Re: new motherboard--have to buy a new copy of XP??!!
From: Steve C. Ray (stevec_at_mail.com)
Date: 02/28/04
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Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 11:30:36 -0600
Jim, as far as using one copy of XP on several machines - You didn't pay for
XP; you paid for a license to use it on one computer. I understand that you
would be using it on only one computer at a time, but it is still licensed
to be installed on only one computer at a time. If you own more than one car
the state of Colorado won't let you buy just one license plate to use on all
your cars, even though you can drive only one at a time.
Your OEM version (its not a upgrade) was tied to the computer that it was
first installed on. When you installed the new motherboard, your version of
XP saw that it was no longer the same board that it was licensed for; hence
the problem. The OEM versions of XP are much cheaper than the retail
versions because of these limitations. We may not like it, but that is the
way it is. The EULA states this clearly.
I think the cheapest way out of your problem is to purchase a new OEM copy,
but you will have the same limitations. That's why I would never buy a OEM
version. If you have a CD for Windows 95, 98, 98SE, or ME you can purchase a
retail Upgrade version of XP (I have seen it at the discount stores for
$79-$89) and not have any problems in the future with hardware upgrades. Of
course it's still one copy of XP - one computer.
Hope you get things worked out.
-- Steve C. Ray "Jim" <jamest571@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:7DE38230-10F7-4C6A-8A1E-36A9812EAF02@microsoft.com... > Hi! > > My name is Jim and I live in Colorado Springs, CO. Recently I bought a new motherboard to upgrade my, long-in-the-tooth, e-machine computer. I did consider resealing Windows XP before changing the board but I decided not to since my copy of XP is the upgrade version (at least I assume it is, it was loaded on to the system by the oem, of course) and I thought this could lead to trouble. Besides, I felt I could always explore that option latter if needed. > > I did expect the system to protest and perhaps make me call Microsoft for a code but what happened instead came as a complete surprise. After changing the motherboard I first just tried to reboot the computer into the safe mode however Windows XP refused to do this. So I inserted the e-machine recovery disk into the CD-ROM player. I was surprised to see the exact same message; something to the affect that Windows could not boot into the safe mode and this problem could be the result of hardware issues caused by hardware issues. > > Well, I first called e-machine support and was told that since I did not send the computer to them to put in a new e-machine motherboard (I doubt if this is even an option on my system) that they could not offer me any support. I explained that all I wanted was a way to get to the Windows XP files [I tried to boot directly from the recovery disk, this works but you really have no where to go from this point. I first booted from the recovery disk and then tried to install Win 98 from a CD-ROM but received the dreaded "incorrect COMMAND.COM" message.] > > I then called Microsoft and talked to a pleasant support specialist who gave me the number to get media copies. I have not called them yet (I work nights and they are closed by time I get home) but I will very soon of course. However I am very concerned that they will say that they cannot send me a copy of Windows XP since I DO have my copy from e-machine. > > You know I am a big fan of Microsoft. The people who argue that Microsoft has monopoly power in some of the market segments that they are in never bring up one very salient point. Microsoft makes GREAT products! This being said I have never cared for some of their policies concerning how many copies of the operating system an individual user (not a company or organized group of some kind but just an ordinary individual) has to buy. If I own five computers I still believe I should only have to buy one copy of the operating system, after all I cannot use all five computers at once. This goes hand in glove with my belief that Microsoft should go a little easier on the hobbyist user (who some might call a "power" user) since from the ranks of these hobbyists often emerge the new ideas that drive the industry. Also the hobbyist user will spend much more money on both hardware and software than just an ordinary user---why not give them a break? > > Another aspect of this policy that disturbs me (especially with the strong enforcement mechanism built-in to Windows XP) is that it is a policy that basically represents a death sentence for the white-box computing business (what I mean by "white box industry" is all of the small computer stores that you see in strip-malls etc.). After all the logic of using components is declining in the face of ever falling PC prices and if you are going to be forced to buy a new operating system just because you changed the mother board in your computer obviously this is going to be an unworkable situation very rapidly. With a low end computer the price of the operating system alone can represent 20-25% of the cost. > > But getting back to the issue at hand, I just want to know if other people have had the same issue to contend with and what kind of outcome did they experience. Also do you agree with my premise that since I did buy Windows XP when I purchased my e-machine computer that I am entitled to have new copies of the disks (separate from what is locked up in my e-machine recovery disks) just as if I had bought a copy in the store and for some reason I needed some new media? I would also like to hear from anyone who disagrees with this premise. > > Thanks, > Jim > > Please CC to jamest571@yahoo.com >
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