XP home oem question.

[thebigdude]

My parents computer is ancient and badly needs upgraded. Im getting ready to rma one of my old mobos that I don't need anymore.

My question is this. They are running Windows XP Home OEM. They told my parents where they bought the computer that if you changed cpus in it the os would cease to function. Is this true? Is there a workaround if there is?


Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[TGS]

As long as it's within the same motherboard, it should happily chug along with a new cpu. Now if you change the motherboard, you will need to take steps to get windows to use the new chipset drivers.

 

[RT]

Is it possible the computer dealer was referring to windows product activation in a slightly dramatic "you cant upgrade, you'll have to buy a new one from us, or let us and only us upgrade it or it will break 'n' stuff, yeah" fashion? 😉

 

[xrax]

the OEM licsense only allows it to be installed on one computer, and not moved to another. I am not sure if they prevent you from doing automatically so but the liscence agreement says that you shouldn't

 

[bendixG15]

nc

 

[timswim78]

I upgraded a motherboard, cpu, and videocard in a computer with an XP Home OEM license. After the upgrade, XP asked me to activate. So, I activated over the Internet without a problem.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

The idea is that activation wont work if you change the mobo, however, if your old mobo is broke and you repaired it, the liscence still allows you to keep using that copy of XP. If you -are- in the legal clear, and it wont let you activate, then just call them and they will activate it for you. If you -are not- in the legal clear, i heard calling and asknig nicely still works but then i guess you're breaking the license.