Changing faulty motherboard

[Guest kleefarr]

I read that changing a motherboard is now considered as a being a new

computer by Microsoft and requires a new licence.

 

This doesn't seem very fair if the motherboard has become faulty and needs

replacing. Will he have to get a new licence if I change his motherboard?

It will be a second hand one and not new.

[Guest M.I.5¾]

Re: Changing faulty motherboard

 

 

"kleefarr" <kleefarr@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:06B6BCD4-3171-473F-9AD0-D4AB8922D1FB@microsoft.com...

>I read that changing a motherboard is now considered as a being a new

> computer by Microsoft and requires a new licence.

>

> This doesn't seem very fair if the motherboard has become faulty and needs

> replacing. Will he have to get a new licence if I change his motherboard?

> It will be a second hand one and not new.

 

The motherboard itself is not on the list of hardware changes that

contribute to reactivation. However features of the motherboard may be. Of

all the items in the list, the only ones that I can see that will affect

reactivation are:

 

IDE Adaptor type - usually built into motherboard (1 change).

 

MAC address of built in Ethernet port - this will trip reactivation as it

counts as 3 changes.

 

If the new motherboard requires a new processor then this is 2 changes (1

for the processor type and 1 for the serial number)

 

If the hard disc requires reformatting for a clean install of Windows, there

goes another change.

 

7 items must remain unchanged* or missing for reactivation not to occur.

 

3 for a dockable PC. A dockable PC also includes PCs with a PC Card or

Express Card slot.

 

However, it must be noted that many OEM versions of XP whilst not

reactivated by hardware changes are specifically locked to the BIOS on the

old motherboard. Changing the motherboard will render that particular OEM

XP useless.

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Changing faulty motherboard

 

On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:04:01 -0700, kleefarr

<kleefarr@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I read that changing a motherboard is now considered as a being a new

> computer by Microsoft and requires a new licence.

 

 

Not correct.

 

First of all, note that a new computer requires a new licence *only*

if the license is an OEM one. There is no such restriction on retail

licenses.

 

Second, even with OEM licenses, a new motherboard does not mean it's

considered a new computer. For a long time this was unclear, but

Microsoft has now clarified this. See

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/a...

or http://tinyurl.com/384gx5

 

which states

 

"If you acquired Windows Vista pre-installed on a computer from a

major manufacturer (sometimes referred to as an Original Equipment

Manufacturer or OEM), Windows Vista will require re-activation if you

replace the motherboard with a motherboard not provided by the OEM."

 

That's about Vista, but the same would clearly apply to XP as well.

 

 

> This doesn't seem very fair if the motherboard has become faulty and needs

> replacing. Will he have to get a new licence if I change his motherboard?

> It will be a second hand one and not new.

 

 

However, bear in mind that if the computer is one from a major OEM

(such as Dell), the copy of XP is very likely BIOS locked to the

original motherboard. Unless it's replaced with an identical one, the

old copy of Windows will no longer work on it.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

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[Guest kleefarr]

RE: Changing faulty motherboard

 

Thanks for the input guys.

 

My dad had a retail version of XP Home so no problems. Activated straight

away.

 

"kleefarr" wrote:

> I read that changing a motherboard is now considered as a being a new

> computer by Microsoft and requires a new licence.

>

> This doesn't seem very fair if the motherboard has become faulty and needs

> replacing. Will he have to get a new licence if I change his motherboard?

> It will be a second hand one and not new.