You all do realize that Vista's OEM one-motherboard-only policy is not new to Vista, right? Windows XP OEM/system builder licenses have had the -exact- same restriction. Identical (within reason) replacements only. With Vista, it appears that they're just enforcing that a little more aggressively.
>From the Microsoft OEM/System Builder's website: Q. Can a PC with OEM Windows XP have its motherboard upgraded and keep the same license? What if it was replaced because it was defective? A. Generally, you may upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on your customer's computer and the end user may maintain the license for the original MicrosoftR OEM operating system software, with the exception of an upgrade or replacement of the motherboard. An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a "new personal computer" to which MicrosoftR OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required. If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do NOT need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer's replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer's warranty. Greg > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tharin Olsen > Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 10:59 AM > To: The Hardware List > Subject: Re: [H] Vista, dumb question, maybe > > I've read online articles that pretty much all say the same thing about > OEM > versions of Windows Vista. You are allowed to change any component but > the > motherboard. Microsoft has made the motherboard the core component of > the PC > and if you change it with a different one it counts as a new machine. > Your > Vista installation would require relicensing and a new product key. > Apparently you are allowed to change the motherboard for a new one if > it is > a replacement of a defective board and it is the same make/model of the > existing board. > > Now as a system builder and service/repair shop I think this sucks. > It's not > often that I can obtain exact make/model mainboards to repair systems. > Tier-1 systems like Dell, HP, Sony, etc. who are past their warranty, > sometimes 90 days on the cheapo units, have replacement motherboards > listing > online for $100-$400. In the past I would just pull the cpu and ram and > drop > in a factory new board from MSI, Asrock, ECS, etc. for $50. Then all I > would > need to do is phone up Microsoft whilst stuck on the XP product > activation > box and explain the reason for reactivation was to replace a defective > mainboard with a new one. Not once have they not authorized an > activation. > Hopefully, they will continue to do so with these sort of > circumstances. > > As to the folks who are simply switching boards because they need the > extra > expansion slots, more ram than their two dimm board would allow, etc. I > think they shouldn't have to pay but like a reactivation fee of 2 cents > or > something. Why? Because it isnt a second computer! The end user would > still > have only one machine running Windows. Perhaps a break in pricing to > convert > their OEM license to a full retail license. Go halfsies on it. > > -Tharin O. > > FORC5 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > OEM license states can not be transfered to another machine once > installed, > would a major HW change ( motherboard ) be construed as a different > machine > ? > I would think not but not my sandbox. :'( > > deeper and deeper > fp > > > -- > Tallyho ! ]:8) > Taglines below ! > -- > Future looks spotty. You will spill soup in late evening. > >
