XP OEM re-activation 2

[skyblue]

ok, i know that the 'official MS party line' is: an OEM XP install is tied to the machine it is installed on and cannot ever/forever be put on another pc.

i build PC's and install the OEM XP myself on them. there are different ways to install the OEM XP, one is to tie it to the BIOS of the motherboard. i can see that when doing this, that the XP install will never work on another PC.

however, i don't do it this way. i just do the install from the OEM XP CD and give them the CD. i asked MS once what would happen if the motherboard went bad and i had to replace it with another board (and this is not unlikely to happen). their reply to me was that "installing from the OEM XP is the same as installing from the FULL XP and that i could just call them to re-activate it.

so.... it sounds like that MS's party line statement conflicts with what MS told me about reinstalling OEM XP when the MB is replaced.

finally.. my question... has anyone that has an OEM XP install that is NOT tied to the bios (ie: it didn't come from compaq,hp,dell etc preinstalled) actually been able to put it on a different PC and did MS let you reactivate it when you explained it was a different PC and/or a different MB?

if not, then i guess i will try it and see what MS does.
thanks,
eric

 

[SESaskDFC]

Howdy:

If you have activated XP on one system and then install it on another, you will have to call Microsoft as you have said and get a new activation code..

This will work until the first time you connect to the net with the old system and do any sort of update through Microsoft.

They will read the XP activation file on the old system and lock XP out.

In order to use it again, you will need to call them and get a new activation key. Then, the other system will be locked out.

If you put the same XP on a a bunch of systems, the first person to activate it will lock everyone else out.

Murray

 

[WadeW]

The simple answer is 'YES'. I have done it three times with my OEM version.

Wade

 

[conceptumator]

When I called MS about and OEM install on which the MB crashed and had to be replaced, they told me I would have to call the system manufacturer to reinstall. Not cool, since I purchased the OEM software from the supply house where I got the MB. The cheapest way I have found around it is to purchase an OEM license over the web; you can get them for around $100 as compared to $180 for a standard upgrade kit. You install from your original OEM CD, but use the new license number to authenticate.

 

[WadeW]

Hey Conceptumator,

I have seen other people complaining about the same thing. I am not sure how I am able to keep reactivating. They have never said a single word to me about my OEM versions. I have totally rebuilt my system including all new hardware. I even moved over my XP Home OEM and XP Pro OEM to different machines because I put 2000 and ME back on the older machines. After a call to Microsoft I was able to activate my OEM versions a total of 7 times without any grief from Microsoft. I don't know why MS would treat our situations differently. And before anyone ask, I am 100 percent sure I have OEM versions. I bought them from

http://www.11cb.com

for $130 (XP Pro Full OEM) and $92 (XP Home Full OEM)

See ya,

Wade