Replacing my motherboard - Windows reactivation?

Biglunn

Biglunn

Biglunn

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Joined
26 Aug 2005
Posts
483
Location
Slough, Berkshire
Hello!

Well... Im getting myself an Asus P5E (X38 crossfire) motherboard to replace my Gigabyte P35-DQ6. Ive set my system up for dual boot (XP and Vista x64), and I know that I need to reinstall the operating systems to make it run properly.

Now, my issue is with activation. The entire system will be unchanged apart from the mobo change. Ive got a retail version of XP, so thats straightforward (quick phonecall to Microsoft sorts that out), but the Vista x64 Home Premium is OEM. I know the OEM license is tied to the motherboard and therefore shouldnt be done, but has anybody tried to reactivate successfully under similar circumstances?

Its a bit harsh that just changing the motherboard forces you to bin your old disc and pend money on a new one :(
 
Touch subject matter tbh. Just depends on how bad you would feel about lying to Microsoft.
 
thats right, you could always lie to them when calling them and tell them that your motherboard was faulty and you had to get it replaced and now you need to activate it again, it worked for me, or else you will have to buy another copy of vista
 
I managed to re-activate my copy on-line! I downgraded from an intel system with a gigabyte mobo to some cheapo AMD jobbie (Darn holiday!).
 
I think thats what Ill do. I dont really have a problem with telling them that the motherboard was faulty - its not as if im totally changing the PC or attempting to transfer the license to someone else.
 
Not that I'm suggesting you do this, but if you tell the automated system that the copy of Windows was pre-installed on your machine then it will give you a new code no problem. It doesn't actually check. Of course, this is a bit like robbing a bank...
 
I could tell you how to load a gun and show you how to pull the trigger, but they won't touch me if you murder someone. Knowledge of how to commit a crime isn't in itself criminal. Acting with intent is.

If you can't afford Windows or don't want to pay for Windows, I recommend Ubuntu. It's what I supply now instead of Windows as my core software (SAP) runs quite happily on anything that runs a web browser, and it can use a linux server OS as a server host if needs be.
 
LOL! If the internet police come knocking on my door, I go down alone! :)

Hardly a crime though.... I paid for the license, and I dont really think its fair to throw that license down the drain for the sake of changing one component, irrespective of if it is in the small print or not. Am I supposed to sell/give away my motherboard WITH my Vista disc? Im sure it will be just as much problematic activating that motherboard with a raft of new different components attached to it!
 
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It's not tied to the motherboard, it's tied to the PC as originally activated. In the past, I would have said you had a point as Microsoft only basically sold OEM licences, but now they do the retail licence that can be moved between machines. You must have known that there was a much more expensive licence available when you bought your OEM licence, but you chose to save money and buy the OEM rather than the retail. By doing that, you chose to put yourself in this position. You went with a fixed duration hardware linked licence rather than a perpetual non-hardwae linked licence and now it's going to cost you money to replace the motherboard. If you don't like it (and I don't see why the cost is so big myself) then stop supporting Microsoft and go Linux.
 
Big.Wayne said:
What is (SAP)?
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It's a database but the programming API is so advanced it's more like a cross between an Operating System, a programming language and a database. It's used in MRP and ERP systems by big companies. A poor implementation at Levis recently cost them so much money, their share price dropped. SAP is infamous for how much the system builder get paid. None of it's true by the way.
 
I see WJA96, so you are a SAP Programmer/developer?

I wondered how u could afford 27 computers and a 30" widescreen! :D

Had any time to play with your new Crossfire system? Although from knowing you all this time I just can't imagine you having a fraggin session!

I can see you siiting down with something like FSX on your 30" and taking a gentle flight over the grand canyon? is that close? :p
 
Biglunn said:
Hello!

Well... Im getting myself an Asus P5E (X38 crossfire) motherboard to replace my Gigabyte P35-DQ6. Ive set my system up for dual boot (XP and Vista x64), and I know that I need to reinstall the operating systems to make it run properly.

Now, my issue is with activation. The entire system will be unchanged apart from the mobo change. Ive got a retail version of XP, so thats straightforward (quick phonecall to Microsoft sorts that out), but the Vista x64 Home Premium is OEM. I know the OEM license is tied to the motherboard and therefore shouldnt be done, but has anybody tried to reactivate successfully under similar circumstances?

Its a bit harsh that just changing the motherboard forces you to bin your old disc and pend money on a new one :(
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Just build it and MS will activate it automatically over the net. I have done this 3 times with 3 different motherboards (1 faulty + 1 unactivated licence then got another replacement mobo and they activated it automatically) in the last 2 months and they activated it straight away.
 
you should find that if it has been more than 6 months since you activated your copy of windows then it should activate over the net without any problems.
If you have to call microsoft to activate then you should have no problems the main question they ask is how many pc's you have it installed on.
 
WJA96 said:
It's a database but the programming API is so advanced it's more like a cross between an Operating System, a programming language and a database. It's used in MRP and ERP systems by big companies. A poor implementation at Levis recently cost them so much money, their share price dropped. SAP is infamous for how much the system builder get paid. None of it's true by the way.
Click to expand...

We use SAP, good system :)
 
Big.Wayne said:
I see WJA96, so you are a SAP Programmer/developer?
Click to expand...

Actually, no - I'm sort of a cross between a Systems Analyst, a Technical Manager and a salesman. I run a company that supplies interim Technical staff to food businesses, and IT support, and sells IT stuff. It's a pretty disparate business model to be honest, but having several fingers in several pies seems to keep the wolf from the door.

Big.Wayne said:
I wondered how u could afford 27 computers and a 30" widescreen! :D
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The 30" widescreens are a business requirement for videoconferencing, just like the leased line used to be. And I used to be able to demonstrate a requirement for loads of PCs, but with Virtual Machines, even that's gone now as well. The hardware side is my hobby - you'll never see me in the software forums as it's too much like work!

Big.Wayne said:
Had any time to play with your new Crossfire system? Although from knowing you all this time I just can't imagine you having a fraggin session!
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Honestly? No. :( It's a total waste of processing power. I was playing a fair bit of BF2142 online, but I was a bit carp to be honest, and it's no fun if you're constantly getting killed. The last game I actually completed was Far Cry.

Big.Wayne said:
I can see you siiting down with something like FSX on your 30" and taking a gentle flight over the grand canyon? is that close? :p
Click to expand...

No - usually I'm playing bubble buster on the Pocket PC. It's incredibly addictive and, as no game ever usually lasts more than 3 or 4 minutes, you can fit it in as and when really.

Usually, when I'm on here I'm on the Pocket PC as I'm constantly travelling. I try and do as much as possible within a web browser now as platform independence is definitely the way forward.

Anyway - with my Microsoft Partner hat on - Microsoft loves you - buy more Microsoft:p
 
Tuvoc said:
My OEM copy of Vista X64 activated over the net perfectly after a motherboard change. No need for a phone call.
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Darn right. Microsoft are just trying to get more money out of people using underhand tactics. Sadly, some people seem unaware of how some big companies work and get fleeced. Luckily there are forums like this!

I'll be trying a Linux OS as soon as i get my new pc built.
 
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