not true. You are wrong. If you install a new mobo it will not require you to purchase a new license. They havent done that since XP.
Obviously, you didn't bother to read and comprehend what I said before replying, or what Microsoft CLEARLY stated in my quote above, or the included link.
What you fail to state, and apparently don't understand is what "it" is. The OEM installation disk and install process may not require you to purchase a new license, but the License Agreement (EULA) CLEARLY does! And it is important to comprehend that you, the user, agreed to the terms of the EULA when you start using a computer that has an OEM license tied to it! - as virtually every factory made computer does! And, for the purpose of this thread, the terms of the agreement include those stipulations for motherboard replacements that I
quoted above - I emphasize "quoted" because it is NOT my opinion, but the facts.
That's how the OEM process works, and the law supports it. Now if you upgrade your motherboard and are forced to contact MS for a new key, whether they give you one or not is neither here nor there. The License Agreement clearly states,
(1) the OEM license cannot be transfered to a new computer
and it further states,
(2) An upgrade or a replacement of the motherboard is considered to create a new personal computer.
Period! Not my opinion - just the
published facts. If you don't like the terms of the OEM agreements, buy a Retail version.
Also not my opinion is the fact you don't own your copy of Windows. You own a license to use Windows in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. Whether you decide to cheat the system and violate the terms of the agreement because you can get away with it is between you and your moral conscience. But understand, if you are
upgrading a motherboard, and the old is not defective, and you don't tell MS the truth or allow them to believe otherwise, that is called
deception for personal gain. It is a "fraudulent act"!
IF Microsoft decided to pursue it in a court of law, you would lose and be found guilty of
theft by fraud or deception, a felony, with substantial fines and possible jail time! While it is unlikely MS would pursue it, they can, just as the music and movie industries have gone after individuals (and won!) for violating copyright laws for tunes and videos.
So it is you, Ryan, who are wrong, and I showed proof. You are wrong because your facts are wrong, and you are wrong because you jumped into the thread without knowing the facts.
If you can find proof (documentation) from a legitimate Microsoft source that supports your claims, I will be happy to review it. And if it does conflict with other Microsoft documents, your OEM EULA, or what I referenced above, then I will take it to my MS contacts (my MS MVP team leader is a VP at MS) and ask them to fix the inconsistencies, one way or the other.
In the meantime, before jumping into a thread claiming someone is wrong again, do your homework and get the facts first! Please read
carefully what people are saying, and follow any included links - they are included for a purpose - to
substantiate the facts presented, and to clear up and avoid confusion - and to [hopefully] prevent future foot-in-mouth disorders.
Providing evidence is especially important when you counter a staff member of this site. This is because when we agreed to join the staff, we assumed an obligation and the responsibility to present to our readers the
true facts. We can, and certainly I have been wrong before, and will be wrong again - but that's where you need to show where by presenting supporting or substantiating evidence - as in links to reputable sources.
Note I also said above,
I know that is counter to what many have believed, but it has always been this way - read your EULAs. OEM licenses are for just that "Original Equipment". It is important to note too the OEM versions are sold at a substantial discount. If transferability is important, buy a retail version.
No harm in calling in asking, as long as they are told the truth. If the new motherboard is an upgrade, and not an exact replacement for one that died, then that's what MS needs to be told. Who knows, they might feel generous.
But let me emphasize again,
read your EULAs!
@kemical Actually, there's no limit on CPUs (except as limited by the motherboard/chipset) but there are limits to the number of hardware changes that can occur before the
re-authentication process is triggered. The re-authentication can usually be done on-line, or as you noted, over the phone. The motherboard, as its name suggest, is the primary focus.
