OEM License Question

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Confused

I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard drive nor
my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
computer...
 
With an OEM Microsoft Windows license, you can upgrade
to a different hard drive but not a different motherboard.
If you replace the motherboard, it must be the same make,
model, and BIOS as the original.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­-----

"Confused" <Confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:DFD815C2-8820-4E2F-9EAE-3130091FFF0F@microsoft.com...
I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard drive nor
my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
computer...
 
"Confused" <Confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:DFD815C2-8820-4E2F-9EAE-3130091FFF0F@microsoft.com...
>I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard drive
>nor
> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
> computer...

Just last week, I replaced a motherboard. It was similar (same chipset) but
definitely different. I anticipated a call to MS but they accepted it.

I have, in the past had to call MS when changing out a motherboard but in
all cases, they have activated it.

With regards to a hard drive swap, I test and change hard drives regularly
(at least once a week) and I have never had a problem.

Dave H.
 
Confused wrote:
> I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard drive nor
> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
> computer...

What type of OEM are you talking about, a generic one that you bought or
a branded version put out by the likes of Dell or HP that came already
installed with the computer?

Alias
 
"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com> wrote in message
news:AC671A3D-8351-4778-AC07-C3A513417015@microsoft.com...
> With an OEM Microsoft Windows license, you can upgrade
> to a different hard drive but not a different motherboard.

Carey spouts RUBBISH as usual. there is NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL in the Eula
that says this. Ignore the idiot.
 
"Confused" <Confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:DFD815C2-8820-4E2F-9EAE-3130091FFF0F@microsoft.com...
>I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard drive
>nor
> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
> computer...
>


Ignore the idiot Carey. I don't know why the sycophant keeps spouting this
RUBBISH about motherboards.
 
Gordon wrote:
> "Confused" <Confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:DFD815C2-8820-4E2F-9EAE-3130091FFF0F@microsoft.com...
>> I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard drive
>> nor
>> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
>> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
>> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
>> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
>> computer...
>>
>
>
> Ignore the idiot Carey. I don't know why the sycophant keeps spouting this
> RUBBISH about motherboards.
>
>

With due fairness to Carey, it seems that Carey is assuming the OP is
using a branded OEM.

Alias
 
"Alias" <aka@maskedandanonymous.info> wrote in message
news:eg0mQMryHHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Gordon wrote:
>> "Confused" <Confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:DFD815C2-8820-4E2F-9EAE-3130091FFF0F@microsoft.com...
>>> I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard
>>> drive nor
>>> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
>>> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
>>> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
>>> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
>>> computer...
>>>
>>
>>
>> Ignore the idiot Carey. I don't know why the sycophant keeps spouting
>> this RUBBISH about motherboards.
>
> With due fairness to Carey, it seems that Carey is assuming the OP is
> using a branded OEM.
>
> Alias
>


But he spouts this all the time.....
 
Gordon wrote:
> "Alias" <aka@maskedandanonymous.info> wrote in message
> news:eg0mQMryHHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Gordon wrote:
>>> "Confused" <Confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>> news:DFD815C2-8820-4E2F-9EAE-3130091FFF0F@microsoft.com...
>>>> I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard
>>>> drive nor
>>>> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
>>>> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
>>>> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
>>>> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
>>>> computer...
>>>>
>>>
>>> Ignore the idiot Carey. I don't know why the sycophant keeps spouting
>>> this RUBBISH about motherboards.
>> With due fairness to Carey, it seems that Carey is assuming the OP is
>> using a branded OEM.
>>
>> Alias
>>
>
>
> But he spouts this all the time.....
>
>

Oh, I know. I have changed the motherboard on all three of my computers,
all running a generic OEM version of XP and haven't had one problem
activating on line.

It's just in this case, he may be correct ;-)

Alias
 
"Gordon" <gbplinux@gmail.com.invalid> wrote:

>"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com> wrote in message
>news:AC671A3D-8351-4778-AC07-C3A513417015@microsoft.com...
>> With an OEM Microsoft Windows license, you can upgrade
>> to a different hard drive but not a different motherboard.
>
>Carey spouts RUBBISH as usual. there is NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL in the Eula
>that says this. Ignore the idiot.

It's up to the OEM to determine what constitutes a "new machine" in
this case, not Microsoft. An OEM version of XP that comes with a new
computer is usually BIOS-locked to the motherboard (especially if the
computer comes from a large manufacturer). A different motherboard,
even if identical to the first, will have a different serial number on
the BIOS, so the OS won't work with it. If you buy the replacement MB
from the OEM, they'll probably provide you with a way to get around
this. If you buy the replacement MB from someplace else, the OEM will
probably leave you high and dry.

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(DTS)
Slattery_T@bls.gov
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt
 
"DH" <xxxdaveoh@swbell.net(axe the x's)> wrote:

>Just last week, I replaced a motherboard. It was similar (same chipset) but
>definitely different. I anticipated a call to MS but they accepted it.
>
>I have, in the past had to call MS when changing out a motherboard but in
>all cases, they have activated it.

For a retail version of the OS, it should work exactly this way. For
an OEM version, you'd have to work with the OEM who sold it to you.

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(DTS)
Slattery_T@bls.gov
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt
 
Tim Slattery wrote:
> "Gordon" <gbplinux@gmail.com.invalid> wrote:
>
>> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:AC671A3D-8351-4778-AC07-C3A513417015@microsoft.com...
>>> With an OEM Microsoft Windows license, you can upgrade
>>> to a different hard drive but not a different motherboard.
>> Carey spouts RUBBISH as usual. there is NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL in the Eula
>> that says this. Ignore the idiot.
>
> It's up to the OEM to determine what constitutes a "new machine" in
> this case, not Microsoft. An OEM version of XP that comes with a new
> computer is usually BIOS-locked to the motherboard (especially if the
> computer comes from a large manufacturer). A different motherboard,
> even if identical to the first, will have a different serial number on
> the BIOS, so the OS won't work with it. If you buy the replacement MB
> from the OEM, they'll probably provide you with a way to get around
> this. If you buy the replacement MB from someplace else, the OEM will
> probably leave you high and dry.
>

True if a branded OEM. False if a generic OEM.

Alias
 
"Tim Slattery" <Slattery_T@bls.gov> wrote in message
news:p9b1a31hvvfkjuheeg9lntfr6ug816aqg1@4ax.com...
> "DH" <xxxdaveoh@swbell.net(axe the x's)> wrote:
>
>>Just last week, I replaced a motherboard. It was similar (same chipset)
>>but
>>definitely different. I anticipated a call to MS but they accepted it.
>>
>>I have, in the past had to call MS when changing out a motherboard but in
>>all cases, they have activated it.
>
> For a retail version of the OS, it should work exactly this way. For
> an OEM version, you'd have to work with the OEM who sold it to you.
>

Only if it's BIOS locked.....
 
You may not have had a problem but that is not what I am wondering about. I
am wondering if it is "legal" to do this. It should not matter if this was a
branded OEM or not, since the licensing part shoud be the same.

"Alias" wrote:

> Gordon wrote:
> > "Alias" <aka@maskedandanonymous.info> wrote in message
> > news:eg0mQMryHHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> >> Gordon wrote:
> >>> "Confused" <Confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >>> news:DFD815C2-8820-4E2F-9EAE-3130091FFF0F@microsoft.com...
> >>>> I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard
> >>>> drive nor
> >>>> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
> >>>> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
> >>>> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
> >>>> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
> >>>> computer...
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> Ignore the idiot Carey. I don't know why the sycophant keeps spouting
> >>> this RUBBISH about motherboards.
> >> With due fairness to Carey, it seems that Carey is assuming the OP is
> >> using a branded OEM.
> >>
> >> Alias
> >>
> >
> >
> > But he spouts this all the time.....
> >
> >
>
> Oh, I know. I have changed the motherboard on all three of my computers,
> all running a generic OEM version of XP and haven't had one problem
> activating on line.
>
> It's just in this case, he may be correct ;-)
>
> Alias
>
 
Nothing illegal about it, if it will let you. Just that "branded OEMs" are
more persnickety about letting you do so. If you have such a machine, you'll
need to deal with the supplier, not MS, if you run into problems.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Confused" <Confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7A65424C-9ACC-4BE4-BCEA-F0F45A1E01DA@microsoft.com...
> You may not have had a problem but that is not what I am wondering about.
> I
> am wondering if it is "legal" to do this. It should not matter if this was
> a
> branded OEM or not, since the licensing part shoud be the same.
>
> "Alias" wrote:
>
>> Gordon wrote:
>> > "Alias" <aka@maskedandanonymous.info> wrote in message
>> > news:eg0mQMryHHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> >> Gordon wrote:
>> >>> "Confused" <Confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >>> news:DFD815C2-8820-4E2F-9EAE-3130091FFF0F@microsoft.com...
>> >>>> I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard
>> >>>> drive nor
>> >>>> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to
>> >>>> provide
>> >>>> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true
>> >>>> that I
>> >>>> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any
>> >>>> supporting
>> >>>> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a
>> >>>> new
>> >>>> computer...
>> >>>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Ignore the idiot Carey. I don't know why the sycophant keeps spouting
>> >>> this RUBBISH about motherboards.
>> >> With due fairness to Carey, it seems that Carey is assuming the OP is
>> >> using a branded OEM.
>> >>
>> >> Alias
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> > But he spouts this all the time.....
>> >
>> >
>>
>> Oh, I know. I have changed the motherboard on all three of my computers,
>> all running a generic OEM version of XP and haven't had one problem
>> activating on line.
>>
>> It's just in this case, he may be correct ;-)
>>
>> Alias
>>
 
Confused wrote:
> You may not have had a problem but that is not what I am wondering about. I
> am wondering if it is "legal" to do this. It should not matter if this was a
> branded OEM or not, since the licensing part shoud be the same.

It's legal to do it with a generic OEM. It's technically not possible to
do it with a branded OEM.

Alias
>
> "Alias" wrote:
>
>> Gordon wrote:
>>> "Alias" <aka@maskedandanonymous.info> wrote in message
>>> news:eg0mQMryHHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> Gordon wrote:
>>>>> "Confused" <Confused@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:DFD815C2-8820-4E2F-9EAE-3130091FFF0F@microsoft.com...
>>>>>> I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard
>>>>>> drive nor
>>>>>> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
>>>>>> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
>>>>>> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
>>>>>> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
>>>>>> computer...
>>>>>>
>>>>> Ignore the idiot Carey. I don't know why the sycophant keeps spouting
>>>>> this RUBBISH about motherboards.
>>>> With due fairness to Carey, it seems that Carey is assuming the OP is
>>>> using a branded OEM.
>>>>
>>>> Alias
>>>>
>>>
>>> But he spouts this all the time.....
>>>
>>>
>> Oh, I know. I have changed the motherboard on all three of my computers,
>> all running a generic OEM version of XP and haven't had one problem
>> activating on line.
>>
>> It's just in this case, he may be correct ;-)
>>
>> Alias
>>
 
=?Utf-8?B?Q29uZnVzZWQ=?= wrote:
>
> I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard drive nor
> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
> computer...

Yes you can change your motherboard and hard drive. If you have problems
activitating then just call MS and they will walk you through it.

--
http://www.bootdisk.com/
 
"Plato" <|@|.|> wrote in message
news:46a1584d$1$232$bb4e3ad8@newscene.com...
> =?Utf-8?B?Q29uZnVzZWQ=?= wrote:
>>
>> I was told by Microsoft that I was unable to change neither my hard drive
>> nor
>> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
>> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
>> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
>> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
>> computer...
>
> Yes you can change your motherboard and hard drive. If you have problems
> activitating then just call MS and they will walk you through it.
>

There's a chance if he changes his motherboard, he will be changing his
network card also, and maybe VGA card.

This combination is probably enough to trigger a re-activation. (you can
google for the "point" tally of each device XP counts)

I though OEM versions were restrictive in this regard, i.e. one this occurs
it can't be done.
 
Confused wrote:
> I was told by Microsoft ....


Who, specifically, at Microsoft told you this? It's a rather large
company, and not all of its employees are attorneys specializing in
contract law.

> ....that I was unable to change neither my hard drive nor
> my motherboard (for upgrade purposes) but they were only able to provide
> supporting documentation regarding the motherboard... Is it true that I
> cannot change my hard drive? If so does anyone know of any supporting
> documentation on a Microsoft website? They claim this is making a new
> computer...


According to its End User License Agreement (EULA), an OEM license
may not be transferred from one distinct PC to another PC. Nothing is
said about prohibiting one from repairing or upgrading the PC on which
an OEM license is installed.

Some people mistakenly believe that the motherboard is the key
component that defines the "original computer," but the OEM EULA does
not make any such distinction. Others have said (tongue in cheek) that
one could successfully argue that it's the PC's case that is the
deciding component, as that is where one is instructed to affix the OEM
CoA label w/Product Key. Again, the EULA does *not* specifically define
any single component as the computer. Licensed Microsoft Systems
Builders, who are allowed to distribute OEM licenses with computers they
build and sell, are _contractually_ obligated to "define" the computer
as the motherboard, but this limitation/definition can't be applied to
the end user until the EULA is re-written.

As you well know, Microsoft has, to date, been very careful _not_
to *publicly* define when an incrementally upgraded computer ceases to
be the original computer. The closest I've ever seen a Microsoft
employee come to this definition (in a public forum) is to tell the
person making the inquiry to consult the PC's manufacturer. As the OEM
license's support is solely the responsibility of said manufacturer,
they should determine what sort of hardware changes to allow before the
warranty and support agreements are voided. To paraphrase: An
incrementally upgraded computer ceases to be the original computer, as
pertains to the OEM EULA, only when the *OEM* says it's a different
computer. If you've built the system yourself, and used a generic OEM
CD, then _you_ are the "OEM," and _you_ get to decide when you'll no
longer support your product.


--

Bruce Chambers

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