reinstall OEM copy of xp?

elviswasfat

Member
Jul 27, 2007
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my dads MOBO died and was going to give him mine so i could get a new one for myself but i think i might have heard down the line that there is a problem with OEM copies of xp that MS will not let you register them again, even on the same system. is this true? if it is is there anything i can do?
 

Noema

Platinum Member
Feb 15, 2005
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The OEM license is bound to the motherboard it was activated on and thus may not be transferred per the EULA.
 

Trashman

Platinum Member
Jan 31, 2000
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Being that the board died, i would try to activate and if tells you to call, explain that board died, I'm sure they will activate with no problems.
 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
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Agreed ...you have little control over when a specific make / model of mobo is
discontinued. Reinstall it and depending on when it was last activated, it may
just activate ok on line. If it is a specific OEM type of windows, say Dell or HP
and it does a BIOS check, then it may not activate. You would then need to call
MS and explain about the defective mobo. In most cases, they will reactivate it.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
6,813
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indeed, the motherboard requirement has a statement that installing a new motherboard because of failure is OK. If you cannot get the same, a "compareable" one can be installed by the OEM. If you built the system, you are the OEM. if the PC is out of support, then you are now supporting the system, and can do the install.
 

nerp

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2005
9,865
105
106
I have an XP OEM license that was installed on three different motherboards and the activation people I spoke with never balked at what I was doing. I told them what I was doing and they activated it for me anyway.

 

tylerw13

Senior member
Aug 9, 2006
220
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Originally posted by: nerp
I have an XP OEM license that was installed on three different motherboards and the activation people I spoke with never balked at what I was doing. I told them what I was doing and they activated it for me anyway.

AMEN!!! i have activated sooo many oem licenses on multiple motherboards and upgrades it isnt funny...ppl think that if they have to call microsoft to activate it, they will get into trouble...the ppl on the other side of the phone are oblivious to what they can and cant activate!! dont worry about it just tell them what you are doing and they wont care, they will activate
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
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I have a laptop I bought from a local auction that has the xp license sticker on it for Windows xp Pro 1-2cpu with the key below that.
The laptop was made by compaq, and evo 620c.
Does anyone know what oem version of xp I need to use on it.
Already tried the retail , it won't accept the key.

compaq is gone, will hp work ?
 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
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You need a copy of XP OEM Pro to use with that key ... and even then, you might need to call in to activate it

You can get a set of Restore CDs for your laptop form http://www.restoredisks.com/

They are not too expensive.