Question about OEM licences

[Kibbo]

OK, I bought my current computer close-to-new from my mom. (She went with a notebook)

I've been slowly upgrading it piece-by-piece, and using a "Repair install" every time I did something realy fundamental to it (like changing the motherboard). I kinda want to do a full reinstall of Windows, but am concerned about whether or not I've changed too much.

The only original parts in it are the processor, one of the harddrives, the floppy and the case.

At which point is it no longer the same computer?

She bought it from a mom & pop store, if that makes any difference.

Edit: It's pretty stupid that half of the Windows questions on here are about licencing, and that even then, I can't find a clear answer to this question in them.

 

[ShaqDiesel]

The license is yours to do with as you will as long as it's legal - it's not tied to a computer.

 

[Kibbo]

No, I think you are wrong. For instance, if I buy a second computer, and throw out the first one, I have to buy a second OEM licence. That's why OEMs are so much cheaper than Full versions.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: ShaqDiesel
The license is yours to do with as you will as long as it's legal - it's not tied to a computer.

OEM licenses are tied to the computer they are shipped with.
That said, I don't know how much you can change before it counts as a "new" computer.

 

[mastertech01]

My understanding is you can change everything but the motherboard. Once you change the mobo its a new computer.

 

[Kibbo]

Umm, so the fact I've already changed the mobo means that I'm pooched?

 

[mastertech01]

Read this for more information

 

[Aluf]

Does anyone have pointers to more information - how is it done actually ?

 

[drag]

I beleive it's microsoft's "official" policy that it's tied to the computer. If there is a dispute to what is and isn't a new computer the motherboard is the deciding factor, new motherboard is a new computer unless it's a replacement for a faulty part. If it's something like a replacement for a Dell computer for instance it has to be a dell replcement motherboard or something like that.

However I don't think that MS does a realy good job training it's phone operators and generally they will activate the OS no matter what if it fails to do it automaticly over the internet. Most people seem to get away with it, however I beleive I've seen one or two people get their activation denied. I am guess it depends on who you get on the other end of the phone.

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: Kibbo
Umm, so the fact I've already changed the mobo means that I'm pooched?

Doesn't hurt to try.

 

[Kibbo]

Originally posted by: drag
I guess it depends on who you get on the other end of the phone.

That's a heck of a risk. That's a pretty crappy policy. I have the same CPU, and only upgraded my mobo 'cause I knocked off a capacitor by mistake. I guess no reinstall for me. At least not without imaging my drive.

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: Kibbo

Originally posted by: drag
I guess it depends on who you get on the other end of the phone.

That's a heck of a risk. That's a pretty crappy policy. I have the same CPU, and only upgraded my mobo 'cause I knocked off a capacitor by mistake. I guess no reinstall for me. At least not without imaging my drive.

That sounds perfectly valid excuse for replacing a motherboard! If you explain that to the person and they still refuse to activate it then I would be very suprised.

 

[Kibbo]

Originally posted by: drag

Originally posted by: Kibbo

Originally posted by: drag
I guess it depends on who you get on the other end of the phone.

That's a heck of a risk. That's a pretty crappy policy. I have the same CPU, and only upgraded my mobo 'cause I knocked off a capacitor by mistake. I guess no reinstall for me. At least not without imaging my drive.

That sounds perfectly valid excuse for replacing a motherboard! If you explain that to the person and they still refuse to activate it then I would be very suprised.

Great! I'm glad my story worked on you . Maybe it'll swing below their BS detectors, too.

 

[hopejr]

ROFL

 

[mehmetmunur]

If I am not mistaken you can upgrade your computer as many times as you would like. However, after about 3-4 hardware changes, you cannot activate XP. You will have to call MS customer support and tell them that you are upgrading your system, and as long as you are the rightful owner for the copy, they will give you a new code that should reactivate XP. If I am not mistaken a CPU counts as 2 hardware changes. However, MS will reactivate these files for you only a few times, so do not push it. I would also backup wpa.bak(and/or wpa.dbl) in your system folder after activation, which will allow you to reactivate XP without having to go online as long as the hardware has not changed.

 

[PhlashFoto]

I have used one XP CD that I switched back and forth from my laptop to my desktop. When i called MS to activate it, the rep asked why I was activating, i simply said " i had it on my laptop, switched it to the desktop" then nothing more was asked or said.

 

[Kibbo]

Originally posted by: mehmetmunur
If I am not mistaken you can upgrade your computer as many times as you would like. However, after about 3-4 hardware changes, you cannot activate XP. You will have to call MS customer support and tell them that you are upgrading your system, and as long as you are the rightful owner for the copy, they will give you a new code that should reactivate XP. If I am not mistaken a CPU counts as 2 hardware changes. However, MS will reactivate these files for you only a few times, so do not push it. I would also backup wpa.bak(and/or wpa.dbl) in your system folder after activation, which will allow you to reactivate XP without having to go online as long as the hardware has not changed.

The file backup thingy sounds good. BTW, ever live in Canada? Went to grade school with a guy named Mehmet.

 

[mastertech01]

I found THIS page very informative on product activation.

 

[mehmetmunur]

Mehmet is the most common Turkish name (probably at least a million of them in in a population of about 70 million worldwide). I happen to live in the US.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: mehmetmunur
Mehmet is the most common Turkish name (probably at least a million of them in in a population of about 70 million worldwide). I happen to live in the US.

IIRC I've met at least two Mehmets(though I won't swear on the spelling), and I live in Sweden

 

[Kibbo]

Originally posted by: mehmetmunur
Mehmet is the most common Turkish name (probably at least a million of them in in a population of about 70 million worldwide). I happen to live in the US.

Really? Oh. Hmm, come to think about it, I've not met many Turks except for this guy. I hope you were at least entertained by my cultural ignorance.

Any historical or linguistic significance that has led to it's popularity?

I found THIS page very informative on product activation.

Wow, thanks, I forgot about the 120 day thing. That explains why my activation with the new RAM went so easily. I should be AOK.