Re: new motherboard--have to buy a new copy of XP??!!
From: Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\) (user_at_#notme.com)
Date: 02/28/04
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Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 13:58:54 -0800
The policy is not as rigid as you suggest. If you had a retail version of
XP as opposed to an OEM version, you could change out the motherboard and
about all you'd have to do is a repair install of XP. As to the hobbyist,
if they change enough hardware and it's been less than 120 days since they
last activated, they might be requested to make a phone call wherein an
operator would give them a new activation code. Most of the time, only an
activation over the Internet is required, that's nothing more than a
handshake over the Internet between two computers and you can activate as
much as you find necessary on the same computer.
-- Michael Solomon MS-MVP Windows Shell/User Backup is a PC User's Best Friend DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/ "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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