Re: Changing motherboard--need to buy a new copy of XP?!

From: Chris Barber (chris_at_blue-canoe.co.uk.NOSPAM)
Date: 02/29/04 

Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 15:03:48 -0000

Re: my previous post.

I wasn't aware that OEM licenses were restricted to a specific hardware
config. I'd always 'assumed' [makes an ass of me I presume] that the license
was for the individual purchasing the machine.
Most likely because I've never elected to have an OEM OS installed on any
machine I've ever bought. I like to install it myself so I don't get all
that crappy useless extra software they put on that makes the system
partition about 12Gb+ (makes it difficult to do system drive backups
separate from data backups).

Chris.

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <mrxp2004@nospamyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:u%238UpRh$DHA.2632@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
Thank you for posting the same inquiry to a multitude of newsgroups.
The answer is the same:

The preinstalled OEM Windows XP license that comes with a
manufacturer's computer is uniquely tied to the specific hardware
configuration of the computer. If you change the motherboard,
and it is a different model, the license is no longer valid.

If you wish to make significant hardware changes, then you'll
have to purchase a conventional "retail version" of Windows XP. 

-- 
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Be Smart!  Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------
"Jim" <jamest571@yahoo.com> wrote in message:
 news:A4917D69-21CE-4F05-9D9D-4B8AF9008AA9@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 my email address

Relevant Pages
Loading