WGA and New Motherboard

[Thomas]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

I have a retail version of windows xp pro installed on my home built PC. Soon
I would like to upgrade and get a new motherboard. Would I be able to run
windows genuine activation with the new motherboard and continue to download
updates even if my previous genuine windows activation is registered to my
previous motherboard?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Thomas <Thomas@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I have a retail version of windows xp pro installed on my home built PC. Soon
>I would like to upgrade and get a new motherboard. Would I be able to run
>windows genuine activation with the new motherboard and continue to download
>updates even if my previous genuine windows activation is registered to my
>previous motherboard?

Unless the new motherboard is very similar to the previous one it is a
virtual certainty that you will have to do a Repair Install of your
Windows XP before it will be usable. It will also have to be
reactivated as a result of the Repair Install.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm


***** BE VERY CAREFUL *****

1. In order to do a Repair Install you will need to have a Windows XP
Installation CD. A "System Recovery" CD or a hidden system recovery
partition provided by the computer manufacturer/assembler will most
often not be capable of doing a Repair Install.

2. If your computer has an SLP (= BIOS Locked) OEM version of Windows
XP then you should only replace the motherboard with one that is from
the manufacturer/assembler of your computer. Using a different make
motherboard will almost certainly result in your Windows XP being
unusable because it cannot be activated.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Thomas wrote:
> I have a retail version of windows xp pro installed on my home built
> PC. Soon I would like to upgrade and get a new motherboard. Would I
> be able to run windows genuine activation with the new motherboard
> and continue to download updates even if my previous genuine windows
> activation is registered to my previous motherboard?

You seem to be confusing two separate things. Activation and
Validation.

You will probably have to Activate, but that won't affect downloading
updates.

With Validation, who really knows for sure. MS has failed to give out
the detailed info that it did with activation, so it would be just a
guess what will happen.

Don't feel bad about confusing WPA and WGA. MS has made it convoluted
copy-protection so arcane, that I doubt there is a single person on the
planet that understands all the intricacies of both.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

One is "Showing your license to the bartender" to get a drink, the other
is a sobriety test administered the next morning after you wake up.

"kurttrail" <dontemailme@anywhereintheknowuniverse.org> wrote in message
news:O9ehH4CqFHA.3104@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Thomas wrote:
>> I have a retail version of windows xp pro installed on my home built
>> PC. Soon I would like to upgrade and get a new motherboard. Would I
>> be able to run windows genuine activation with the new motherboard
>> and continue to download updates even if my previous genuine windows
>> activation is registered to my previous motherboard?
>
> You seem to be confusing two separate things. Activation and Validation.
>
> You will probably have to Activate, but that won't affect downloading
> updates.
>
> With Validation, who really knows for sure. MS has failed to give out the
> detailed info that it did with activation, so it would be just a guess
> what will happen.
>
> Don't feel bad about confusing WPA and WGA. MS has made it convoluted
> copy-protection so arcane, that I doubt there is a single person on the
> planet that understands all the intricacies of both.
>
> --
> Peace!
> Kurt
> Self-anointed Moderator
> microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
> http://microscum.com/mscommunity
> "Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
> "Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Thomas wrote:
> I have a retail version of windows xp pro installed on my home built PC. Soon
> I would like to upgrade and get a new motherboard. Would I be able to run
> windows genuine activation with the new motherboard and continue to download
> updates even if my previous genuine windows activation is registered to my
> previous motherboard?


Certainly. However:

Normally, and assuming a retail license (many OEM installations are
BIOS-locked to a specific chipset and therefore not transferable to a
new motherboard - check yours before starting), unless the new
motherboard is virtually identical (same chipset, same IDE controllers,
same BIOS version, etc.) to the one on which the WinXP installation was
originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair (a.k.a. in-place
upgrade) installation, at the very least:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

The "why" is quite simple, really, and has nothing to do with
licensing issues, per se; it's a purely technical matter, at this point.
You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the OS. (If
you don't like -- or get -- the rug analogy, think of it as picking up a
Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch style
foundation. It just isn't going to fit.) WinXP, like Win2K before it,
is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to accepting any
old hardware configuration you throw at it. On installation it
"tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. This is one of the
reasons that the entire WinNT/2K/XP OS family is so much more stable
than the Win9x group.

As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
important data before starting.

This will also probably require re-activation, unless you have a
Volume Licensed version of WinXP Pro installed. If it's been more than
120 days since you last activated that specific Product Key, you'll most
likely be able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's
been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Changing the motherboard is a 'major' upgrade therefore don't be surprised
if you are asked to activate your copy of windows again. All you need do is
activate your copy as usual. The next time you go to download either auto
updates will update the genuine advantage software or else - more likely -
you will be asked to allow microsoft to scan your pc for a legal copy of xp.
It will obviously find one then you simply copy the number genuine advantage
gives you into the box, press ok and everything is back to normal.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this post. The Author shall not be liable for any
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this post..



"Thomas" <Thomas@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1334489E-A73A-4FC7-AA16-57FADC0E7A77@microsoft.com...
>I have a retail version of windows xp pro installed on my home built PC.
>Soon
> I would like to upgrade and get a new motherboard. Would I be able to run
> windows genuine activation with the new motherboard and continue to
> download
> updates even if my previous genuine windows activation is registered to my
> previous motherboard?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Ron Martell wrote:
>
> >I have a retail version of windows xp pro installed on my home built PC. Soon

> 1. In order to do a Repair Install you will need to have a Windows XP
> Installation CD. A "System Recovery" CD or a hidden system recovery
> partition provided by the computer manufacturer/assembler will most
> often not be capable of doing a Repair Install.
>
> 2. If your computer has an SLP (= BIOS Locked) OEM version of Windows
> XP then you should only replace the motherboard with one that is from
> the manufacturer/assembler of your computer. Using a different make
> motherboard will almost certainly result in your Windows XP being
> unusable because it cannot be activated.

Chances are with a homebuilt and retail XP 1. and 2. are not applicable.