mobo install question.

marlos · 29 Sep 2008 at 21:04

When installing new mobo is it a good idea to do a clean reinstall of your Operating Systems or just load the driver's.

RJC · 29 Sep 2008 at 21:13

Personaly I would do a clean install, you need to check your windows version, are you using oem or retail.

marlos · 29 Sep 2008 at 21:26

Vista 32 OEM

RJC · 29 Sep 2008 at 21:32

Has this beem originaly activated as oem software is tied to the board it was activated on.
New board new license.

marlos · 29 Sep 2008 at 21:47

Someone just told me that you are allowed a few major hardware changes.

RJC · 29 Sep 2008 at 21:49

marlos said:
Someone just told me that you are allowed a few major hardware changes.

You can change all other components except the motherboard as this is considered the main part of the machine.

marlos · 29 Sep 2008 at 22:58

I found this.http://arstechnica.com/journals/hardware.ars/2007/09/04/how-to-install-a-new-motherboard-without-reinstalling-windows

marlos · 30 Sep 2008 at 22:54

How many times can I install Windows on my computer before I have to activate Windows again?

You can reinstall Windows on the same computer as many times as you want because activation pairs the Windows product key with information about your computer hardware. If you make a significant hardware change, you might have to activate Windows again.

RJC · 30 Sep 2008 at 23:10

Vista can be fussy, some people have changed memory and it has asked to to re-activated, if it to fails to activate over to internet you can use the phone system.

Significant changes are CPU, GPU and memory, change the motherboard then new license is required.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17925327&highlight=activation
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17916139&highlight=activation

marlos · 30 Sep 2008 at 23:32

I've changed loads on my system and it's never asked to be re-activated.
When i put it all together i'll tell if it worked.

marlos · 10 Oct 2008 at 07:47

well RJC your right "New board new license" now i have to buy a retail copy of vista, i'll never go back to OEM.