Define hardware change

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steven
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Steven

Hi,

I have Vista Ultimate, I understand you can only load the OS on a certain
number of machines (Perhaps 2?) If I change/upgrade my hardware what
constitutes a "new" machine? I'd like to add another DVD burner & add more
memory. Would this constitute a significant enough of a change? Or even
upgradding the CPU?

Steven
 
Steven said:
Hi,

I have Vista Ultimate, I understand you can only load the OS on a certain
number of machines (Perhaps 2?) If I change/upgrade my hardware what
constitutes a "new" machine? I'd like to add another DVD burner & add more
memory. Would this constitute a significant enough of a change? Or even
upgradding the CPU?

You can reinstall Vista on the same machine as many times as you like. There
is no limit. You may be thinking of the fact that you can't install using
the same Product Key on more than one machine.

If the hardware changes force activation, that is easily fixed. When you try
to activate over the Internet, you'll be offered a toll-free phone number
to call. The call takes only a few minutes.

Malke
 
With some OEM licenses or with OEM systems where the product key is on the
case the license belongs to the system and not to you and you can not
replace the MOBO with a new one unless it is the same MOBO and is being
replaced due to MOBO failure.
 
Steven said:
Hi,

I have Vista Ultimate, I understand you can only load the OS on a
certain number of machines (Perhaps 2?)


No, it's 1, actually. You need to purchase a separate Vista license
for each computer on which you install it. (As long as you have
multiple identical licenses, it doesn't matter if you use the same CD
for the installations, as long as you use a different license each time.)

Just as it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft operating
systems, it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the EULA and U.S.
copyright law http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/117.html), if not
technically) to purchase one WinXP license for each computer on which it
is installed. (Consult an attorney versed in copyright law to determine
final applicability in your locale.) The only way in which WinXP and
Vista licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows is that
Microsoft has included a copy protection and anti-theft mechanism,
Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more difficult)
multiple installations using a single license.

If I change/upgrade my hardware
what constitutes a "new" machine? I'd like to add another DVD burner &
add more memory. Would this constitute a significant enough of a
change? Or even upgradding the CPU?

Steven


The only time a hardware change or upgrade could be construed as a "new
machine" is if you have an OEM (came pre-installed from the factory)
license and you replace the motherboard. However, you can replace a
defective motherboard with a new, identical one. If you have a retail
license, it's a moot point, as retail licenses are transferable.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
The only time a hardware change or upgrade could be construed as a "new
machine" is if you have an OEM (came pre-installed from the factory)
license and you replace the motherboard. However, you can replace a
defective motherboard with a new, identical one. If you have a retail
license, it's a moot point, as retail licenses are transferable.

so, with OEM,
If no identical MB available, am I out of luck ?

It would be rather stupid, because avg MB life is longer
than avg MB "market life". Market is changing quickly in IT.

I have read it checks SNs for multiple HW components.
It triggers activation, if many of them are changed
( not sure how many ). There was not mentioned just MB.
Unfortunately I do not have any link more....

If I give them damaged MB to which Windows are assigned by SN,
I think they should allow to pass licence to any other, not just
identical.


Poutnik
 
Curious said:
With some OEM licenses or with OEM systems where the product key is on
the case the license belongs to the system and not to you and you can
not replace the MOBO with a new one unless it is the same MOBO and is
being replaced due to MOBO failure.

Not exactly - it doesn't have to be the same motherboard, but it does
have to be a replacement due to failure to adhere to the EULA.
 
Poutnik said:
so, with OEM,
If no identical MB available, am I out of luck ?

It would be rather stupid, because avg MB life is longer
than avg MB "market life". Market is changing quickly in IT.

I have read it checks SNs for multiple HW components.
It triggers activation, if many of them are changed
( not sure how many ). There was not mentioned just MB.
Unfortunately I do not have any link more....

If I give them damaged MB to which Windows are assigned by SN,
I think they should allow to pass licence to any other, not just
identical.
It doesn't have to be an identical motherboard to be in compliance with
the EULA, but it does have to be a replacement due to failure, not an
upgrade because you want to.
 
It doesn't have to be an identical motherboard to be in compliance with
the EULA, but it does have to be a replacement due to failure, not an
upgrade because you want to.


Thanks for explanation
 
Poutnik said:
so, with OEM,
If no identical MB available, am I out of luck ?


Maybe, maybe not. You'd have to consult the computer's manufacturer.
If the computer is still under warranty, they'd be obligated to provide
you with a replacement motherboard and a means of restoring the OS.

It would be rather stupid, because avg MB life is longer
than avg MB "market life". Market is changing quickly in IT.


Stupid? Not really. OEM licenses cost so little (relative to a retail
license) primarily because of this limitation. Of course, this
well-known non-transferability is also why knowledgeable people avoid
OEM licenses whenever feasible.

I have read it checks SNs for multiple HW components.
It triggers activation, if many of them are changed
( not sure how many ). There was not mentioned just MB.
Unfortunately I do not have any link more....

If I give them ...


Who is "them?" Remember, another limitation of the OEM license - and
another part of the reason an OEM license is relatively inexpensive - is
that Microsoft provides *NO* support for it; your only recourse is the
computer's manufacturer. If said manufacturer decides that your
obtaining a replacement motherboard from anyone but themselves voids any
support agreements, they're acting perfectly within their rights. You
can't reasonably expect them to provide support for what has become a
competitor's product.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Rob said:
Not really. A telephone call will end up in re-activation.


Not if the only means of Recovery provided by the OEM is a BIOS-locked
Recovery disk or partition, as is usually the case. The OS won't even
install, much less get to the point where Activation becomes a possibility.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
If all you have is a recovery disk, it is as Bruce has stated.
If you have a vista installation disk, you can use the OEM PID on the
sticker, (which is not the PID in use by manufacturer installed Vista) to
reinstall. A phone call will reactivate even if you've changed out the
motherboard as long as you answer this is the original machine, or replaced
a component on the original machine due to failure.
 
OEM licenses cost so little (relative to a retail
license) primarily because of this limitation. Of course, this
well-known non-transferability is also why knowledgeable people avoid
OEM licenses whenever feasible.
So little ? It depends. I have Vista64 Home Premium OEM.
Vista Ultimate OEM would cost more than half of my PC.
If I should buy retail, I would stay at Linux on my machine. ;-)
Who is "them?" Remember, another limitation of the OEM license - and
another part of the reason an OEM license is relatively inexpensive - is
that Microsoft provides *NO* support for it; your only recourse is the
computer's manufacturer. If said manufacturer decides that your
obtaining a replacement motherboard from anyone but themselves voids any
support agreements, they're acting perfectly within their rights. You
can't reasonably expect them to provide support for what has become a
competitor's product.

Well :-) them = anybody who would help reactivating Windows in case of
MB troubles. From my point of view I am not care about MB support.

I am just stating changing MB in machine is keeping machine
the OEM is related. It is always said OEM licence
is binded to machine, not to motherboard.

In opposite case putting MB to other machine should not break licence.
But I do not know anybody putting Windows licence sticky to MB.
 
Don't you mean calling up and lying about the situation? Fact is mobo
replacement for failure is okay, to upgrade would be a violation.
 
Microsofts position is that replacement of a mobo because of defects, even
if the new board is different is okay. Doing it for upgrade (additional
features, later cpu coverage, etc. is not, but as advised by AP you can
always lie). Whether it works without getting another install disk would be
another question that can only be answered by the OEM.
 
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