Changing a Motherboard and Windows Activation

neocon · 24 Nov 2006 at 21:22

If I upgrade a DellDimension 8300 motherboard with an Asrock motherboard, will I be able to ring MS for an activation code?

csmager · 24 Nov 2006 at 21:48

Yes and no. Yes, they might give you one, but no - it's against the EULA to change the board and thus wouldn't be legal even if it was activated.

2bullish · 24 Nov 2006 at 23:26

csmager said:
Yes and no. Yes, they might give you one, but no - it's against the EULA to change the board and thus wouldn't be legal even if it was activated.

I did exactly that and phoned MS and they gave me an activation code no problemo.

dale1uk · 24 Nov 2006 at 23:47

My oem copy of xp has been through 4 full upgrades, and thats with having to phone microsoft for 3 of them to get code reactivated. Never known any problem with doing this.

pastymuncher · 25 Nov 2006 at 10:25

Should be no problem. My pc has also gone through 4 upgrades with an OEM version of XP and i have only had to phone MS twice and even then there has been no problem.

csmager · 25 Nov 2006 at 11:51

It is, however, still not legal to do this with an OEM version. There have been many threads on this in Windows & Other Software, and it's even in the sticky:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7368884&postcount=40

Specifically:

I can activate Windows; therefore I have a legal Windows installation, right?

No. Windows Product Activation is purely a technological means to prevent unlicensed software. It is possible for Microsoft to allow you to activate even though you are not licensed. For example you have changed a motherboard for performance upgrades rather then under a warranty claim.

And some specific info on the OEM version:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7368885&postcount=41

What components can I change in my system before I invalidate the OEM License?

There is a general consensus that the OEM license is paired with the motherboard. You can generally change any other component bar the case where the COA is attached. If you change the case, and the COA isn't physically attached, this breaks the terms of the EULA. Also, if you do buy a new OEM license, but don't attach the COA, the same applies, you are not licensed. If you change a significant amount of hardware you may be asked to reactivate, but this doesn’t mean that you are necessarily unlicensed.

However, you can change the motherboard under a warranty claim if the motherboard was faulty. A warrenty claim is defined as replacement of the original board from the company that your purchased it from, under a warrenty scheme. You cannot simply buy yourself another board if there was a problem with your existing motherboard and still be fully licensed. If you are simply upgrading for feature or performance enhancements, you would need a new OS license.

dale1uk · 25 Nov 2006 at 12:07

So why do Microsoft give you the codes to reactivate if its not legal??? Surely they could just refuse to give the codes and force you to buy a new license??

csmager · 25 Nov 2006 at 12:11

dale1uk said:
So why do Microsoft give you the codes to reactivate if its not legal??? Surely they could just refuse to give the codes and force you to buy a new license??

I'm sure it takes too much money and effort to teach them all the ins and outs of the licensing - hence you can ring up one minute and be refused for the above reasons (it's happened), and you can ring back 5 minutes later and get a code. The humans on the other end are, like the rest of us, not perfect.

t31os · 25 Nov 2006 at 12:11

Though really there's no way for them to know which part you changed unless you tell them.

Say the os hdd failed and you had to replace it.

I've had to reactivate for changing the most stupidest of things before, so i'm not sure MS really have a good grip on what constitutes as a new PC. Example, switched my x1800xt for a 7900GS, oh Windows wants re-activating..... and no i'm not kidding. Didnt realise changing graphics constitutes as being a new PC.

The current license agreement is a joke.

The annoying thing here is they want people to pay for XP, but just incase you decide to upgrade, oh wait ....... you need to the OS again......

I'm yet to see MS take action against someone who swapped a mobo and refused to buy XP again. (if anyone has a link though post it up)

csmager · 25 Nov 2006 at 12:12

t31os said:
The annoying thing here is they want people to pay for XP, but just incase you decide to upgrade, oh wait ....... you need to the OS again......

I'm yet to see MS take action against someone who swapped a mobo and refused to buy XP again. (if anyone has a link though post it up)

That's because OEM licenses were intended to be sold preinstalled by system builders. To do what you want, you need a Retail license - transferrable as many times as takes your fancy.

t31os · 25 Nov 2006 at 12:13

dale1uk said:
So why do Microsoft give you the codes to reactivate if its not legal??? Surely they could just refuse to give the codes and force you to buy a new license??

If half the staff will give you the code and half wont then they are hardly to be sat in a position where they can tell us to pay for further copies of XP.

If an MS employee says "yeah thats fine, here's the code" then surely MS need to focus on properly training their staff since they are effectively giving out codes illegally.

You can't expect people to follow an agreement if your own staff can't do it. Lead by example, as the saying goes.

EDIT: Just to add, i own a retail copy myself...... before anyone feels the need to point a finger or two in my direction....

dale1uk · 25 Nov 2006 at 12:17

t31os said:
I've had to reactivate for changing the most stupidest of things before, so i'm not sure MS really have a good grip on what constitutes as a new PC. Example, switched my x1800xt for a 7900GS, oh Windows wants re-activating..... and no i'm not kidding. Didnt realise changing graphics constitutes as being a new PC. (if anyone has a link though post it up)

I've had to phone up for a new code after replacing a broken dvd drive!! "windows has detected new hardware, please phone ............ to reactiveate"!!!

This is the first I've read that it is illeagal to reactivate this way and I'm sure thats the same for many others.

t31os · 25 Nov 2006 at 12:23

Only certain pieces of hardware consitute as being another PC, though MS as far as i've seen don't like to make this very clear, what is clear though, that normally a new HDD or Mobo is defined as another PC.

Who's to know if you changed a board though, i've had to reactivate when changing 2 identical boards, so what they say is pretty much tosh anyway.

On a side note, and i don't condone this, non-legit XP copies can be activated via phone to....... no ***p...... i know someone (no names) who does this.