Motherboard Replacement and Windows Activation

[Vicenarian]

Ok, so far, when somebody has a computer with a motherboard failure (that's over 4 years old), I just tell them to get a new PC. Getting an EXACT replacement motherboard from the manufacturer isn't cheap (like $200 I think), and I don't like the idea of putting in a 'refurbished' board.

Now what I'm wondering is, if I replace the motherboard in a Dell (or other major OEM brand) with another similar motherboard (With an ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, etc. with the same chipset, socket, etc. but NOT an exact replacement motherboard), will there be any activation issues on each OS?


XP:

Vista:

Windows 7:




For instance, let's say I have an HP Pavillion desktop with a H67 chipset, LGA1155, etc. motherboard made by Foxxconn or whatever, and the mobo died. What would happen if I replaced that motherboard with a H67 board from another manufacturer (like Asus, MSI, etc.) that has the same chipset, same processor socket, etc. Would I be able to activate Windows on that machine, and if so, would it work equally well with xp, vista, and 7?


I don't care about the technical legality with Microsoft licensing, I'm just interested if it will activate afterward. Third-party motherboards are a ton cheaper, easier to locate, and are better quality overall. That's why I'm asking.

 

[cyabro]

What will happen is windows will see the new board and ask to be activated.
Then it will say that the key used is incorrect and you will have to enter in the key from the COA sticker on the case.
Then you can activate it again.

That's what's happened to me in the past anyway.

 

[Robert]

You may find the online activation won't work with the COA's key (about 50/50 from personal experience), but the telephone activation will work 100%.

On the EULA legality side of things, you're allowed to replace the board with any model (doesn't need to be an exact swap) as long as the original board has failed, and not just to upgrade.

 

[Vicenarian]

You may find the online activation won't work with the COA's key (about 50/50 from personal experience), but the telephone activation will work 100%.

On the EULA legality side of things, you're allowed to replace the board with any model (doesn't need to be an exact swap) as long as the original board has failed, and not just to upgrade.

Ah cool, didn't know that. I will keep that in mind from now on. Thanks!


Edit: One last thing; would it make any difference if the original board was a say, P67, and the replacement board was H67 based? Basically, does it make any difference if the chipsets aren't identical?

 

[seedubya]

On the EULA legality side of things, you're allowed to replace the board with any model (doesn't need to be an exact swap) as long as the original board has failed, and not just to upgrade.

This is only true if you are the original System Builder and are carrying out a WARRANTY replacement.

If you are not the original builder and are replacing the board, even if it has failed you require a new licence.

Please check your facts before giving out advice.

 

[Robert]

This is only true if you are the original System Builder and are carrying out a WARRANTY replacement.

If you are not the original builder and are replacing the board, even if it has failed you require a new licence.

From http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_faq.aspx#faq1 (6th Q)

If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer's replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer's warranty.

I don't see anywhere there that states the OEM/SB has to be the one to replace it, or even that it needs to be under warranty much less a warranty replacement. If the OEM/SB's warranty doesn't specify a replacement model, I personally don't see a problem with replacing it with as similar model as possible.

Note: that is the SB FAQ, I couldn't find anything specific to OEM's. If you can, please let me know where to find it.

Please check your facts before giving out advice.

No need for the attitude When refuting someone's statement, it always helps to show proof. I'm not saying you're wrong or I'm right, but just for the sake of clarity...

 

[Knightsman]

The bottom line is you must replace it with the same model board otherwise you need a new key.

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

 

[Vicenarian]

But what if the same exact model board isn't available (or is just too expensive )

I had a client yesterday that had a Gateway PC (circa 2005) with a dead Socket AM2 mobo. The thing used DDR!!!

Anyway, yeah, a REFURBISHED board would have cost around $170, and I can only guess a direct replacement from Gateway would have cost probably what, $200+? Rediculous, when the fact is, I can buy a similar board (made by Asus/MSI/Gigabyte) for like $40 off of newegg or something.

 

[Knightsman]

But what if the same exact model board isn't available (or is just too expensive )

I had a client yesterday that had a Gateway PC (circa 2005) with a dead Socket AM2 mobo. The thing used DDR!!!

Anyway, yeah, a REFURBISHED board would have cost around $170, and I can only guess a direct replacement from Gateway would have cost probably what, $200+? Rediculous, when the fact is, I can buy a similar board (made by Asus/MSI/Gigabyte) for like $40 off of newegg or something.

I can probably get you that board for a lot cheaper refurbished. Refurbished is not that bad. Get me serial and full model#

Doesn't really matter if you cant get it, Microsoft would lose a lot of money if people were able to transfer license keys over that easily.

You have to ask yourself, am I going to have an ethical company, or am I going to "bend" the rules to make things cheaper for the customer.

 

[Vicenarian]

I can probably get you that board for a lot cheaper refurbished. Refurbished is not that bad. Get me serial and full model#

Doesn't really matter if you cant get it, Microsoft would lose a lot of money if people were able to transfer license keys over that easily.

You have to ask yourself, am I going to have an ethical company, or am I going to "bend" the rules to make things cheaper for the customer.

So if my motherboard dies, and I can't get an exact replacement (due to availability or whatever) that means my license to use Windows (which I had to pay good money for) on that 'computer' is no longer valid? That's just wrong man.


You should be allowed (speaking theoretically now) to replace a motherboard with a similar one, even if it isn't the exact same model. I mean, yeah, if you replace the motherboard, CPU, video card, etc. then I would agree you should buy a new license of Windows, but otherwise, I don't think so.

 

[seedubya]

So if my motherboard dies, and I can't get an exact replacement (due to availability or whatever) that means my license to use Windows (which I had to pay good money for) on that 'computer' is no longer valid? That's just wrong man.


You should be allowed (speaking theoretically now) to replace a motherboard with a similar one, even if it isn't the exact same model. I mean, yeah, if you replace the motherboard, CPU, video card, etc. then I would agree you should buy a new license of Windows, but otherwise, I don't think so.

You agreed to all the above when you accepted the EULA. It may not be right or good or ethical but it's what you agreed to. Don't like it? Build your own machine, use a retail Windows and you can move it as many times as you like. Or use a free OS, like Linux. Or pirate it - I don't give a fiddler's one way or the other - but get your facts straight.

 

[Vicenarian]

From http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_faq.aspx#faq1 (6th Q)



I don't see anywhere there that states the OEM/SB has to be the one to replace it, or even that it needs to be under warranty much less a warranty replacement. If the OEM/SB's warranty doesn't specify a replacement model, I personally don't see a problem with replacing it with as similar model as possible.

Note: that is the SB FAQ, I couldn't find anything specific to OEM's. If you can, please let me know where to find it.

That makes absolute sense, and fits with what Microsoft's licensing says.

The fact is, hardware becomes obsolete after a period of time. If you can't get an exact replacement, I see nothing wrong with using a similar board.

 

[Knightsman]

We as techs don't see anything wrong with it..

BUT, the general public would just take their license off their OEM cheap emachine when it dies, and put it on some other machine for free. Not really fair when in all reality, they only paid $10 for windows...

That's why they allow the ones that install their own to install in on other computers.

I have moved OEM and Retail versions that were purchased separately and have never had a problem.

 

[Vicenarian]

We as techs don't see anything wrong with it..

BUT, the general public would just take their license off their OEM cheap emachine when it dies, and put it on some other machine for free. Not really fair when in all reality, they only paid $10 for windows...

That's why they allow the ones that install their own to install in on other computers.

I have moved OEM and Retail versions that were purchased separately and have never had a problem.

I see your point. I was thinking though, and doesn't MS create the activation ID thing based on each major hardware component? So MS should be able to tell if you've just replaced a motherboard, or if you have replaced MB, CPU, HDD, etc.

Theoretically then, MS should be able to tell if you are JUST replacing a motherboard (because the old one was defective), or if you are cheating the system by upgrading your computer while trying to keep the same Windows license.

 

[Knightsman]

I see your point. I was thinking though, and doesn't MS create the activation ID thing based on each major hardware component? So MS should be able to tell if you've just replaced a motherboard, or if you have replaced MB, CPU, HDD, etc.

Theoretically then, MS should be able to tell if you are JUST replacing a motherboard (because the old one was defective), or if you are cheating the system by upgrading your computer while trying to keep the same Windows license.

They can tell if your just replacing the motherboard. Thats not the problem, the problem is if they allowed you to just "replace" your motherboard. Anybody could swap a motherboard, and keep using the license on any computer. Why should they be able to do this just because it came with the computer? I have paid for the correct licenses to be able to transfer a serial key, they should have to also.

 

[Vicenarian]

They can tell if your just replacing the motherboard. Thats not the problem, the problem is if they allowed you to just "replace" your motherboard. Anybody could swap a motherboard, and keep using the license on any computer. Why should they be able to do this just because it came with the computer? I have paid for the correct licenses to be able to transfer a serial key, they should have to also.

But if those 'people' JUST swapped the motherboard, then what's the big deal? An OEM license is per computer, I understand, but the fact is, motherboards fail, and if they do, you shouldn't have to buy a new Windows license (often >$100) just go replace your dead motherboard.

What if an OEM Windows license was tied to the hard drive? Or to the video card? If those components failed, would it be fair to charge people for a brand new Windows license, just to be able to replace those components? Why then for motherboards? Just because I'm replacing a dead motherboard, doesn't mean I'm building a brand new system. Therefore, I shouldn't have to 'buy' Windows, as if for a whole new computer


I built a computer for myself a few months ago, and paid good money for an OEM version of Windows 7. Now, if my motherboard dies within the next 10 years, and I can't find the EXACT same model board, and have to put in a similar board, why should I have to pay another $120-140 just to 'fix' my computer? I'm not building a whole new machine, and if I was, I would have no problem paying for another license of Windows 7.

 

[Knightsman]

But if those 'people' JUST swapped the motherboard, then what's the big deal? An OEM license is per computer, I understand, but the fact is, motherboards fail, and if they do, you shouldn't have to buy a new Windows license (often >$100) just go replace your dead motherboard.

What if an OEM Windows license was tied to the hard drive? Or to the video card? If those components failed, would it be fair to charge people for a brand new Windows license, just to be able to replace those components? Why then for motherboards? Just because I'm replacing a dead motherboard, doesn't mean I'm building a brand new system. Therefore, I shouldn't have to 'buy' Windows, as if for a whole new computer


I built a computer for myself a few months ago, and paid good money for an OEM version of Windows 7. Now, if my motherboard dies within the next 10 years, and I can't find the EXACT same model board, and have to put in a similar board, why should I have to pay another $120-140 just to 'fix' my computer? I'm not building a whole new machine, and if I was, I would have no problem paying for another license of Windows 7.

I think your missing the important detail, this only applies to manufactured computers. If what you were saying was possible, than anyone could "upgrade" their whole computer and keep that $10 oem license. All new parts with a old license.

Explain how that would be fair to us computer builders who pay the higher price?

Tell me the details on the computer and I bet I can find you a board.

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

 

[Vicenarian]

I think your missing the important detail, this only applies to manufactured computers. If what you were saying was possible, than anyone could "upgrade" their whole computer and keep that $10 oem license. All new parts with a old license.

Explain how that would be fair to us computer builders who pay the higher price?

Tell me the details on the computer and I bet I can find you a board.

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

I'm not advocating being able to replace all hardware components within a machine, and then use the same OEM license. What I'm sayin is, a motherboard replacement (in itself) shouldn't mean you have to buy a new Windows license. If you replace the motherboard, CPU, etc. then yes, I say, buy a new license, but replacing a faulty motherboard hardly qualifies as an 'upgrade'.

The customer already bought a new HP desktop (sandy bridge, etc. etc.) for $400, but thanks for the offer. Again, I don't want to make anybody angry or anything, I just find it distressing that if a customer comes in, and I can't find an exact replacement motherboard for a reasonable price (from a decent supplier, not ebay), they basically have to pay for another motherboard, plus $120 for a new Windows license (or else buy a new computer)

 

[Knightsman]

I'm not advocating being able to replace all hardware components within a machine, and then use the same OEM license. What I'm sayin is, a motherboard replacement (in itself) shouldn't mean you have to buy a new Windows license. If you replace the motherboard, CPU, etc. then yes, I say, buy a new license, but replacing a faulty motherboard hardly qualifies as an 'upgrade'.

The customer already bought a new HP desktop (sandy bridge, etc. etc.) for $400, but thanks for the offer. Again, I don't want to make anybody angry or anything, I just find it distressing that if a customer comes in, and I can't find an exact replacement motherboard for a reasonable price (from a decent supplier, not ebay), they basically have to pay for another motherboard, plus $120 for a new Windows license (or else buy a new computer)

I really don't see the problem honestly, the rarity of not finding a motherboard is slim. I do get where your coming from at a cost stand point. Next time you cant find one, please PM, I can get just about any OEM motherboard.