Using windows on new computer

[Tedster]

that's called business. There's nothing wrong with making a profit. It's what makes the world go 'round and pays your salary and many other benefits. Sure capitalism has its drawbacks, but it's the best system the world has to offer. Microsoft is entitled to make money like any other business.

I don't think your alternative (stealing) is better.

 

[twite]

I don't think your alternative (stealing) is better.

Since when has this been my alternative?

 

[Spike]

Sorry Tedster, but Twite has a point. I didn't see that implied either.

 

[alidabiri]

this is the partial text of EULA from c:\windows\system32 folder:

That was a lot of text pasted there. I hope you don't mind my having uploaded it as a txt attachment - Spike

 

[Nodsu]

This is your box product license. Compare with the attached OEM XP Professional EULA.

 

[alidabiri]

NO, that IS the oem eula. i just printed it out of hp machine at work. i was preloaded and purchased that way.

 

[Nodsu]

No, it is not the OEM EULA.. Maybe it is a volume license? Did that HP have a COA sticker on it? What is written on that sticker? And of course, whoever supplied that HP may have made a "mistake". And of course, Windows may have been reinstalled on that machine too, using any Windows CD that was available.

The EULA I posted is from an XP installation from a manufacturer-provided CD and the COA sticker on the machine (originally came with Windows preinstalled).

 

[Spike]

The EULA Nodsu has posted is most definitely the correct one. It IS the WinXP OEM EULA without any doubt, and it ties in exactly with what MS are officially saying on their site.

Nodsu is absolutely 100% correct (as per usual ).

 

[twite]

Ok..well im ordering parts for a new computer, and windows xp..so how would i put my old hard drive in my new computer? Do i have to format it first, or can i boot with that hard drive and then install windows?

 

[Spike]

Put the old HD in the new computer, and boot from your XP CD or the setup floppies provided by MS. From there you will be able to delete any partitions on the disk if you so wish.

 

[twite]

well, i dont wish to delete my files if i dont have to.. can i just delete the windows partion and then reinstall windows

 

[Nodsu]

Yes, you can delete of format only the Windows partition too.

 

[alidabiri]

nodsu,
my pc at work, is a pre-loaded hp p-4 machine. it has a hologram sticker on the side. and it's an oem sticker. and it has it's own cd that came with it. i know for a fact, that you can transfer os to another pc, if you deleted it from the original machine. this is done many times at every shop. and when the pc's are discarded through surplus property, MIS dept. erases them clean.

 

[Spike]

Then they either have something special going on, have a volume license that's preinstalled on their machines, or are doing so illegally. That's one of the sorts of things that MS are failing WGA validations on. It's not allowed!

If you would like to take your observations of the company you work for over the official line of MS and over the advice we offer here after much research then by all means do so, but please do not persist in posting incorrect information here!

 

[alidabiri]

spike, with all due respect, i'm not posting "incorrect" information. my work place is one of the biggest clients of microsoft and hp. microsoft and hp people visit here for workshops, etc. occasionally. it's not proper, to label these observations as wholesale belief that you do. i posted what i'm seeing.

 

[Spike]

Well that's fine, but tell me...

Who's right? Microsoft, or a client of microsoft, when it comes to microsoft software licensing?

Answer: Microsoft.

With all due respect Alidabiri, you ARE posting incorrect information.

Non-transferrable OEM licenses are EXACTLY the reason that the rules on selling OEM XP have changed so that it can only be sold pre-installed, and the installing OEM MUST use the OEM installation kit to lock the installation to the BIOS of the mainboard.

 

[alidabiri]

just out of curiosity, where did you get this from eula that says oem xp can not be transferred?
can you post the item number from eula so i can take a look at it, please?
thanks!

 

[Spike]

It's the second point in Part 1...

* Software as a Component of the Computer - Transfer. THIS
LICENSE MAY NOT BE SHARED,
TRANSFERRED TO OR USED CONCURRENTLY
ON DIFFERENT COMPUTERS. The SOFTWARE
is licensed with the HARDWARE as a single integrated
product and may only be used with the HARDWARE. If the
SOFTWARE is not accompanied by new HARDWARE, you may
not use the SOFTWARE. You may permanently transfer all
of your rights under this EULA only as part of a
permanent sale or transfer of the HARDWARE, provided
you retain no copies, if you transfer all of the SOFTWARE
(including all component parts, the media and printed
materials, any upgrades, this EULA and the Certificate
of Authenticity), and the recipient agrees to the terms
of this EULA. If the SOFTWARE is an upgrade, any
transfer must also include all prior versions of the
SOFTWARE.

Did you even look at Nodsu's attached OEM EULA?

http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/4/4/14441b37-78ff-4b60-b726-6d91f81d3fa7/os_reqs.doc
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...8f-414b-8052-9f2de33f3b90/G34899_PROC_WLG.PDF

Note the part in both links (and the one I gave earlier in the thread) where MS says that "OEM licenses can not be transferred".

 

[twite]

So, I get my parts in the mail for my new computer, including windows xp home edition, and just to make sure i call microsoft. I explain to the first representative that i am changing the hard drive to a new computer ect..and he tells me that i do not need to purchase a new version of windows. I figure that he doesnt know what he is talking about so i call back. Same thing. Call back again. Same thing. Contradicting EULA, i guess the hard drive is considered "the computer".

 

[Spike]

According to Microsoft, it's not. The reason installations are tied to the BIOS is because they believe tha the mainboard is the computer for the purpooses of licensing.

 

[twite]

i relize this, but 3 microsoft employee's told me otherwise and were willing to give me the activation key on the spot.

 

[Spike]

Fair enough.

I actually emailed MS requesting that a representative email me with an outline of the policy so that I could post it here. Everything that is said on the MS website and even in the license suggests (based on this thread) that they shouldn't have allowed you to activate. Yet they gave you the activation code, which confuses matters a bit.

Whether they send me a useful reply or not I don't know, but if they do I shall post it here.

And finally, their reply...

Ideally, software purchased as part of a fully assembled PC is termed as Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) software. When you make changes to your motherboard, Windows ‘thinks’ it’s being installed onto a separate device. As you can only use Windows on the original PC it was installed on, it will not run on a machine that is been altered.

The motherboard is the "essence" of the personal computer. Without a motherboard, there is no computer. In contrast, a personal computer may, for example, function without a keyboard, a mouse or even a hard drive. Given the nature of the motherboard with respect to the functionality of a personal computer, an exchange of the motherboard (whether an upgrade or replacement) is considered to result in a "new personal computer". This means that the software can not be transferred to another computer.

Not very useful really. The rep claims that it isn't possible, and we know otherwise from this thread. It does say that it most definitely is tied to the mainboard though, and is intended only to run on the PC it was bought as part of. So I guess it just backs up what the MS website says. I just wish the answer could have been a little more factual and technically correct. Still, I'm not going to waste time by arguing with them lol.

Essentially it seems that Twite either had some manner of special circumstances, or MS made a mistake in giving the activation code.

 

[twite]

Don't get me wrong, i completly agree with you that in the policy it states that if you change the motherboard, you are changing the computer.

For some reason they acted like the hard drive was the computer. I explained to them that its an OEM version of windows ect..but they insisted that i didnt have to buy a new copy.

Its coincidence because the reason i was actually calling microsoft was because newegg sent me the upgrade verion of windows xp for 98 and millenium users. I asked the guy if it would work, he said no, then i asked him about switching the hard drive and he told me i didnt have to buy a new copy. Basically neweggs error (and maybe microsofts) saved me $100.