XP asking me to activate?

[htid]

Ok i'll try to make this simple as i'm in a hurry lol.

Bought my pc about 5 years ago and it came with XP home. Used it on that pc with numerous reinstalls until 2 months ago when i got this pc. Installed it on here thinking it wouldn't work due to it being OEM (i assume since it came wiht the comp). Tried to activate it and it worked to my surprise, didn't even ask for the code that's on the sticker. Used XP fine from 2 months ago until today. 2 Days ago i took out my graphics card because it needs to be RMA'd. Put in a new temp card also 2 days ago, ran XP fine. Suddenly today XP is saying it needs re-activating due to hardware changes.

Tried to do it online as i did when i first built this new pc, but it says the activation code has been used too many times so I need to get a new one. If i call them, what can I say, i mean I guess i'm not supposed to use XP on this pc anyway due to it being a new build. Does it sound like i will have to buy a new version of XP?

Cheers,
Chris.

[dave87]

Just phone them up, explain about the graphics card switch, and they should let you activate it - they did with me when my 9600 failed and was replaced with a 6800

[directhex]

technically, you're in violation of the license by transferring an OEM copy to a new machine

you could ring up & lie, but really you should be buying a new license fir a new pc (or buying a transferrable retail copy)

[Koolpc]

Just ring up and Lie. You bought the PC with the software on it, why buy more.

[directhex]

Just ring up and Lie. You bought the PC with the software on it, why buy more.

because he doesn't own xp. he owns a license to run xp. the distinction is the key - the EULA acts as an agreement with microsoft to comply with certain terms (e.g. only to run it on one machine, not to decompile any of it, etc)

if he violates that license, he loses the right to run that software. lying is really no different from warez

[danroyle]

yeah but thats wrong i am about to have the same problem tomorrow i am switching to conroe so reinstall of windows will be done beacuse i am on nvidia raid and will be switching to j micron raid

so i am gonna have to activate my copy again i didn't get mine with a pc i bought it from aria but it is an oem version so technically you are saying i can't use it because it is not in the same pc
even though my psu case water cooling hard drives and graphics card are all the same windows says it's wrong it's stupid its not like we are trying to run it on 5 pcs at once

i just want it back on mine tomorrow and fully activated as i paid £100+ for it

[directhex]

yeah but thats wrong i am about to have the same problem tomorrow i am switching to conroe so reinstall of windows will be done beacuse i am on nvidia raid and will be switching to j micron raid

so i am gonna have to activate my copy again i didn't get mine with a pc i bought it from aria but it is an oem version so technically you are saying i can't use it because it is not in the same pc
even though my psu case water cooling hard drives and graphics card are all the same windows says it's wrong it's stupid its not like we are trying to run it on 5 pcs at once

i just want it back on mine tomorrow and fully activated as i paid £100+ for it

by buying an OEM copy, you agreed to the terms of the microsoft system builder license. by running an OEM copy, you agreed to the terms of the OEM XP EULA.

if you wanted a transferrable XP, you should have bought a transferrable XP (i.e. the retail version). by buying the OEM version (and you DID read the license you were agreeing to, right?) you made the decision that you wanted software which could not be transferred to a new computer (defined as a new motherboard)

[charleski]

it's stupid its not like we are trying to run it on 5 pcs at once

You purchased a cheap version of XP pro that can only be used on one machine, so now you need to go and buy another copy, where's the problem?

[kalniel]

*nods*

You have the choice of which version of XP to buy - you can buy one that you can transfer between systems, or you can buy one that doesn't allow that, for cheaper.

You can't expect to get the features of the more expensive one for free, or they would never sell anything other than the cheaper one.

[cv65user]

legally way = buy a new xp os . lol

crafty= yes phone up and say new vga card, etc and they will authorise it

[dangel]

Meh, at least he bought *a* copy of XP along the line - that's more than most do..

[Koolpc]

Just phone up and do the above.

[this_is_gav]

You bought the PC with the software on it, why buy more.

That's what retail licenses are for.

You're best off phoning up and telling the truth. More often than not they let you activate anyway.

edit: /me realises he's had this page open for well over an hour, and there's been lots of replies since

[danroyle]

IT'S A load of c*** really i bought an oem becasue at the time they had no retails in stock and had just built new pc and had no os on it

microsofts agreement is flawed when you purchase software you own it on cd as long as you don't break any copyright laws there should be no problem
saying that because you purchase an oem version that a change of motherboard makes you unable to use again is stupid and incidentally this is the second copy of windows xp i bought as someone stole/hacked my activation key so microsoft locked it so i couldn't use it again so i have spent in excess of £250 on windows cds and legally i cant use it

THAT IS THE BIGGEST CROCK OF **** IN THE WORLD

[Clunk]

My vote is for twisting the truth regarding the lightning strike that blew up your pc.

[directhex]

microsofts agreement is flawed when you purchase software you own it on cd as long as you don't break any copyright laws there should be no problem

you own some plastic containing data

that data is covered by copyright

you are permitted to view and "use" the copyrighted data stored on the plastic by the license agreement made between you and the copyright holder

if you don't want to comply with the agreement, then you lose the legal right to the data

it cuts both ways - some companies have used software licensed under the GPL and breached their licenses - and been forced to stand down (by releasing source code or recalling products)

as someone who releases open-source software, i have a firm belief in the sanctity of software licenses, and if microsoft want to make certain "offensive" clauses, that's their right - i'd no more support someone violating a microsoft license than someone ripping off my work or the linux kernel or whatever