Installing a new mobo, will Windows liscence work?

[johnno]

i am buying a new motherboard soon and wanted to know if i would have to reinstall windows. i ask this question because i have not go the windows cd only the license key. and with vista just around the corner dont really wanna be forking out for a another xp disk???????

 

[Tetras]

If your replacing like for like most likely no, but the safest option is to remove all chipset/mobo drivers (and those related, including onboard ethernet, sound, controllers etc) before you install the new board, which will help reduce (but not negate) the risk of driver bork syndrome

I have gotten away with it on several builds (most recently A8N-SLI Deluxe to A8N32-SLI Deluxe, without even removing drivers first ) but others have ended up in a bluescreen/reboot cycle.

 

[Trigger]

Well unless you own a retail license, you are not legally allowed to do it as a new motherboard counts as a new computer and as an OEM license is tied to the computer, it stays with that computer and that one only

 

[johnno]

that just sucks it is a oem version i think aswell. although i will *** tetras suggested

 

[P_A_N_I_C]

if you change your IDE Driver to the bog standard windows one you should be ok

 

[Trigger]

that just sucks it is a oem version i think aswell. although i will *** tetras suggested

Well obviously I can't stop you but I will tell you again it is illegal for you to do so unless the motherboards are the same. Read the EULA

 

[Quixote]

I have been told that if you ring Microsoft you can usually do it.
Just tell them your old Motherboard failed & you were unable to get a replacement one. Again, I have only heard this, so don't count on it.
If your conscience needs easing you could always break your old one afterwards

 

[Burnsy2023]

Second quotation from the Sticky that nobody reads in as many posts:

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 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. But, if you are simply upgrading for feature or performance enhancements, you would need a new OS license.

Burnsy

 

[stoofa]

You unfortunately phrased the very first question in this thread incorrectly.
If you want to know if you can legally move your OEM Windows license with a motherboard swap then your question has already been answered.

No - OEM licenses cannot be transferred from machine to machine and "machine" is now defined as the motherboard by Microsoft.
If you agree with this or not that is really not your call, you agreed to the license when you installed the OS.
If you'd wanted full flexability you should have spent that little bit more on a Retail (full or upgrade) license.

If however your question is "Will it work if I swap my motherboard and use an OEM Windows license" then the answer is:

See above for legal answer.
Any other answer would be advocating the breaking of a software license and so cannot be answered in these forums.
Asking about a way around a license agreement is no different to talking piracy which is a subject not allowed.

 

[Burnsy2023]

No - OEM licenses cannot be transferred from machine to machine and "machine" is now defined as the motherboard by Microsoft.

I'm sorry to be pedantic mate but I thought I'd comment on this.

The machine isn't defined as the motherboard. However, the motherboard is thought to be an intergral part of the machine. I just wanted to make the point that an OEM license is not valid if you replace the case with your COA attached.



Burnsy

 

[Raymond Lin]

You can replace the motherboard under the licencing agreement if your old motherboard is faulty. I did

 

[leaskovski]

You can replace the motherboard under the licencing agreement if your old motherboard is faulty. I did

Gets soldering iron out.

 

[Burnsy2023]

You can replace the motherboard under the licencing agreement if your old motherboard is faulty. I did

You can indeed, as in my previous post, but it must as part of a 'warranty claim', I.e. if it dies, you must send it back the manufacturer for a replacement.

Burnsy