Re: new motherboard---forced to buy new copy of XP?!!

From: Malke (malke_at_nospoonnotreally.com)
Date: 02/28/04 

Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 06:49:50 -0800

Jim wrote:

> 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.

(snip long tale that says basically It Didn't Work)

You bought an eMachine - a proprietary, basically unupgradeable computer
with an OEM installation of MS XP on it. There is a reason why the
eMachine was so cheap. The installation of Windows on the eMachine was
tied to that particular computer and could not be used on any other
machine or hardware. When you replaced the extant motherboard with a
different one, you voided your warranty with eMachines and needed to
buy a new, retail copy of XP which does, indeed, belong to you. Of
course none of the drivers you had will work - this is different
hardware. This is the way OEM machines work and have always worked.
There is nothing to be disturbed about, except that you didn't research
the issue before you 1) bought an eMachine; 2) bought another m/b and
then realized you'd have to buy a retail copy of the OS.

Malke 

-- 
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

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