Which Microsoft XP will allow reinstalls

[JBS]

I currently have Windows 2000 pro as an OS, and I am looking to upgrade to Windows XP. I have read that once Windows XP is installed once a system, if I change hardware (motherboard) or need to reinstall the OS again, I wouldn't be able to. One of the things I have appreciated about Windows 2000 pro is that I am able to reinstall the OS as many times as I want, or anytime I upgrade hardware.

Is there any truth to this about XP, and if so, does it apply to all versions of Windows XP (OEM and full retail versions of both Windows XP Home and Pro).

 

[esquared]

You do not need to reinstall the OS as long as the OS is functioning properly with the new motherboard or hard drive. What will happen is that you will be required to reactivate the Win XP OS with Microsoft. It takes only several seconds online.

If you have activated the Win XP recently (less than 120 days or so) and then changed the motherboard , you may be required to call the 800 number to get the OS activated again. It takes maybe 10 minutes and you're good to go.

edit:
With an OEM version, the OS is technically tied to that motherboard. So if it died, so goes the OS. There is no such limitation with a retail version.

 

[JBS]

edit:
With an OEM version, the OS is technically tied to that motherboard. So if it died, so goes the OS. There is no such limitation with a retail version.[/quote]


Are you fairly certain that an OEM Windows XP is tied to whatever motherboard I install it on. So if I buy an OEM Windows XP disc and install it, and later decide to upgrade my motherboard, I wouldn't be able to reinstall Windows XP with that disc.

 

[esquared]

From what I understand is that an OEM OS is tied to that motherboard according to the EULA

Whether you will be able to reactivate an OEM WinXP with a new motherboard is another question. Yes you might be able to but it would be against the EULA from Microsoft.

There's hardly a reason to get an OEM disk as the retail versions can be had for very near the same price.

 

[esquared]

Here's a couple threads.

one here

two here

three here

 

[accguy9009]

For what it is worth I bought an OEM version of Windows XP Home quite some time ago and I have changed motherboards 3 or 4 times and each time a fresh XP install went smooth without a hitch. One time I had not used the OS for over a year and I just popped it in the rebuilt system and reinstalled XP fresh with zero snags and I have never been required to call in. I do understand I may not have followed procedure, but I bought it and only used it on one system at a time. YMMV however.

 

[bendixG15]

Originally posted by: accguy9009
For what it is worth I bought an OEM version of Windows XP Home quite some time ago and I have changed motherboards 3 or 4 times and each time a fresh XP install went smooth without a hitch. One time I had not used the OS for over a year and I just popped it in the rebuilt system and reinstalled XP fresh with zero snags and I have never been required to call in. I do understand I may not have followed procedure, but I bought it and only used it on one system at a time. YMMV however.

Thats the way it works in the real world.....

 

[drebo]

What can be done and what is legally allowed to be done are two different things.

While it is certainly possible to use an XP OEM license on several different builds, it is not legally allowed by Microsoft. For the average home user, this generally isn't an issue. For a business user, it's pretty important to obey these rules.

Technically, as well, you're not supposed to be able to purchase OEM copies of Microsoft applications unless you have purchased a new "major piece of hardware" (this equates to a motherboard, processor, or hard drive) within the last 30 days, and then the OEM license is tied to that particular piece of hardware and the system that it is installed in to.

Retail licenses work a bit differently...they're tied to the user. So you can install them on as many different builds as you want, provided it's only installed on one system at a time.

 

[bendixG15]

If one party of the contract does not enforce his rights, then he looses them, and that's the legallity of it.