Win7 OEM: change MB?

[ehume]

I'm running Win7 Home Premium OEM on an i7 875k and a Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3P. I want to move cpu, ssd, hd, vidcard, etc. to an Asus P755D-E Pro. Is there a relatively straightforward transfer method?

 

[Patrick Wolf]

You're supposed to buy a new OEM Win7 license if you change your MB. Once the new board is installed, the change will be detected and you'll be asked to re-validate windows. You might be able to use your existing key, possibly with a call to support for activation.

If you do a clean install of Windows, I think the board change would still be detected as your hardware configuration is supposedly sent to M$ during your first activation.

I haven't found any straight answers on what happens if you try this so I say give it a shot and tell us what happens.

 

[ehume]

I asked over at MS support forums, and actually got a quick answer <shock>, which basically gave me the same answer. I thought about it for awhile. Since I will be using my old MB as a fan-testing testbed I would need a new OS anyway. And since I am not happy with my Kingston V+ SSD, I will need a new SSD anyway. So I ordered a new copy of Win7 and a new SSD. I won't have to disturb the old setup now. It will go back to what it did before - a testbed.

In a way I'm not terribly happy to spend the money, but this will be the simplest way, aside from reinstalling all my apps. OTOH, periodically reinstalling apps is a nice way to clean house.

 

[Mark R]

You're supposed to buy a new OEM Win7 license if you change your MB. Once the new board is installed, the change will be detected and you'll be asked to re-validate windows. You might be able to use your existing key, possibly with a call to support for activation.

If you do a clean install of Windows, I think the board change would still be detected as your hardware configuration is supposedly sent to M$ during your first activation.

I haven't found any straight answers on what happens if you try this so I say give it a shot and tell us what happens.

It will not activate online. You will have to phone MS to activate by talking to a human. What happens depends on the mood the support guy is in.

What has happened to 1 guy I know is that the guy simply said, "No. We can't activate it. An OEM copy is permanently tied to the motherboard. Have a nice day."

However, I've also heard that if you call and say, "Hi. This is Bob Doe from BD computers. I'm replacing a motherboard under warranty for a customer. Would you be able to reactivate the OEM copy of Windows for the new motherboard?", the answer tends to be "yes".

 

[wirednuts]

wow, ive never heard of them turning down an activation. normally i just get an automated menu system that allows me to activate by doing what the human rep would do, but even the times i do talk to someone they just ask "how many computers is this installed on?" and i say 1.

but microsoft did screw a lot of paid subscribers out of technet keys, i wonder if they are starting to hose oem customers too.

 

[Claudius-07]

I've had to reactivate twice in a few years... one since my motherboard failed and died and I had to replace it and other was for some reason when I replaced my video card. In both cases, whatever triggered it, I called and explained I had hardware failure and in 15 seconds they set me up with a new activation.

Still it bugs me so I finally broke down and bought a full version of Win7... the retail copy which allows me to freaking add, replace, the hell I want with it, since I am always playing with so much hardware.

 

[airdata]

It will not activate online. You will have to phone MS to activate by talking to a human. What happens depends on the mood the support guy is in.

What has happened to 1 guy I know is that the guy simply said, "No. We can't activate it. An OEM copy is permanently tied to the motherboard. Have a nice day."

However, I've also heard that if you call and say, "Hi. This is Bob Doe from BD computers. I'm replacing a motherboard under warranty for a customer. Would you be able to reactivate the OEM copy of Windows for the new motherboard?", the answer tends to be "yes".

I've had to call support to activate for some gateway and hp oem systems in which case I was in fact installing a hard drive because the computers had had them removed.

Tell them you had to replace the hard drive and it will just take a couple minutes on the phone w\ them.

 

[jacktesterson]

I just did this last week to my htpc going from a 780g board to a 880g board with new ram and new CPU with win 7 oem x64. MS declined online activation but did phone activation no problem , They just ask how many pcs you use this on and of course you say 1.

I ended up messing the htpc up after and had to reload, and it activated online the 2nd time.

I've never had OEM issues. I've done the same with XP over 3 pc's