used like this, it's always been illegal, no matter whether it activated or not.

lordedmond · 16 Feb 2006 at 16:20

Caged
can you then tell me what in license terms is a pc, what part of it is deemed to be the pc

OEM OS purchased with hardware ( can just be the 240vac lead to comply with the purchased hardware rule ) what can you do with it , after you first install it that is

the same goes for retail what can you do with it ?

a GFX and a nic card change can make you reactivate so where do you stand with that ?

dirtydog · 16 Feb 2006 at 16:41

clapton is god said:
i thought the only difference between o.e.m version was that there was no phone support but there is with a retail version.

No that isn't the only difference. You can install the retail version on as many different PCs as you like (once at a time naturally). The OEM version on the other hand is linked to one machine only.

TBH I am surprised this story is new, I always thought you couldn't put a new (different) motherboard in with an OEM license.

dirtydog · 16 Feb 2006 at 16:42

lordedmond said:
Caged
can you then tell me what in license terms is a pc, what part of it is deemed to be the pc

OEM OS purchased with hardware ( can just be the 240vac lead to comply with the purchased hardware rule ) what can you do with it , after you first install it that is

the same goes for retail what can you do with it ?

a GFX and a nic card change can make you reactivate so where do you stand with that ?

With retail you can make endless upgrades and changes.

lordedmond · 16 Feb 2006 at 16:47

dirtydog said:
With retail you can make endless upgrades and changes.

so in that case its worth the extra that retail costs , if you like to change your system around

now i see the light

dirtydog · 16 Feb 2006 at 16:50

I mean even the OEM license lets you upgrade your machine quite a lot.. just not the motherboard. It's not like you need to buy a new license just because you upgraded the graphics card or NIC etc.

Zephyrus · 16 Feb 2006 at 20:37

It's a rip off regardless.

Zeph.

AndyC · 16 Feb 2006 at 21:08

Not read all the posts but we had a board fail in an oem server and the guy would not let us re-activate the product. Explained that the customer needed to buy a new licence the replacement board was 100% the same.

They did it in the end though.

I can understand their view that something needs to be the computer but they also must allow for like for like replacements.