• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

OEM Versions of Vista - "Cheap" at Microcenter

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
I have retail XP home and switched some hardware in the system same motherboard and reinstall XP and cant reativate it without calling in it tells me my key was allready used when online. so I am very tempted to grab this OEM vista
 
Originally posted by: Mustanggt
I have retail XP home and switched some hardware in the system same motherboard and reinstall XP and cant reativate it without calling in it tells me my key was allready used when online. so I am very tempted to grab this OEM vista
Click to expand...

just call and Apu will give you a number

jC
 
Of course, the true question should be - if you can't upgrade the motherboard - what's the policy on BIOS flashing (which can sometimes make the board show up as "new" to whatever monitoring means MS is using)? Motherboards die, also - and there are different revisions of motherboard that replace them over time which share the same name (Abit's NF7-S v1 and v2, for instance). What happens when, under warranty replacement, the motherboard maker sends you one of these new revisions?

Something tells me a few dozen high-profile class action lawsuits alledging illegal coercive business practices will get MS to "alter" this policy.
 
Having done 3 online trainings for the Vista rollout, the common question was "What about gamers who upgrade their motherboard processors twice in a year. The reply was "That they would allow 1 upgrade for the motherboard". They didn't seem to care about the processor....focus was the motherboard. The second common questions dealt with "What If I have a bad motherboard or if it fails shorly after I install it" The response was if it was the same motherboard reinstalled. No issues with reactivating the key for Vista. The question then turned specifically to what if I decided that I wanted to change from ASUS to DFI MB. Again the reply was 1 upgrade/change tied to the system. If you have additional issues it will be handled on a case by case basis. We asked what that specifically meant and the reply was it would be reviewed and extenuating circiumstances would be considered on a case by case basis. They were not going to give us specific examples of when they would allow more than 1 upgrade to the motherboard. So YMMV when changing the motherboard more than once with Vista.
 
Originally posted by: Elixer
It is EASY to tell if you have a new motherboard. All they do is get the unique info for your board, and everything you have installed, then they produce a hash key. Then when you go activate, the hash key is tied to your account.
Now when you change motherboards, a big chunk of your key is change, and Vista sees this, and on reactivation, it will do something.
While the part I quote says it is "tied", it will be up to MS when you call in and tell them what went on. They can be as draconian as they want, as you said, we will not know 100% what they will do until someone trys it.
Click to expand...


I didn't mean they couldn't tell when you replaced a motherboard. I meant they can't tell whether it's a significant upgrade or a different machine. The hardware hash changes either way. As some have said, they may restrict it to 1 motherboard change for a license, but frankly, I'd be surprised if they even were that strict. It would only be a matter of time before they were sued by end users, or even hardware manufacturers because users were being discouraged from buying newer hardware. Chances are, after the one reactivation, you'd have to call. It's important to note here that OEM licenses sold in large quantities to computer manufacturers have been treated a little differently than those available for sale for build-it-yourselfers with a qualifying hardware purchase. The available documentation doesn't really talk about those situations for Vista. It's all about changing hardware in your dell, etc. In any case, what we know for sure is that we can't know for sure until people start doing it, but actually requiring a new license for hardware changes or bios flashes just doesn't make sense to me, and that's just my two cents. (I'll shut up if somebody paypals me two cents, I guess)

I suspect MS wants their license requirements to sound as intimidating as possible at the start so that everybody doesn't run out and buy OEM copies of the software for half the price.
 
Wait half a year because SP1 is coming soon. Second, yes, you can easily just upgrade your components, and call them. Remember, its tied to your hardware ... and ASUS sent me a BIOS chip and I replaced it on my mobo. Or: I sent in my mobo, and it got repaired or replaced. Conclusion? It's still tied to it. GG ... OEM versions are "tied" to it. Thats why you can't activate it over internet for like a lot of times. But you can always activiate it over phone, as long as its not like 10 times a month.
 
Elixer, no disrespect, I am inclined to believe those who actually have used OEM several times rather than you. You also seem to have an alternative agenda concerning Vista.
 
whether it will *work* to reactivate on another motherboard or not is irrespective of the fact that it is not allowed by the oem license. once you install it on a system, the oem copy of the software is tied to that system board.
 
Originally posted by: MrUniq
Elixer, no disrespect, I am inclined to believe those who actually have used OEM several times rather than you. You also seem to have an alternative agenda concerning Vista.
Click to expand...
Lol. They have used OEM XP, not OEM Vista.
What makes you think I never used OEM XP?

Alternative agenda? Sorry, no conspiracy here.
 
The only way they could realistically *check* if it's the same motherboard is if they're looking at the MAC address or checksum register in the actual hex code of the BIOS itself. Enterprising hackers could figure out a way around such a system, but it'll most likely be a real pain in the ass for a common user to implement.

Or, they could simply find where in the code such a check is performed and simply figure out a way to disable it.
 
They don't exactly check it, windows knows if the hardware hash is different. You definitely have to reactivate when there is a significant hardware change. That's not really being debated here. The issue is whether or not they will let you reactivate by phone when this happens. All the current documentation makes it sound like they won't. (more than once anyways) I just don't believe it based on previous experience with XP, and the fact that too many people would be unfairly screwed out of their legitimately purchased copy of windows. I think the online activation will stop working, and you'll just have to call, just like they did for the last year and a half or so with all HP/Compaq and Emachines (others?) computers. It helps them catch abusers. I haven't seen anything from Elixer that makes me think he's Steve Jobs in disguise or anything, LOL. Just a different take on the licensing issue.
 
Originally posted by: woofersus
They don't exactly check it, windows knows if the hardware hash is different. You definitely have to reactivate when there is a significant hardware change. That's not really being debated here. The issue is whether or not they will let you reactivate by phone when this happens. All the current documentation makes it sound like they won't. (more than once anyways) I just don't believe it based on previous experience with XP, and the fact that too many people would be unfairly screwed out of their legitimately purchased copy of windows. I think the online activation will stop working, and you'll just have to call, just like they did for the last year and a half or so with all HP/Compaq and Emachines (others?) computers. It helps them catch abusers. I haven't seen anything from Elixer that makes me think he's Steve Jobs in disguise or anything, LOL. Just a different take on the licensing issue.
Click to expand...
I completely agree with this. I see no conspiracy in Elixer's comments. I think upgrading Vista will end up being just like XP, but that does remain to be seen for certain.
 
Looks like someone did the OEM and swapped the motherboards a few times.
That was nice of them, somebody bit the bullet and tried it. Guess the "tied" to one system they mention in the EULA is only there for legal reasons or something. Either that, or they just got lucky with a clueless rep. 😀

Originally posted by: JSK
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=352&type=expert&pid=4

Seems maybe OEM copies arent that hard to work with so far with new hardware set ups, check out his experience.

Maybe it wont be such a bad idea to upgrade these free retail copies via any time upgrade to Ultimate if it is that easy to reactivate on new mobos/builds.
Click to expand...




 
I just ordered my copy of Ultimate 64 bit edition and received the same "back order" notification. Then later that evening they sent me the shipping confirmation. So If you were not so quick to cancel, you probably would have had your copy on its way too.
 
I have re-activated this same copy of XP Pro 9 times in 3 years or so after flashing MoBo, changing NIC's of just doing clean intals (which do often)... And... 😉

Just call Apu and when asked "on how many PC's do you have installed this copy..."? Oooooh, ONE!

Have never failed
 
Originally posted by: Cleaner
Gotta love those corporate copies of XP. Nine million installs + one key = EMEA IT Departments
Click to expand...

So can you actually have all of the systems running with same key? Or do you get error when you try to do windows update indicating that the key might be leaked?
 
I just upgraded my PC So i should be good for a few years and if i need to upgrade pc by that time The full retail version will be the same price i paid for OEM at the Egg $119 If not Buying 2 OEM is the same price as Full Retail right now. seems like going OEM makes the most sense right now.
 
Originally posted by: rmrfhomeoops
Originally posted by: Cleaner
Gotta love those corporate copies of XP. Nine million installs + one key = EMEA IT Departments
Click to expand...

So can you actually have all of the systems running with same key? Or do you get error when you try to do windows update indicating that the key might be leaked?
Click to expand...

That's called a floating license. I am suprised MS does that.
 
Wow! Ordered my Vista Ultimate 64bit version Friday, the 26th and received it today (Monday, 29th). Not bad at all. Microcenter has just picked up a happy customer!
 
Originally posted by: Elixer
Originally posted by: MrUniq
Elixer, no disrespect, I am inclined to believe those who actually have used OEM several times rather than you. You also seem to have an alternative agenda concerning Vista.
Click to expand...
Lol. They have used OEM XP, not OEM Vista.
What makes you think I never used OEM XP?

Alternative agenda? Sorry, no conspiracy here.
Click to expand...

Here is people that install this software all the time and know whats going on...

I think people that expect M$ to carry over the same license agreement as in windows XP to Vista are wishful thinkers. M$ has lost trillions of dollars to hackers and software theft (according to them)... And they are making it super hard this time around...

Read the below link before you jump in with both feet...

Text

Good Day.. And no, I won't be supporting or buying Vista this time around. I am gonna try out linux for a change.
 
Originally posted by: ericlp
Originally posted by: Elixer
Originally posted by: MrUniq
Elixer, no disrespect, I am inclined to believe those who actually have used OEM several times rather than you. You also seem to have an alternative agenda concerning Vista.
Click to expand...
Lol. They have used OEM XP, not OEM Vista.
What makes you think I never used OEM XP?

Alternative agenda? Sorry, no conspiracy here.
Click to expand...

Here is people that install this software all the time and know whats going on...

I think people that expect M$ to carry over the same license agreement as in windows XP to Vista are wishful thinkers. M$ has lost trillions of dollars to hackers and software theft (according to them)... And they are making it super hard this time around...

Read the below link before you jump in with both feet...

Text

Good Day.. And no, I won't be supporting or buying Vista this time around. I am gonna try out linux for a change.
Click to expand...

That is a article that was published in 2006.

This is the more recent "proof" it can be done, as I posted before in this thread.

Looks like someone did the OEM and swapped the motherboards a few times.
That was nice of them, somebody bit the bullet and tried it. Guess the "tied" to one system they mention in the EULA is only there for legal reasons or something. Either that, or they just got lucky with a clueless rep.

quote:
Originally posted by: JSK
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=352&type=expert&pid=4

Seems maybe OEM copies arent that hard to work with so far with new hardware set ups, check out his experience.

Maybe it wont be such a bad idea to upgrade these free retail copies via any time upgrade to Ultimate if it is that easy to reactivate on new mobos/builds.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Linux is pretty nice, assuming you got drivers for all your hardware. SuSe 10.2 or Ubuntu are great choices. Funny thing is that 64bit linux will have more drivers that vista 64bit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top