Licence Question

sdanseo

Quick question about windows licences.

Say I have built a new PC, and I install windows from a disk that came with my old computer. Provided I no longer use and uninstall said copy of Windows from the old PC, is it legal to transfer the licence to another machine?

If not, if I buy a retail or OEM copy for my new machien, can that be transferred in the same was as suggested above in the future? The difference being it would not be a disk provided by a manufacturer.

I'm aware that selling licenses sperately is illegal (i.e. money changing hands for COA labels) but this is a licence I already own. This whole area is stupidly grey but that's a matter for consumer issues so I won't bore you by venting

Opinions (or fact, preferably ) appreciated.

seamus

Depends on what kind of disk came with your old PC. OEM editions are not transferable, period. When the PC is gone, the licence is gone. In some cases, once the motherboard dies, the licence is gone, even if you still have the rest of the PC.

If you purchase an OEM licence for your current machine, that licence is bound to that machine. If you buy a retail licence, that licence is transferable.

goodlad

Actually thats not entirely true, a few months back i called microsoft e-open to get advice on this. From what they told me all XP and Vista OEM licences can be transfered to a new motherboard. Which i then tried myself a few weeks ago and sure enoughm after a 10 min call to MS they sorted me out re-installing my Vista OEM onto a whole new PC.

The only real difference is that MS dont offer support if you have an OEM licence, which has always been the case. But these days you can just buy yourself an OEM copy of the OS from several online places.
Its all boils down to you just having no support at all.

I know i read it on the net about the licences working this way now, i will try find it and link

sdanseo

Some interesting input lads, thanks. The wise course of action may be to give MS a call myself - although it's no longer an issue as the licence in question (COA label that is) was accidentaly disposed of. The reason I asked was my adverts ad which gave rise to some debate.

If indeed they've made the licenses transferrable (albeit with f*** all support for OEM) then it's a much fairer system.

Cy_Revenant

I believe they're only transferrable in the event that your motherboard chokes and dies. Strictly speaking, an OEM license is bound to the hardware it's installed on. But if your motherboard dies on you, and you need to get a new one, they tend to let you reinstall it if you call them up and explain your circumstances.

Other than that, I don't think you can move an OEM verson of windows to an entirely new machine.

That said, it only costs about €90 or so from an online electronics retailer.

Capt'n Midnight

Cy_Revenant wrote: »

I believe they're only transferrable in the event that your motherboard chokes and dies. Strictly speaking, an OEM license is bound to the hardware it's installed on. But if your motherboard dies on you, and you need to get a new one, they tend to let you reinstall it if you call them up and explain your circumstances.

believe they're only transferrable in the event that your motherboard chokes and dies. AND is replaced under warranty by the original manufacturer

Don't forget the person you ring probably doesn't work for microsoft as they out source a lot of stuff

kaizersoze

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

believe they're only transferrable in the event that your motherboard chokes and dies. AND is replaced under warranty by the original manufacturer

Correct.

deevey

Strictly speaking, an OEM license is bound to the hardware it's installed on

... keep the mouse ..

I haven't had any issues re-activating any version of windows if you tell MS your machine croaked and you needed to replace parts.

Capt'n Midnight

deevey wrote: »

... keep the mouse ..

I haven't had any issues re-activating any version of windows if you tell MS your machine croaked and you needed to replace parts.

That is fraud.