I currently have a copy of Windows XP installed on my current computer. I'm ready to build a brand new computer, can I use the same CD key on the new computer when I am no longer using my old computer?
Using an old copy of Windows XP on a new computer?
- Thread starter henryay
- Start date
Yes, when you buy a new mp3 cd player you need to buy another copy of the music cd's you were playing with on the old one.
Originally posted by: CrappyLuckMan
Yes, when you buy a new mp3 cd player you need to buy another copy of the music cd's you were playing with on the old one.
What a retarded analogy.
If your player came pre-populted with "free" music (OEM) then yea - buy new stuff if you get a new player.
If you bought your music separately (retail) then you transfer it again and again.
No, what a law-abiding citizen Smilin is.
And I am as well.Retail Microsoft OS licenses are transferable, OEMs are not. It's that simple.
Just upgrade your old computer to the new one in the same case (or other part the same).
Then it just becomes an "upgrade", and seems perfectly legal to me.
Then it just becomes an "upgrade", and seems perfectly legal to me.
Originally posted by: networkman
No, what a law-abiding citizen Smilin is.
Please don't infer that these consumer-abusive EULA's are the same thing as laws. Blindly permitting your rights to be eroded by greedy corporations attempting to side-step the legislative process does NOT equate to being a good citizen.
Originally posted by: doornail
Originally posted by: networkman
No, what a law-abiding citizen Smilin is.
Please don't infer that these consumer-abusive EULA's are the same thing as laws. Blindly permitting your rights to be eroded by greedy corporations attempting to side-step the legislative process does NOT equate to being a good citizen.
That seems a pathetic attempt to justify activity that is wrong. When you accept that EULA, you are entering into a contract with the other party, in this case Microsoft, and regardless of whether you believe them to be a "greedy corporation" or not, contract law is still a serious matter. Abiding by the terms of the contract that you have agreed to is being honorable, and that is being a good citizen.
You may continue to dissagree with my take on citizenship, but that still has nothing to do with abiding by the terms of the EULA.
As long as the MB remains the same then it's considered the same system.
If you replace the MB then the OEM license goes "poof".
If you don't like it then move to Linux.
EULA's are NOT contracts. There is no such thing as a contract that can have its wording changed at the whim of one party only and this is not the only metric where they fail. There's a very good reason they are called "agreements" and not "contracts". EULA's are a way to deceive customers into psuedo-surrenderring numerous rights they possess under consumer law.
The point to EULA's is to establish a tenuous right-to-sue your own customers -- often for activities that are perfectly legal. That is abusive.
Microsoft wants to imprint on the general population a "legal" distinction between "OEM" and "FULL" copies of Windows. Having both of those markets exist makes them more money. Unfortunately/fortunately, commerce doesn't work that way. I can't sell you a hammer and then call your house with today's rules for what kinds of nails you may strike, plus an offer to upgrade to the FULL hammer.
So they feed you stories about how software is "licensed" and magical and therefore you cannot loan it like a music CD or sell it at garage sale like a paperback or ever replace your motherboard and still get to use it. So you can do less with it and they can fleece more from you.
It frightens me how every year more and more PC owners are brainwashed into thinking this stuff is THE LAW or that questioning EULA's is immoral.
postmortemIA
Diamond Member
- Jul 11, 2006
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Situation is like this:
1. People don't want to pay $100 for windows when they are buying computer.
2. MS is aware of this and want to give a break for new computer owners, but don't want to let them to abuse that, i.e. no break beyond new computer
So resulting (as stated in EULA) compormise is that cost of MS Windows XP Home OEM in computer you're buying is about $20, but you can use it only for new computer. Fair deal if you ask me.
Something that you get for free shouldn't be as good as something you pay much more, and that is how economy works.
1. People don't want to pay $100 for windows when they are buying computer.
2. MS is aware of this and want to give a break for new computer owners, but don't want to let them to abuse that, i.e. no break beyond new computer
So resulting (as stated in EULA) compormise is that cost of MS Windows XP Home OEM in computer you're buying is about $20, but you can use it only for new computer. Fair deal if you ask me.
Something that you get for free shouldn't be as good as something you pay much more, and that is how economy works.
pcgeek11
Lifer
- Jun 12, 2005
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Here is some food for thought:
Quoted from MS System Builders
"If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do NOT need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC. The replacement motherboard must be the same make/model or the same manufacturer?s replacement/equivalent."
A system builder it seems would determine what constitutes as a qualifying motherboard.
As I see it, the purchaser of a generic OEM XP version of XP becomes the system builder and can determine what hardware upgrade becomes a system that the OEM is the sole support by the OEM.
This pretty much leaves it open to the OEM system builder.
As the OEM system builder they can define what hardware was upgraded in compliance with the OEM EULA when prompted for activation.
This would also seem to satisfy Microsoft's requirement that the OEM assumes all support of the OS for the reduced price of the OEM license. I am sure that generic OEM versions are still priced higher than the big system builders pay for each OEM license.
Systems shipped with the big box (HP, Compaq, Dell, Toshiba, Sony, Gates, etc. ) OEM versions would need to upgrade hardware supported by the vendor and would be limited by their licensing restrictions.
Now that certainly makes it more clear doesn't it. It does for me.
I build computer and install an OEM Lic OS. I am the OEM Builder, If I replace a damaged MB as long as I approve it is my equivalent replacement then the license is fine and the EULA is satisfied. The only kicker is the original MB has to be damaged.
That is my take on it. I did this with a PC at home and called they said fine... so it is all good. MS is just too wishy washy. I know what the EULA says but the clarification in the system builders section contradicts parts of the EULA or as I take it expands the intent of the EULA. So this is how I read the MS Babbling: AS long as you are the OEM, The MB is defective, then YOU get to decide what is YOUR OEM replacement MB. Seems cut and dried to me.
pcgeek11
Quoted from MS System Builders
"If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do NOT need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC. The replacement motherboard must be the same make/model or the same manufacturer?s replacement/equivalent."
A system builder it seems would determine what constitutes as a qualifying motherboard.
As I see it, the purchaser of a generic OEM XP version of XP becomes the system builder and can determine what hardware upgrade becomes a system that the OEM is the sole support by the OEM.
This pretty much leaves it open to the OEM system builder.
As the OEM system builder they can define what hardware was upgraded in compliance with the OEM EULA when prompted for activation.
This would also seem to satisfy Microsoft's requirement that the OEM assumes all support of the OS for the reduced price of the OEM license. I am sure that generic OEM versions are still priced higher than the big system builders pay for each OEM license.
Systems shipped with the big box (HP, Compaq, Dell, Toshiba, Sony, Gates, etc. ) OEM versions would need to upgrade hardware supported by the vendor and would be limited by their licensing restrictions.
Now that certainly makes it more clear doesn't it. It does for me.
I build computer and install an OEM Lic OS. I am the OEM Builder, If I replace a damaged MB as long as I approve it is my equivalent replacement then the license is fine and the EULA is satisfied. The only kicker is the original MB has to be damaged.
That is my take on it. I did this with a PC at home and called they said fine... so it is all good. MS is just too wishy washy. I know what the EULA says but the clarification in the system builders section contradicts parts of the EULA or as I take it expands the intent of the EULA. So this is how I read the MS Babbling: AS long as you are the OEM, The MB is defective, then YOU get to decide what is YOUR OEM replacement MB. Seems cut and dried to me.
pcgeek11
did you replace your motherboard sideways, or up? Meaning did you go S754 to S754 or S754 to S939?
If they wanted to, they could easily argue and win against you calling yourself an OEM just because you built your PC. And being allowed to upgrade your PC by calling a 2 year newer mainboard "equivalent" would be questionable.
However it's essentially moot. Microsoft doesn't REALLY care about people who want to upgrade their computer without buying a new copy, because they can't really do anything about it other than making activation even more stringent and pissing more people off. They put a lot of stuff into the EULA that wouldn't be legally enforceable, but nobody's been able to challenge the terms in court because Microsoft doesn't bother to sue anyone for violating those terms.
I don't lose any sleep over the ethics of reusing an OEM license. If Microsoft doesn't want them sold for cheap they can stop it. They'd rather you do that than go install Linux or buy a Mac.
pcgeek11
Lifer
- Jun 12, 2005
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I replaced it up... From a Socket A to a Socket 754 as I couldn't get a suitable Socket A anymore. Called and explained this and bingo activated, WGA passes just ducky.
**************************
I am an OEM and so is anone who BUILDS a PC from parts. OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer. As the statement says: " or the same manufacturer?s replacement / equivalent. " If the mainboard is no longer available what do you do? Go upwards of course just like many OEMs do. Say a laptop under warranty is completely dead and the manufacturer no longer has a supply of replacement parts they repair it with they usually give the owner a newer model. It is done all the time. Dell, HP, Gateway, ...
Exactly they don't have the legality worked out so they don't. As to how the wording between the system builder explaination goes and the wording of the EULA it would never make it through court anyway IMO, too much double talk and too many contradictions.
pcgeek11
Just install and activate it, if you have any problems talk to the guy or gal in india and say you've had to repair your computer and you should be good to go.
I upgraded my motherboard from a Socket A to a S754. Called Microsoft, and they activated it. This was an OEM XP Home CD.
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