activating OEM vista after a motherboard change

deko · 2 Jan 2008 at 04:16

Okay hi, im seriously considering changing my mobo from my old rubbishy socket 939 board which is frightened of overclocking completely and totally to a new core 2 board maybe. However, couple of months ago i bought an OEM copy of vista HP from here, and was just wondering whether i would have to buy another one? Is it perfectly viable to 'accidentally' hit my old mobo with a hammer, phone up windows on activation and say that i can no longer buy the same motherboard from anywhere thus i had to buy a new one, and can they activate my copy of vista?

Just wondering if it was worth it. I could squeeze out a bit more from this mobo, buy a pretty high end x2 chip and another gig of ram, but i just kinda rather wouldn't.

Slogan · 2 Jan 2008 at 04:23

It breaks the license to use an OEM Windows on two machines if there hasn't been a motherboard fault.

However, plenty of people on here seem to practice it and to a degree it's very easy to see why. It's really up to you, but there wouldn't be a problem re-activating with the alibi that your motherboard got all brokeded.

Burnsy will be in shortly to warn you.

Bry · 2 Jan 2008 at 04:34

Yes nothing wrong really with just saying your motherboard broke and you 'had' to get a new one

deko · 2 Jan 2008 at 04:36

Ah right cheers for the help

Baz · 2 Jan 2008 at 06:46

Just be aware though, that OEM copys are sometimes locked to the manufacturer, HP definately are! They won't work on a non HP Motherboard.

Immsy · 2 Jan 2008 at 09:04

The Dell computers are too.

Burnsy2023 · 2 Jan 2008 at 09:04

Bry said:
Yes nothing wrong really with just saying your motherboard broke and you 'had' to get a new one

Yes, you could probably reactivate if you lied through you teeth

, but saying there's nothing wrong with it is going a bit far....

And yes, large OEMs also lock their OEM media to specific BIOS code, therefore it won't work on a non-OEM board to prevent exactly this

Burnsy

csmager · 2 Jan 2008 at 09:12

Unless I'm much mistaken, it's a Vista Home Premium (HP), not a Hewlett Packard (HP) PC.

kingstew · 2 Jan 2008 at 17:44

When you try to activate an OEM copy on a new motherboard it doesnt work and gives you the phone number to call microsoft.

I have upgraded my pc twice with the same OEM software key and called twice for activation, both times successfully, they just asked the reason for the reinstall (say your MB broke) and they are fine with it.

You can only use the sofware on one pc of course.

Brian Stuart · 2 Jan 2008 at 18:23

kingstew said:
When you try to activate an OEM copy on a new motherboard it doesnt work and gives you the phone number to call microsoft.

I have upgraded my pc twice with the same OEM software key and called twice for activation, both times successfully, they just asked the reason for the reinstall (say your MB broke) and they are fine with it.

You can only use the sofware on one pc of course.

Sigh

Bry · 2 Jan 2008 at 19:20

kingstew said:
When you try to activate an OEM copy on a new motherboard it doesnt work and gives you the phone number to call microsoft.

I have upgraded my pc twice with the same OEM software key and called twice for activation, both times successfully, they just asked the reason for the reinstall (say your MB broke) and they are fine with it.

You can only use the sofware on one pc of course.

Aye did exactly the same never been a problem either

Burnsy2023 · 2 Jan 2008 at 20:44

kingstew said:
You can only use the sofware on one pc of course.

If you are going to lie to MS why conform to this term, why not install it whereever you want?

Burnsy

Fire Wizard · 2 Jan 2008 at 20:47

kingstew said:
When you try to activate an OEM copy on a new motherboard it doesnt work and gives you the phone number to call microsoft.

I have upgraded my pc twice with the same OEM software key and called twice for activation, both times successfully, they just asked the reason for the reinstall (say your MB broke) and they are fine with it.

Hey kingstew, I am afraid that you have violated the EULA and honestly are no longer legalised to use the copy of Windows on that second machine.

kingstew said:
You can only use the sofware on one pc of course.

Sorry but that's not quite correct. If you purchase the OEM license of Windows then it is tied to your motherboard. If you change your motherboard in your machine, it's time to buy a new license, unless your motherboard really did develop a fault.

LordSplodge · 2 Jan 2008 at 20:48

I love these threads. Activate it (lie about MB failure) or buy a new copy. Choice is yours, I'd do the former but I am somewhat of a rogue!