Re: To Alias a question about another posting.

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Interestingly enough, I ran into that recently.
I had purchased a Compaq Presario for one of my kids (what do you expect for
$329 at WalMart?).
The MB failed, I replaced it with a ($150) Compaq board that was sold as an
OEM replacement part.
I could have installed a $50-70 board that IMHO would have been more
reliable and better...but the machine was barely over 1 year old.
I used the restore disks (that I had to burn myself) to reinstall
everything.
I still had to call MS and activate the software.
They initially balked, but after telling them it was an OEM replacement
motherboard, they gave me the code.
That's exactly that type of thing that makes me dislike the whole PA scheme.

--
For evil to prosper requires only that good men remain silent!
"Dimple Wathen" <dimplewathen@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1124590304.456903.263320@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> FYI
> Here is another MVP explanation of all this (the mother is not the
> "essence" of anything in it):
> http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php
> Excerpt:
> [quote]
> There are two versions of OEM Windows XP systems. One can be purchased
> separately, with qualifying subsidiary hardware, and installed with
> that hardware to an existing machine, to which it becomes bound. The
> software may be reinstalled and reactivated indefinitely as with a
> retail system as long as it is still on the original machine. It may
> not be transferred to a different computer. It is activated as
> described above, but if it were installed to hardware seen as not
> substantially the same, the activation would be refused as falling
> outside the license.
>
> In the other OEM form, the system is provided pre-installed by a major
> supplier. Instead of activation, the system is 'locked' to the BIOS
> on the motherboard. The validity of this lock is checked at boot. As
> long as this is satisfied, other hardware may be changed freely, but
> any replacement motherboard must be for a compatible one supplied by
> the original maker.
>
> If a BIOS-locked system is installed to a board where the lock fails,
> it enters a normal Activation process at startup. However, beginning 1
> March 2005, the Product Key supplied on a label by the computer
> manufacturer, and used for the initial intallation, will not be
> accepted for activation. A new copy of Windows XP, with a license
> allowing installation on a different machine, will be needed. This
> means that any replacement motherboard (or upgrade to its BIOS) must be
> supplied by the original maker, who will ensure the lock is maintained.
> [/quote]


.

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