Saturday, February 18th 2006

Microsoft: Upgraded Motherboard = New Windows Licence

Microsoft recently made a change to the licence agreement saying that a new motherboard is equal to a new computer, hence you need to purchase a new Windows licence.Here is what Microsoft has to say:
An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a "new personal computer" to which Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required.
The reason Microsoft gave for this term is that:
Microsoft needed to have one base component "left standing" that would still define that original PC. Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created.
Microsoft sent a memo to its OEM partners asking them to enforce this new policy, every time they upgrade a computer for a client.
Source: Aviran's Place
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35 Comments on Microsoft: Upgraded Motherboard = New Windows Licence

#26
Judas
who comes up with all this stuff...? what were they thinking... i dont get it first they say
xp home edition is not gonna get any more support by the end of the year (if i rember rightly)
and now THIS .. :( great customer support nice one MS
Posted on Reply
#27
Dippyskoodlez
15th WarlockGranted, the migration to x86 architecture will boost Mac sales, but don't expect ppl outside certain niche markets to start using Mac platforms for things like hardcore gaming and OCing any time soon... Also, last time I checked, MacOS requires software to be devoloped specifically for that platform, you know, software like games and drivers (for the tenth time...), sure Jobs said current x86 programs can be emulated under MacOS, but do you know what emulation does to performance? so much for all that "performance will be on par" crap... or do you really expect the modding community to start compiling drivers and patches just as soon as they are released for our current platform? dream on...
I'm assuming you havent really used the intel macs yet by the assumptions of your comments.

I run Photoshop on my DTK, photoshop 7.0. Its 100% pure PPC code. Applying filters and such just smokes the native x86 version.. Mac os x86 has an emulator called rosetta which allows you to run ppc code.. and it is EXTREMELY fast. Its, i'd say about 1/2 way to 3/4 way to full speed.

Granted, you lose a lot of overclocking capabilities, but once darwine improves to the level the linux one is at, you'll be able to run most windows appsfrom within os X..

I have ~15 macs, and most of them are overclockable in one way or another.. not insanely, but a little bit. But most people would scream at having to overclock the hard way wouldnt they? :rolleyes:
Posted on Reply
#28
Conroe
This is not realy new I read this at newegg awhile ago...
"OEM versions are intended for system builders only and cannot be transferred to another PC once it is installed."

M$ must sell copys to Dell for pocket change. How else could they sell a system for $399?
Posted on Reply
#29
overcast
Why do you think there is a price difference between OEM and Retail? Cmon people, use your brains and stop complaining. If you want to reuse your windows copy over and over. Buy retail. OEM is for ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER. It has stated all of this in every OEM license since the dawn of time. The fact that you can even purchase cheap OEM from places like Newegg is a gift. Now I'm not defending Microsofts policies on software but this isn't anything new.
Posted on Reply
#30
G.T
I think the point is the fact they are trying to lay down the law on what you can upgrade.

People outgrow their systems, fact of life. Or the PC you originally build becomes outdated by technology, another fact of life.

Example, person builds "OEM" system. System is built around ATA harddrives, MOBO purchased for system only supports ATA. So someone should be forced to purchase a new copy of an OS just so they can use SATA, give me a break.

So long as the OS is used on one PC, and one PC alone at a time Windows should be happy with that.
Posted on Reply
#31
wazzledoozle
I think the point of OEM is that its a one-time license for one PC. A more fair rule would be once the CPU and motherboard have changed from the original, you need a new license.
Posted on Reply
#32
sefu
overcastWhy do you think there is a price difference between OEM and Retail? Cmon people, use your brains and stop complaining. If you want to reuse your windows copy over and over. Buy retail. OEM is for ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER. It has stated all of this in every OEM license since the dawn of time. The fact that you can even purchase cheap OEM from places like Newegg is a gift. Now I'm not defending Microsofts policies on software but this isn't anything new.
Hell with you M$uker, how the fok you defent M$, i'm living in ROMANIA, and my payment for a full month is barely 200$ and i this is considered well, and i have to do a big efort to upgrade my pc, and now is no way the let me do that and of course y will be ilegal and never buy microsukcs, and y will encourage PIRACY.
Posted on Reply
#33
mixa
My only opinion is that the licences must be issued to a person not to a PC.
By the way , I don`t think this concerns the home users.
Posted on Reply
#34
G.T
Just thinking about this & something occured to me.

Has anyone had any new EULA agreement that required signing or agreeing to, I know I have not. So basically this must be a case of new copies only need worry, as without agreeing to a new EULA M$ can't really have a leg to stand on as I find it hard to believe they can make it stick retroactively. & let's face it when you update windows hardly anyone is that bored to read through any new EULA bumf they make you wade through to get your latest patches and security Band Aids. Other than that, if they don't make some massive public issue of this, which so far I have not witnessed, they can simply be blamed for not making the public aware of this whole fiasco.
Posted on Reply
#35
Dippyskoodlez
wazzledoozleI think the point of OEM is that its a one-time license for one PC. A more fair rule would be once the CPU and motherboard have changed from the original, you need a new license.
however, this could not be enforced.

Overclocking. plain and simple. they cannot correlate any majorty of the checking on anything like that...

The only decent way of tracking that woluld be something maybe like P4->A64 or whatever... because a 3000+ can be upgraded to a 4800+... and in the case of the axp's, they would be going from 2500+ to 3200+ and beyond....
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