dnar
25th February 2006, 05:07
People have had a choice when building their own machines when it came to putting Windows on the box. They've either bought the retail version of the program, or (much more likely) bought a much cheaper OEM version of it.
Recently, MS pointed out a hidden cost of the OEM version. They said that an OEM version was a one-horse OS, the horse being the motherboard. Replace the mobo in a machine, and you have to replace the OS, too, and their activation procedure is apparently good enough to figure out what you've done.
One of the articles reporting this also has some real-life comments from those faced with the situation. The key response went like this:
"I ended up having to call the toll free number posted on the dialog and I explained that the motherboard died and when I replaced it the OS said I had to register it. I was asked if the OS was installed on any other PC's, I said "no", and no further questions were asked. I was given the activation number and all was fine."
Full topic... (http://www.overclockers.com/tips00921/)
LOL.
Recently, MS pointed out a hidden cost of the OEM version. They said that an OEM version was a one-horse OS, the horse being the motherboard. Replace the mobo in a machine, and you have to replace the OS, too, and their activation procedure is apparently good enough to figure out what you've done.
One of the articles reporting this also has some real-life comments from those faced with the situation. The key response went like this:
"I ended up having to call the toll free number posted on the dialog and I explained that the motherboard died and when I replaced it the OS said I had to register it. I was asked if the OS was installed on any other PC's, I said "no", and no further questions were asked. I was given the activation number and all was fine."
Full topic... (http://www.overclockers.com/tips00921/)
LOL.