Windows 7 OEM, new mobo....

Garyj881 · 9 Feb 2010 at 19:51

I have just given my mate the bad news that he can't transfer his OEM version of Windows 7 to a new motherboard.

His current motherboard is a Foxconn P35A, he his having compatibility issues with his new HD5850 and has decided to get a new motherboard.

If he rings Microsoft and say that his current motherboard is faulty and can't get a replacement so is buying a different make of motherboard but the same chipset (P35) will they reactivate his Windows or is he going to have to buy another copy?

stoofa · 10 Feb 2010 at 09:30

2 choices.
1 - He phones Microsoft and tells the truth.
They should tell him no, they will not reactivate.
Remeber the truth is a compatability issue, there is no faulty motherboard here.
2 - He lies, tells some rubbish about a faulty motherboard and gets his OS reactivated.

It all depends if you care about being license legal or not - the very fact a copy of the OS has been purchased should answer that.
If he goes for option 2 he is no longer license legal and will in fact be no more legal than somebody who downloads their OS from the internet.

JonnyT · 10 Feb 2010 at 09:39

I'd say that's in the 'spirit' of the M$ Licencing rules - the motherboard is a direct or nearest-equivalent replacement rather than a blatant upgrade. Whether M$ would see it that way is another matter but I'd give it a go first.

ShakenNstirred · 10 Feb 2010 at 10:37

so many saints on here

Slam62 · 10 Feb 2010 at 13:32

just phone them they may ask if it is installed on one computer so no lieing required.

Guest2 · 10 Feb 2010 at 16:03

stoofa said:
2 choices.
1 - He phones Microsoft and tells the truth.
They should tell him no, they will not reactivate.
Remeber the truth is a compatability issue, there is no faulty motherboard here.
2 - He lies, tells some rubbish about a faulty motherboard and gets his OS reactivated.

Or

3 - He 'accidentally' snaps a capacitor off the board or it becomes faulty by some other means. Then he rings MS and tell them its faulty, because it now is.

Personally id go with 2 and sell the old board. Its not like you are trying to run it on 2 different PCs or make loads of copies of Win 7