What if your mobo gets fried, and you have Vista OEM

[Bradtechonline]

Are you just screwed and cannot buy a new motherboard for your system, and use the copy of OEM Vista you bought for your PC? It's pretty stupid that you buy a copy of Vista for 200 bucks, and your mobo fries, and you have to spend another 200 bucks along with new motherboard cost.

 

[Bremen]

I believe you would just have to replace it with the same mobo. IE you have to send it back to whoever you bought it from to get a new mobo :-(

 

[ImDonly1]

I think you can just call them and they will re-activate it?

 

[Shawn]

I think that you can still reactivate if you call them and explain the situation.

 

[postmortemIA]

Originally posted by: Bradtechonline
Are you just screwed and cannot buy a new motherboard for your system, and use the copy of OEM Vista you bought for your PC? It's pretty stupid that you buy a copy of Vista for 200 bucks, and your mobo fries, and you have to spend another 200 bucks along with new motherboard cost.

So if you get exact same mobo, and HD is still alive, what's the problem?
Vista shouldn't recognize the difference.

 

[RebateMonger]

No matter what else is going to happen with Vista OEM licensing, I'm sure that Microsoft's basic EULA terms will stand:

If the motherboard fails, you can replace it with the SAME model of motherboard, and you'll be able to Activate Vista.

Actually, if it's the SAME model of motherboard, Vista likely won't even need to be re-Activated. And, supposedly, the "point system" that's used to determine the need for re-Activation, has been made more liberal to avoid false warnings.

 

[Bremen]

Originally posted by: Shawn
I think that you can still reactivate if you call them and explain the situation.

They will not. If it isn't the same board you are SOL (well, if you went through the vendor for repairs and they used a different board they should sort it out for you)

 

[Elif Tymes]

Actually, this is nothing but an ungly rumor. I installed Windows Vista Business two days ago, and when I did it said at the activation screen that if I exchange a major component of my computer (I.E. Motherboard) I must reactivate within three days.

So yes, you can swap the motherboards out without issues.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Elif Tymes
Actually, this is nothing but an ungly rumor. I installed Windows Vista Business two days ago, and when I did it said at the activation screen that if I exchange a major component of my computer (I.E. Motherboard) I must reactivate within three days.

So yes, you can swap the motherboards out without issues.

Did you install Vista Business VLA? Or did you install Vista Business OEM? There is a difference.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Elif Tymes
Actually, this is nothing but an ungly rumor. I installed Windows Vista Business two days ago, and when I did it said at the activation screen that if I exchange a major component of my computer (I.E. Motherboard) I must reactivate within three days.

So yes, you can swap the motherboards out without issues.

Well, it boils down to what is technically possible and what is possible within the terms of the license agreement.

The OEM license agreement DOES state that software cannot be transferred from the hardware on which it was originally installed. A "transfer" is defined by Microsoft as moving the software to a machine with a different motherboard. In effect, this does limit your ability to perform a major upgrade of your machine and use the same copy of Windows.

This is one of the reasons why an OEM license is so much cheaper than a retail license; you get what you pay for. BTW, these terms are no different than the terms stated in previous Windows OEM licenses.

Now, if you were to swap out a motherboard, you would certainly be prompted to reactivate, and you might be able to reactivate online without issue. In fact, even if you had to call Microsoft, you might be able to get a reactivation code from them without issue. So technically, it's unlikely that Vista render itself useless after a motherboard swap. Still, those ARE the terms of the license agreement and consumers should be aware of them.

 

[Aberforth]

OEM versions cannot be re-activated on new machines (retail versions allow upto 10 transfers). However keeping a ghosted and activated copy of Windows without any drivers could be the only way around this problem isn't it?

 

[Markbnj]

Originally posted by: Bremen

Originally posted by: Shawn
I think that you can still reactivate if you call them and explain the situation.

They will not. If it isn't the same board you are SOL (well, if you went through the vendor for repairs and they used a different board they should sort it out for you)

You've tested this by actually calling Microsoft's activation hotline with this situation? Or is this an intepretation of the company's public statements?

 

[AdamK47]

Originally posted by: Markbnj

Originally posted by: Bremen

Originally posted by: Shawn
I think that you can still reactivate if you call them and explain the situation.

They will not. If it isn't the same board you are SOL (well, if you went through the vendor for repairs and they used a different board they should sort it out for you)

You've tested this by actually calling Microsoft's activation hotline with this situation? Or is this an intepretation of the company's public statements?

It's more likely an interpretation of all the rumors floating around. I find it extremely difficult to get any sort of solid information concerning Vista. I'm sure once both the Retail and OEM version are more prevelant these questions will have more solid answers on these forums.

 

[AdamK47]

When does the activation process take place? Is it only when installing Windows, or does windows detect the presence of a new motherboard when using an existing installation on a hard drive connected to a new motherboard?

 

[Nothinman]

XP and Vista will both make you reactivate if you change enough hardware.

 

[AdamK47]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
XP and Vista will both make you reactivate if you change enough hardware.

Vista will make you reactivate with an existing installation, correct?

 

[Nothinman]

XP will too if it detects a significant hardware change.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I consider this situation to fall under fair use. As long as you don't abuse it.

 

[BladeVenom]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
I consider this situation to fall under fair use. As long as you don't abuse it.

Try telling that to Microsoft, after you switch motherboards and they won't reactivate it. Besides the DMCA has killed off fair use.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
I consider this situation to fall under fair use. As long as you don't abuse it.

Try telling that to Microsoft, after you switch motherboards and they won't reactivate it. Besides the DMCA has killed off fair use.

If I had that problem I would tell it to Microsoft. Might not work, but whatever.

Just one more reason to buy retail.

 

[Smilin]

STOP THE FUD. Gawd you people here are supposed to be smarter than this.



If you blow your mobo you replace it with the same kind. If it's not available any longer you replace it with something different. No EULA violation at all.

 

[Mem]

Are you just screwed and cannot buy a new motherboard for your system, and use the copy of OEM Vista you bought for your PC? It's pretty stupid that you buy a copy of Vista for 200 bucks, and your mobo fries, and you have to spend another 200 bucks along with new motherboard cost.

Technically Microsoft will say no and you will need to reorder a new OEM ,on the other hand I know some people that have changed motherboards(different one to the original OEM) with Vista OEM and have been honest and told them over the phone and they have allowed it , so depending who's on the other end will allow a board change.

Bottom line motherboard change(different one) breaks the OEM rules,and you may if very lucky get away with it,but Microsoft have no obligation to allow you to reuse the old OEM key on a motherboard change.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Smilin
STOP THE FUD. Gawd you people here are supposed to be smarter than this.



If you blow your mobo you replace it with the same kind. If it's not available any longer you replace it with something different. No EULA violation at all.

Yep, looks like good old phone activation works just like it does for XP. I wouldn't be too concerned. However, even though that guy was doing what he did for "testing purposes" I'd say he's technically violating the OEM EULA.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

but... how is their stance going to be once they start getting perhaps thousands of calls every day about reactivating after a machine/mobo change? MS could very well gauge needed action from that.. right now it's just a few here and there, after GA it could change/be more enforced.

I have no idea but it is for thought. I have 2 copies of XP, one oem from newegg and one retail full. I've not had a problem moving the OEM from a laptop to a desktop, so on, but that is XP.

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: Smilin
STOP THE FUD. Gawd you people here are supposed to be smarter than this.



If you blow your mobo you replace it with the same kind. If it's not available any longer you replace it with something different. No EULA violation at all.

Yep, looks like good old phone activation works just like it does for XP. I wouldn't be too concerned. However, even though that guy was doing what he did for "testing purposes" I'd say he's technically violating the OEM EULA.

 

[AdamK47]

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: Smilin
STOP THE FUD. Gawd you people here are supposed to be smarter than this.



If you blow your mobo you replace it with the same kind. If it's not available any longer you replace it with something different. No EULA violation at all.

Yep, looks like good old phone activation works just like it does for XP. I wouldn't be too concerned. However, even though that guy was doing what he did for "testing purposes" I'd say he's technically violating the OEM EULA.

That right there pretty much clears up every question I had concerning the OEM version. It certainly puts to rest the false responses I've been getting earlier on this forum.