Windows Vista OEM Only Usable Once
- Thread starter P4boy
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Don't see why not. I have had XP Pro oem for a long time and have gone through 4 motherboard changes, 4 graphic card changed 3 hard drives and different amounts and brands of ram. Most of the time XP Pro oem activated just fine over the internet, have had to phone MS but they activated every time without any problems. 
This XP Pro oem must have been activated at least 10 times in the last 3 years
This XP Pro oem must have been activated at least 10 times in the last 3 years
I too have activated my XP Pro OEM 3 times and only once had to call microsoft and they activated it for me without any hassle BUT today I called MS to ask about Vista OEM as I think I have a damaged motherboard and need to replace it and didn't want any problems if installed it now and then changed the motherboard later in the week.
So I called Microsoft and to say the stupid indian woman was not helpful is an understatement.
I said I had an OEM version of Vista that I wanted to install it but my motherboard may be faulty and that I wanted to know it would ok if I activated it then changed my motherboard.
She told me it was not out yet and it was a "mislicenced" and that I could not install it and they would not help me, and then she asked for my name and number and information about where I got it from.
She said it was only available with a new PC and I said I bought it with my motherboard and that the license says thats ok, and I am a lawyer and know better than her - which she denied - which always ****** me off to another level when some woman who has done no legal training thinks she knows better than me!
Naturally when she asked for my information I hung up as all I would have done is made sure they would not let me activate it ever.
This leads me to think it is best to not install it until I have sorted out my mobo problem but its very concerning that they would be that unhelpful.
A word of warning - and to say Im feeling really irritated is an understatement now.
Obviously if you are meant to have a new PC to get the OEM version then why are OcUK selling it? Is it a question of don't tell MS the truth and they won't know any better and activate it anyway! (which is why I did not give any information about myself to them as I knew that would create problems for me, and if I just activated it automatically it would be fine!)
So I called Microsoft and to say the stupid indian woman was not helpful is an understatement.
I said I had an OEM version of Vista that I wanted to install it but my motherboard may be faulty and that I wanted to know it would ok if I activated it then changed my motherboard.
She told me it was not out yet and it was a "mislicenced" and that I could not install it and they would not help me, and then she asked for my name and number and information about where I got it from.
She said it was only available with a new PC and I said I bought it with my motherboard and that the license says thats ok, and I am a lawyer and know better than her - which she denied - which always ****** me off to another level when some woman who has done no legal training thinks she knows better than me!
Naturally when she asked for my information I hung up as all I would have done is made sure they would not let me activate it ever.
This leads me to think it is best to not install it until I have sorted out my mobo problem but its very concerning that they would be that unhelpful.
A word of warning - and to say Im feeling really irritated is an understatement now.
Obviously if you are meant to have a new PC to get the OEM version then why are OcUK selling it? Is it a question of don't tell MS the truth and they won't know any better and activate it anyway! (which is why I did not give any information about myself to them as I knew that would create problems for me, and if I just activated it automatically it would be fine!)
Caporegime
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because OCUk are shipping it before MS has actually permitted?
no backorders ot be obtained before 27th Jan, not to ship before 29th/30th Jan.
and Yes if you are changing mobo's your OEM lisence is as much as FUBAR'd unless its a RMA switch out job in which case they may take pity and re-activate for you.
no backorders ot be obtained before 27th Jan, not to ship before 29th/30th Jan.
and Yes if you are changing mobo's your OEM lisence is as much as FUBAR'd unless its a RMA switch out job in which case they may take pity and re-activate for you.
Man of Honour
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I'm not going to dignify this with an answer, look in the licencing thread.
Burnsy
Burnsy
Some are reporting on the web (a tech news site that is blocked from mention here) that bought copies of OEM vista, ie- a Disk, not just a bundled preinstalled version on a new PC, seem to be activating after a Mobo upgrade, or "significant hardware change". I think they may be in the US, where the OS is 'officially' released now.
Can anyone here confirm this?
Can anyone here confirm this?
Last edited:
Man of Honour
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Rodger said:
I'm pretty sure the Jan 30th release date is worldwide, and so the US are in the same boat as us. I can't discount anything else though.
Burnsy
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basicly the same as XP.
i have and so many of my customer have activated 10 - 30 times before with oem copies.
How are you suppose to repair PCs if you cant reactivate them
and by the way, please rease the licensing thread.
i have and so many of my customer have activated 10 - 30 times before with oem copies.
How are you suppose to repair PCs if you cant reactivate them
and by the way, please rease the licensing thread.
The point I was trying to make was that I phoned MS to ask if I had to replace my mobo if they would reactivate it (should it not automatically reactivate!)
Instead of telling me that they would or would not activate it if the mobo was damaged the stupid lady took it upon herself to declare that as it didnt come preinstalled on a new PC that my copy of vista was not a proper licensed copy and would not be activated at all.
In the end it is a good thing I didn't give any more information that my surname right when they answered the phone - so that when it comes to activating it I will have no problems.
But the point was not to have a go at me for having it early or not with a PC, it was simply to check on reactivation if something was wrong with the mobo!
By the way- is that correct what she said about it having to be installed on a new PC or its not a licensed copy of vista?
If so then wouldnt OcUk get in trouble with MS for letting it so soon?
The thing was instead of being helpful and understanding it turned into an argument which was not why I called. If I asked the question hypothetically then I would probably have gotten a proper answer!
Instead of telling me that they would or would not activate it if the mobo was damaged the stupid lady took it upon herself to declare that as it didnt come preinstalled on a new PC that my copy of vista was not a proper licensed copy and would not be activated at all.
In the end it is a good thing I didn't give any more information that my surname right when they answered the phone - so that when it comes to activating it I will have no problems.
But the point was not to have a go at me for having it early or not with a PC, it was simply to check on reactivation if something was wrong with the mobo!
By the way- is that correct what she said about it having to be installed on a new PC or its not a licensed copy of vista?
If so then wouldnt OcUk get in trouble with MS for letting it so soon?
The thing was instead of being helpful and understanding it turned into an argument which was not why I called. If I asked the question hypothetically then I would probably have gotten a proper answer!
P4boy said:
Basically:
OEM - When you purchase Vista OEM over retail you're accepting a stricter license for a smaller price. OEM copies of Vista are tied to the original 'system' it is installed upon. You can change hardware components such as ram, graphics, cpu and add hardware without a problem but when you change the motherboard you system is said to be 'new' so the OEM license expires. This is exactly the same as the Windows XP OEM license, accept Microsoft were relaxed about reactivation
Retail: You can upgrade as much hardware components as you like and transfer the license to a new pc AS LONG as it's only installed on one pc at one time
Man of Honour
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spinstorm said:
It's not as simple as that.
spinstorm said:
Look for posts by Spie, he explains the situation.
Burnsy
Well, I've just ordered my OEM 32-bit version from OcUK but I really hope that MS will allow you to reactivate an OEM copy in the event of a motherboard change. I suspect they will, but it will probably involve a phone call and you probably have to satisfy them that you have changed the motherboard due to a fault, rather than you've built an entire new system and are trying to pull a fast one. I'm just worried that my motherboards goes pop 1 week after installing Vista and I end up having to but a new motherboard and a new copy of Vista 
I'm not that bothered really as my OEM copy will be staying on my current machine and I'll be putting together a new one in a few months anyway. I'll probably recheck where things stand with OEM then and purchase a retail copy if needs be.
I'm not that bothered really as my OEM copy will be staying on my current machine and I'll be putting together a new one in a few months anyway. I'll probably recheck where things stand with OEM then and purchase a retail copy if needs be.