Upgrade from Socket 939 to AM2 -- Any Win XP license probs?

[WhipperSnapper]

I've been contemplating upgrading my Socket 939 Opteron 148 to a dual core Socket 939 chip (probably the Athlon X2 4200). However, with the prices of DDR2 RAM being so low and with what would seem like better longevity for the future upgradeability of Socket AM2, I've been wondering whether it might make more sense to look for a good deal on a Socket AM2 CPU-mobo combo.

If I were to swap out my computer's mobo-CPU-RAM, would it then be necessary to format a hard drive and completely reinstall Windows XP Pro? Would I have a problem validating it and getting it to be acceptable for Windows "Genuine Advantage" since I would have used the same license for the Socket 939 build?

It wouldn't make sense, for me, to swap out mobo-CPU-RAM if I also need to drop $100 or so on a new copy of Win XP.

 

[O2Deprived]

If you have a retail copy of XP, you can uninstall and then reinstall it without issue. But if you have an OEM copy, you may run into a problem with activating it. They see that kind of change a "new computer" that would require a new license. If you do have an OEM, and I've done this myself, you can call, explain that you are reinstalling it due to a pc repair, tell them it's only on the one pc, and I've always been given a new activation code with a phone call that lasts all of 5 minutes.

As for having to reinstall windows, I've read in Maximum PC you can try to uninstall drivers, swap the mobo, then reinstall the drivers, but it doesn't always work. Personally, if I were to do that major an upgrade, I'd do a full reinstall anyway.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure my copy (which I purchased used from someone who'd "parted out" his computer) is an OEM.

 

[Cogman]

If I remember my Microsoft licence correctly, they consider a new motherboard a new computer. However, They are very open and willing to allow you to re-install an OEM provided that it is not present on any other Motherboard.

My rule of thumb is, if the excuse is good enough for the phone rep to activate your copy of windows, then it is good enough to be legal.

 

[Cogman]

Also, this belongs in the OS forum (it is actually illegal to sell Windows XP OEM after purchase if I remember correctly.. You will have no problems activating, most you will have to do is call microsoft on their toll free number)

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Maybe I should go post this on the OS forums, then. So what kinds of excuses work with the Microsoft reps? Aren't they planning to eventually discontinue the authentication protocol once Win XP is deemed too old (say, 10 years after its release)?

 

[Killrose]

If you try and use your excisting hardrive with the WinXP on it and change out that many components, mainly the motherboard, WinXP will freak out and you will have to buy a new licence. That is if it is lets say a Dell version that you bought off someone else. Retail or OEM versions ment for system builders, i'm not sure about.

I recently built a new system,ie., hardrive, mainboard, cpu. I used an OEM system build CD and had no problems with validation, this CD had been used before. I took the hardrive from that machine which had a Dell version of WinXP on it and put it into another system that had the same motherboard in it, ie., Epox 8RDA+ thinking that there would be no problem. Wrong, WinXP came up with validation errors, warnings, and directing me to MS validation site with a message that I would need to deposit $99 if I wished to use WinXP.

I then removed one Epox 8RDA+, put the other 8RDA+ in its place, booted into safe mode, and performed a system restore using a much earlier restore point date. No problems, no validation needed.

I origionally used the Dell CD just before MS got into the whole re-validate your copy of WinXP cycles and it has always past muster with the Epox 8RDA+. Nowaday's they are treating this as a violation.

 

[Deinonych]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Maybe I should go post this on the OS forums, then. So what kinds of excuses work with the Microsoft reps? Aren't they planning to eventually discontinue the authentication protocol once Win XP is deemed too old (say, 10 years after its release)?

Just tell them you added new hardware and you were asked to reactivate. They'll ask you if your copy of WinXP is installed in any other machines (to which you would reply, "no"), and then provide you with a new activation key. It has happened to me with an older machine when I added a new network card and a new hard drive. It's no big deal.