Urgent Windows Question!

Shakey_Jake33

Shakey_Jake33

Shakey_Jake33

Associate
Joined
22 Jan 2006
Posts
262
My Barton mobo has died, sorting out a new machine (it's my spare).

Settled on a Sempron64 3400+, Abit NF8-V2, Zalman CNPS3400 cooler.

Will I need to buy a new Windows, or can I transfer my existing Windows over?

My Windows is OEM.
 
Last edited:
You can transfer your Windows over as far as I am aware given you have a licence for one machine at a time. I'd probably not suggest the Sempron though, for about the same money you could get a 'proper' A64 which will have double the cache and perform better.
 
Shakey_Jake33 said:
Didn't MS say they count a new mobo as a new machine though?
Click to expand...

A new motherboard might trigger Windows reactivation as it does count as a major change however it equally might not because XP can be funny like that, I think XP Pro is better in this regard than Home but even if it does require you to reactivate Windows all you should have to do is call up Microsoft and request the new code.
 
I read that a motherboard was classified as a new system by Microsoft, and that OEM licenses are non-transferable, unlike their retail counterparts.

Although I don't spend hours reading through EULAs, so I may be wrong...

Edit: Apparently Microsoft have the following to say on the matter:

“An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a “new personal computer” to which Microsoft® OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. 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.”
Click to expand...
I suppose that means you might be able to ring them up and bargain with them due to the fact you're replacing a busted motherboard.
 
Last edited:
Shakey_Jake33 said:
Didn't MS say they count a new mobo as a new machine though?

Sorry not doubting you or anything, just wanna be sure before I order new board.
Click to expand...
If you explain to them that it died and you replaced it (and that was the only part you replaced), then they should give you an activation key without a second thought.
 
Northwind said:
Wonder if that's been tested in a UK court?
Click to expand...
You're not going to end up in court over a £60 OEM Windows license :p

Chances are you will have to reactivate once you install the new motherboard. You will have to phone up for the activation code, and just explain your situation — your original motherboard has developed a defect and you've had to purchase a replacement; the rest of your components remain the same. The person on the other end of the phone will most likely hand over the activation code no questions asked. In the unlikely event that he/she doesn't, just ring up again and odds are the next person you get on to will...

*av
 
Northwind said:
You might, if you were a law student/total **** :) That's how the shrinkwrap licences were originally challenged.
Click to expand...
Well I'm not a lawyer, but as far as ethics go I would say Microsoft are perfectly within their rights to require a new OEM licence for a new motherboard. The only reasons someone would realistically swap out their motherboard were if it developed a fault, or if they were upgrading other components at the same time (new processor socket, memory, graphics card etc.) — therefore pretty much buying a new system.

Microsoft are actually being quite reasonable in their stance towards this, allowing people to reactivate OEM licences where people have swapped out motherboards due to hardware defects — in my opinion they should not be forced legally to allow such a thing.

*av
 
Why does one part represent the whole system, though? I'll be transferring every part bar the mobo and PSU when I change mine next week- same drives, same processor, etc. I don't see that that's any more a new PC than it was when I replaced the graphics card, DVDRW and hard drive. You could make a better case for the processor being the "key component".

The PC is the sum of its parts. A motherboard isn't a new PC. And a brand new PC with your old screen isn't an old PC. So where does that line get drawn?
 
Al Vallario said:
Well I'm not a lawyer, but as far as ethics go I would say Microsoft are perfectly within their rights to require a new OEM licence for a new motherboard. The only reasons someone would realistically swap out their motherboard were if it developed a fault, or if they were upgrading other components at the same time (new processor socket, memory, graphics card etc.) — therefore pretty much buying a new system.

Microsoft are actually being quite reasonable in their stance towards this, allowing people to reactivate OEM licences where people have swapped out motherboards due to hardware defects — in my opinion they should not be forced legally to allow such a thing.

*av
Click to expand...

You think? Interesting. I'd sway the other way in my views on the reasonableness, yes Microsoft are being reasonable in reactivating the software but ethically (and I'd prefer it to be a legal obligation) I think they ought to anyway.

You have bought the licence to use the software and should be able to do more or less what you like with it*, providing that you are using just one copy at a time so that means you should be able to swap it from machine to machine. If you suffer from hardware failure it would seem to me to be harsh in the extreme to be suddenly told that not only did you have to replace the equipment but also to re-purchase software that you had already bought. It isn't like you are buying a years licence for the software or the support for that period of time, nor in the case of a separate copy of an OS are you purchasing it for a specific combination of hardware - you are buying the right to use the software until you choose to stop and that should be in any way you see fit. If Microsoft elect to stop supporting the software after a given period(as they have with Win 95/98 etc) then that is fine but you are still allowed to use the software because you bought the licence to do so.

*Please note that copyright law obviously should be obeyed so I'm not advocating piracy, nor reverse-engineering or anything of that sort but if you buy the software it should be up to you what you do with it to a great extent.
 
With vista you will only be able to transfer machine to machine once, and once only.

I think MS have gone a tad overboard with the licensing on Vista. They are even forcing corporations to use WPA. No more volume license keys. Each PC now has to be activated. Imagine that on 10,000 pc's.

Must be that MS is losing so much money on the XBOX systems that it has to claw as much as it can back this way. I often wonder if the new "genuine software advantage" is the real reason for the delays in Vista. I bet it is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom