XP Pro OEM License

[amdnVuser]

So I'm going to upgrade to a dual core, nForce4 Ultra, PCIe system within the next few months. Can someone tell me the # of times I'm allowed to install an OEM license of XP Pro and the max. # of hardware changes allowed? Also, assuming my license won't be void after the upgrades, I was thinking of getting Acronis TrueImage (been putting off getting a decent disk imaging utility) and imaging my system right after a fresh install (after the upgrades and after activating Windows, installing drivers, updates, etc.). If I ever need to reinstall, can I just reinstall the image and not get a hit on the # of times I've installed XP/activated the license? I think I read somewhere that any XP Pro license can be activated a maximum of 10 times or something with a maximum of 6 hardware changes? Is this correct?

Current Setup:
AMD Athlon64 3200+ (Venice, OC'd to 240HTT x 10=2.4GHz)
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum
1GB OCZ Gold DDR466 Rev. 3 (2.5, 4, 4, 10 @ 200MHz)
single 36.7GB WD raptor
eVGA AGP 6600GT
Chaintech AV710 sound card (VIA Envy 24PT)
NEC ND-3540A DVDRW
Antec NeoPower 480W PSU

Upgrades within next few months:
AMD Athlon64 X2 3800+
EPoX EP-9NPA+ Ultra
Leadtek PX6600 GT TDH PCIe Geforce 6600GT
(or 7600 GT if it comes out this year?)

 

[mechBgon]

If it's an OEM license and you want to be compliant with your license, then this looks like a pretty clear-cut case of needing to relicense. You're changing out the core hardware, the mobo in particular. If you want to avoid this restriction in the future, then a retail-boxed version of Windows is your best bet in the long run... it's licensed to you personally, not to the first system that you install/activate it on.

more info on how that mysterious hardware activation works This might help with the question about what hardware changes might bring on a reactivation. The "modifications to hardware" part is what is probably of most interest. I don't know what happens if you restore from an Acronis image.

 

[DRavisher]

mechBgon says how it is. I have had an OEM license of XP since it was released and used it on many different motherboards without any problems though (I didn't know that this was agains the license agreement). It doesn't seem like M$ is going to give you hell over it though. Once when i called M$ to activate they asked what I had changed and I said I had bought a new motherboard, GFX card and CPU. They gave me an activation key. I think you're pretty unlucky if they start bitching over this.

 

[crobusa]

I've gone to a Microsoft licening seminar, and you have the right to transfer the licence to a new computer only when the old one "no longer works". Retail gives you tranferability even if the old machine isn't broken.

Activation just forces the more unusual cases of licencing to explain what happened to someone in India.
Dell/HP/others have Product Keys that force you to call in on the first reinstall. 99% of Windows users would just buy a new machine.

 

[amdnVuser]

So how does M$ determine/define whether the old one "no longer works?" Part of the reason I'm upgrading is that the chipset fan on my K8N Neo2 began buzzing, and I replaced it with a passive Zalman heatsink, but it gets pretty hot to the touch now even with my HTT down to ~720MHz. In addition, two of my SATA ports are useless since I've overclocked my CPU (and I've enabled the AGP/PCI lock), and I'd like to get eventually get a new SATA 3.0Gbps NCQ HDD since my Raptor had some bad sector errors not too long ago.

I guess what I'm asking is will I have to call M$ to get a new activation code (at which point I would tell them that my motherboard and HDD are having problems)?

 

[bendixG15]

As has been reported here many times..
Calling MS for new activation is no big thing.
(I have had to do it myself and I survived)

You will not be grilled as to what happened to the old box, nor will you have to explain.
They have a certain format they go thru with everybody, it is simple.

Just make sure you have a pencil and paper.

And don't be shy to ask them to repeat the info in case you have a "bad connection"

 

[amdnVuser]

Yes, I know they usually don't grill you or anything. I've had to call them for activation as well (but for family members' licenses after having to do reinstalls on machines without Internet connections). I'd just never called to reactivate due to hardware problems/failure.

 

[JasonSix78]

Just curious to know: What if you reinstall Windows on the same machine with no hardware changes? I like to d/l game demos, try out app. software, and lots of other software. Every once and awhile I get a build up of garbage on my PC and like to wipe everything and put a fresh copy of Windows in. Will this trigger the re-activation or break the license agreement?

-Jason

 

[lxskllr]

I just called in to activate my copy of XP Home from my old Dell. The only thing left of the Dell is a dvd drive. That's the second time I've called in to activate, never a problem. I think they ask you why you're reactivating as a formality. I get the feeling you could tell them anything. Maybe " I replaced my heatsink fan" , and it would still go through.

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Originally posted by: JasonSix78
Just curious to know: What if you reinstall Windows on the same machine with no hardware changes? I like to d/l game demos, try out app. software, and lots of other software. Every once and awhile I get a build up of garbage on my PC and like to wipe everything and put a fresh copy of Windows in. Will this trigger the re-activation or break the license agreement?

-Jason

This is where having a removeable HDD rack and a second HDDw/tray comes in REAL handy.. Once you get XP up and going as you want, Clone it over (Norton Ghost/Drive Image) to the spare HDD, Then you have one drive that you keep sparkling clean and one that you can dork up completely..

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Originally posted by: JasonSix78
Just curious to know: What if you reinstall Windows on the same machine with no hardware changes? I like to d/l game demos, try out app. software, and lots of other software. Every once and awhile I get a build up of garbage on my PC and like to wipe everything and put a fresh copy of Windows in. Will this trigger the re-activation or break the license agreement?

-Jason

Forgot to add in my previous post..Yes, Doing any re-install of XP will trigger activation.. No, You will not be breaking any agreement if you are using it on the same machine. Also, If it has been over like 120 days since you last activated, You should be able to do it over the internet just fine instead of having to call.

 

[Raincity]

Originally posted by: JasonSix78
Just curious to know: What if you reinstall Windows on the same machine with no hardware changes? I like to d/l game demos, try out app. software, and lots of other software. Every once and awhile I get a build up of garbage on my PC and like to wipe everything and put a fresh copy of Windows in. Will this trigger the re-activation or break the license agreement?

-Jason

I have a OEM copy and reinstall alot and have yet to get flagged on the activation. Now with Office 03 I am not so lucky and have to call India after the the third install within 3 months.

 

[JasonSix78]

Hey, thanks for the info guys. I'm debating over an OEM version or upgrade right now. I can get a college student discount on the upgrade version, however, I would like the full version. Thanks again.

-Jason

 

[JasonSix78]

Oh, and sorry amdnVuser, I didn't mean to neff your thread, or whatever they call it.

-Jason

 

[amdnVuser]

No problem...I've found the extra input very informative.

 

[forumposter32]

Look, if you're honest enough to pay for Windows, why don't you bend the rules a little and just download a Windows XP Volume License Key (VLK) off edonkey? Once you have that, you never have to activate Windows. And if you know where to look for "windows update workaroud", you can still download and install updates (if you do it the right way, haha).