OEM Windows licence goes with the PC right? but what about this...

Raymond Lin · 21 Apr 2006 at 03:15

Take my pc for example, here is the history of it

Summer 2002 - Brought pre-built from a online company with XP installed.
Time goes by - I upgraded a few things, double ram, swapped HD, taken out TV card, installed NIC.
Summer 2004 - The ASUS mobo was being weird, an error stopping me reinstall windows, sent it back to the company to get it fixed, while there i ask to upgrade the PC. Went from a AMD 2200+ to Intel P4 3.2Ghz set up, new mobo, new CPU, New SATA HD, New faster DDR RAM.
Summer 2005 - over the various months I've changed the drives to DVD-RWs, changed the Graphic card the from ATI9700pro to X800XTPE, PSU is now a Hiper 580.

Only original parts from 2002 spec

Case
Floppy Drive
Sound Card

I even thought about getting a new case and do a transplant as this case is pretty loud. No one can stop me doing that and it won't require any form of reinstallation. Now, does the OEM licence follow the sound card or the Floppy disc drive?

(doubtful its either) Since that is basically the only hardware left from 2002.

The case at the moment still have the OEM sticker from 2002, lets say i keep the case in the loft or something, whats stopping me using it to reinsall windows when i reformat in a different case when i do the transplant? Would it be illegal?

Raymond Lin · 21 Apr 2006 at 15:30

tmileson said:
If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required.”

...

So in theory you've been running an unlicensed version of Xp since Summer 2004.

The mobo was being weird, I tried reinstalling windows as it kept crashing in the months before, it would crash when i am not even touching it while dle. But somehow at reinstallation it stops half way through, sometimes a NTLD error, i've tried 3 different HDs, different IDE cables, swapping ram around. I came to the conclusion it is the mobo, I even sold the RAM and CPU later and they are working fine. But i still have the mobo in its box in my room.

Raymond Lin · 21 Apr 2006 at 16:35

JUMPURS said:
lol

If you had look at it honestly it is not the same PC, just cos its in the same case doesnt mean its the same PC.
I mean if you took out the 1.2 engine in a wee clio and slapped in a monster 3l V8 engine ripped out the interior replaced with top of the line stuff, you honestly cant tell the dvla and insurance thats its the same car now can you??
I mean even with the mobo repleacement you didnt even stick to CPU manufacturers, so dude its not valid.
If you try to re-register it with MS and they tell you to bolt, you cant argue, but otherwise does it matter to you?

I realise it is not the same PC as i got it at the start, I am not arguing that at all, I am asking would it be legit. The changes was made by the flauty motherboard. Since it was getting changed who would want the same spec as before? So i ask them to update it, as for the same CPU manufacturer, is that really the point? The fact is that this PC is registered, i can get updates just like my Dell laptop can.

Raymond Lin · 21 Apr 2006 at 21:14

tmileson said:
It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people that believe it's OK to steal software. /sigh

Stealing ? I paid for that licence, and I only have 1 PC using that licence. Granted it is NOT the same PC it was when it started, it wouldn't have been as that old mobo broke. So are you saying if i had replaced it with another mobo with the same model it would've been alright? Even thou it is NOT the same mobo, as the original one is sitting in my room. What difference does it make if i went over to Intel from AMD, how would changing a chipset make any difference. I had a broken PC, did what i did to fix it. It was REASONABLE to change the motherboard as the standard spec at the time of replacement was 3Ghz speed, it was also REASONABLE to use a Intel Chip for a Intel motherboard, it was also REASONABLE to get better Ram as it sync with the motherboard better to utlise its Dual Channel performance. The DVDRW/PSU changes adside is irrelevant.

From your own words "If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required."

I say crashing while idle is a defect.

p.s. I did not reintall windows, the company did when they replaced the parts. So they activated it from microsoft at their workshop before it was sent back to me.

Raymond Lin · 21 Apr 2006 at 22:05

tmileson said:
You've had the details from Microsoft, you cannot transfer the license to another PC. You say yourself it's not the same PC. QED

Wrap it up any way you like, i'm not going to argue with you. If you didn't want an factual answer then why ask the question?

But you have answered my question too, it was a defect mobo, so it is legit.

Raymond Lin · 21 Apr 2006 at 23:08

tmileson said:
It was (and still is) perfectly possible to get a direct replacement motherboard capable of using your original CPU.

You interpret it however you feel is right at the end of the day.

So i quote the MS site again.

"If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required."

I did exactly that, UPGRADED due to a DEFECT.