Upgrading MotherBoard, validating Vista OEM? Other Vista Discussions Discuss Upgrading MotherBoard, validating Vista OEM? in the Windows Vista forums; Im building a new gaming rig with new motherboard but old HD, my old HD has three OEMs registered to it XP, Vista 32 and 64. Ive been told that ...

[Gabu-san]

Im building a new gaming rig with new motherboard but old HD, my old HD has three OEMs registered to it XP, Vista 32 and 64. Ive been told that if you change either your HD or MB microsoft wont recognize your OS as valid. Is this true and what can you do about it?
I dont want to waist my money on another OS until I can upgrade my HD.
Gabu-san

[felix8406]

Is not true; you will still have your license and it will still be valid. It's a combination of components that triggers validation, not a single component. And even if you replace more than three main components, just like with Win XP, you call Microsoft and they'll issue you the ID. You can even transfer Vista from one computer to another.

[Gabu-san]

Thankyou for your reply, that makes sense to me, I was kind,ve ticked at the thought of fighting with microsoft over valid copys of Xp and Vista. I had heard that you could phone so before I came to this forum I browsed around microsoft trying to find a number but I had no luck. Do you know who I call or were microsoft post this info?
Gabu-san

[Buster]

If you use the same hard drive with your os installed it will prompt you to call microsft and give you the number ect that you need
If its a new hard drive just copy it across and boot with it

[crabby]

Most likely simply copying the OS wont work because the configuration of the motherboard is held within the kernel. You might have an issue auto activating online once you reinstall, but if you call them they will code you up and you are away!

crabby

[Snuffy]

Some clips from Ex-perts. suggest you read them carefully.. special to the Ed Botts.

Originally Posted by Ed Botts

As Ed Bott writes, Vista now limits the number of times you transfer the operating system from an old machine to a new one.
Specifically, you can transfer your Vista license once. That means if you install Vista onto a new PC, you must remove it from the old one. And you may only perform that maneuver once.

Boettcher said this change was made to clarify that "Windows is licensed on a per copy, per device basis."

Mobos' are considered a device.
I did a clean/new install on my Vista when I changed from ATA to SATA HDD, and had NO PROBLEM.. I did not transfer..at the same time I upgraded the Video card from 7300GS to 7600GS.

With a retail version of Windows XP, there are no restrictions on the number of times you can transfer the software from one computer to another in your household or office. That's about to change for the worse in Vista, with only one lifetime transfer allowed. It makes the outrageous price difference between retail and OEM copies even more difficult to justify. - http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=156

It does make a difference in what your Vista is: OEM Builder, OEM Manufacture, Retail, Upgrade.

[airman]

I did a clean install of my Vista Premium and let it activate after 3 days and it failed and had to call MS asked why I said I had to reformat and he said ok than they ask how many computers is this copy installed on and I say one and he gives me the 45 number code and he says you are now activated and that is it but now I am going to change the motherboard and processor to a 4000+ AM2 so we will see what happens with the next activation.

[felix8406]

The only onetime transfer that I'm aware of is when transferring the software from one person to another or "to a third party", not when transferring the software between PCs.