New MB means a new copy of XP required

[Jason Becker]

I thought I remembered seeing some story about MS changing the licsense agreement for XP so that if you changed the MB you couldn't reactivate it any more and you would need to go out and buy a new copy. Wanted to make sure on this as I've been thinking about doing a big upgrade(new MB,CPU,memmory and vid card), but would be annoyed to find out if my copy of XP won't work if I do this.

[chet]

I changed mine and just had to reregister it.

[Lunch of Kong]

very easy to do. you just read numbers out over the phone to a nice indian girl with a sexy british accent.

[Not One Of Us]

very easy to do. you just read numbers out over the phone to a nice indian girl with a sexy british accent.

That is the best incentive to not pirate Windows I've ever heard.

[Wholly Schmidt]

I changed out everything except for my hard drive when I built my new system, and I formatted and reinstalled on the hard drive, and it didn't even ask me to reauthenticate. I thought that was a little odd, seems like I remember having to authenticate a while ago when the only thing I changed was the hard drive. I figured changing lots of components had more to do with authentication than which ones you change, but who knows?

[Jason Becker]

I guess the question I have is when were these changes done since(if I'm right on the story) the validation policy change would have occured in the last couple of months or so.

[Hans Lauring]

I just reinstalled a copy of XP MCE yesterday. No chance in policy. First it tried authenticating by internet, which never works for me, then it gave me two phone numbers where the one told me to call the other, then it played muzak for 30 seconds and I got to talk to a nice Danish lady sitting somewhere in Ireland and after typing 28 or so numbers it was running.

Annoying procedure, but not really bad and not a problem.

[instant0]

I've changed so many components in my "Main computer" I've had to burn through 3 XP Licenses for it.... REactivation by telling someone over the phone a 54-bit number and receiving one back just did'nt have the appeal it should have...

Would have been simpler if MS just gave people a wpa crack along with the license key so they could save some time...

Apparently Vista Ultimate (wow, Ultimate!) does not have Activation, much like the corporate versions.

[Rob_Merritt]

I've taken a single license of XP pro through 3 computers. Activation over the net has worked every time. I had to call once for my office license but it was quick and painless.

[Ex-S Woo]

Wasn't that Vista and not XP?

[instant0]

The license story was about OEM Licenses tied to the specific BOX you purchased.

So if you changed a major component, such as the motherboard, the license was void, although I believe it would still technically work, Microsoft will be very disappointed with you.

And you know what a multi-billion company can do when they're disappointed...

[Moggraider]

I had to reactivate Windows XP just for changing out my damned DVD drive.

[Jason Becker]

The license story was about OEM Licenses tied to the specific BOX you purchased.

Cool, my copy is a retail one.

Thanks

[instant0]

Cool, my copy is a retail one.

Thanks

Np,

I should add to my previous comment "I Think" so I have a sort of disclaimer if I was mistaken.

--
OEM versions

Restrictions of specific license types may limit the foregoing. OEM versions of Windows XP are licensed together with the hardware with which they are purchased, as an entity, and such a copy may not be moved to a different computer. Also, other specific license types (e.g., Academic licenses) are handled in different ways. These aren’t a WPA issue per se, but rather an issue of the license for that purchase, and therefore outside the scope of this discussion of WPA.
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.
--

[BobJustBob]

Apparently Vista Ultimate (wow, Ultimate!) does not have Activation, much like the corporate versions.

Yay. Maybe this time next year, I can finally retire my aging copy of Windows 2000.

[croman]

If I'm remembering right, you only need to re-activate Retail XP if you install it on a new computer ,or change enough parts, within 3-4 months of installing it the first time. I've changed motherboards many times but never had to call up Microsoft. As long as you aren't instaling constantly you shouldn't have to worry about it.

[Bill Dungsroman]

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.

My copy of XP must have been this type - it was OEM on an Emachines rig that I promptly burned up the mobo for when I dropped a 7800GT OC in it. I guess since I had contacted eMachines (and had Best Buy Geek Squad, who were doing the repairs, do likewise), it was groovy. I did have to online re-auth, but it went without a hitch.