Is the OS registered to the MB or HDD?

[Frank E]

I'm looking for a new HDD.
Is the OS registered to the motherboard or to the hard drive?
Will I need a new licence when I upgrade my HDD?

[dave87]

Shouldn't do, though you may need to reactivate it

[SiM]

You won't need a new license. It is registered to the PC (which is usually considered at the motherboard), but you can use the same licence with a new mobo if the old one "breaks"

[jim]

I've read before that it's bound to a variety of components, and all sorts of changes can make it request that you re-activate the OS.

I've had issues before when adding a new hard drive, not even swapping one. You have to ring through to MS to activate via telephone, and an automated system asks you how many computers the OS is installed on. Confirm that it's just the one, and then the OS will be reactivated.

[Frank E]

Thanks, cool that's one less thing to buy.

[ManniX]

I've read before that it's bound to a variety of components, and all sorts of changes can make it request that you re-activate the OS.

I've had issues before when adding a new hard drive, not even swapping one. You have to ring through to MS to activate via telephone, and an automated system asks you how many computers the OS is installed on. Confirm that it's just the one, and then the OS will be reactivated.

I've always been under the impression that it being bound to a variety of components is why it doesn't throw a wobbly when you only change/add one piece of hardware. Mobo/cpu is always likely to cause an issue but something so swappable like hdds seems a bit OTT!

I guess every system is different.

[Rainmaker]

Though everyone maybe correct, it's still true to say that the posters above have only assumed that you're referring to a MS Windows OEM licence. Is that the case? Since you don't actually name the OS you're asking about, it's quite difficult to provide accurate licensing information.

If you are indeed talking about Windows (and of course you likely are), then do you have an OEM licence? Retail licences are not bound to a particular machine anyway, provided you only use it on one machine at a time. OEM is bound to a single motherboard, and will require you to buy a new licence if that component changes. The only exception is when the mobo is replaced under warranty and for a like for like replacement by the system builder/supplier.

OEM licenses changed from Win7 onwards and are explicitly stated to not be for the public's use (even home builders). Of course this is the letter' of the EULA and not the law, and in practice you can generally upgrade your mobo and simply auto-reactivate with MS on the phone either way.

I prefer to just stick to Linux. You don't have to PAY for the pleasure of all those silly restrictions that way.

[jim]

I've always been under the impression that it being bound to a variety of components is why it doesn't throw a wobbly when you only change/add one piece of hardware. Mobo/cpu is always likely to cause an issue but something so swappable like hdds seems a bit OTT!

I guess every system is different.

Yeah, I think it was meant to wait for you to reach a certain threshold, but in practice it seems very unpredictable as to when it's going to kick up a fuss.

[Champman99]

I think part of the problem is that the binding choices are a bit antiquated - so it uses things like Network card and Sound card, which for most people these days are all on the motherboard. I beleive there is a "points" system, where each device has a certain number of points assigned to it, and you can change so many points before activation is needed. Something like memory that is often upgraded has very few points, but the network card in particular has a high number of points. I may be completley wrong, but that is what I've read before.

Ive reactivated many OEM licenses with a quick call to the automatic microsoft line where a very posh automatic lady voice will tell you to type in your product key, ask how many machines the OS is installed on (press 1 at this point, although ive often wondered what happens if you press like 9) and then read you out an incredibly long code that you have to type into the wizard.

These include some W7 licenses, so although Microsofts stance on OEM installs says 1 PC and if that PC changes - new license, they dont seem to mind too much in my experience. Although of course you never know in each individual case.

Sometimes this will not even be required and although it will say it needs to be "reactivated" due to hardware change, the online activation will pass anyway.

[12GaugeShotty]

I'm looking for a new HDD.
Is the OS registered to the motherboard or to the hard drive?
Will I need a new licence when I upgrade my HDD?

Neither. An OEM license is registered to the PC it was installed on. You put the OEM sticker on the case per the EULA.

No, you can use the built-in Windows 7 backup utility to create an image and restore that to your new hard drive.

[kalniel]

I think part of the problem is that the binding choices are a bit antiquated - so it uses things like Network card and Sound card, which for most people these days are all on the motherboard. I beleive there is a "points" system, where each device has a certain number of points assigned to it, and you can change so many points before activation is needed. Something like memory that is often upgraded has very few points, but the network card in particular has a high number of points. I may be completley wrong, but that is what I've read before.

No you're right more or less. There's no points for memory, you can change that as much as you like, but there are points for things like graphics card, CPU, NIC, and many points for things like motherboard. Once you hit a threshold you are asked to reactivate. It got me on one computer which had a flaky onboard NIC - it would occasionally detect and occasionally not detect, meaning I got through my points quite quickly! (Was never a problem - one click online activation worked a treat). Disabling the NIC through BIOS helped though

[DanGent]

I've taken loads of licenses off broken machines (or machines i've put linux on) and put them on other machines. some retail licenses, most OEM. Never had to do anything more than speak to the posh robot lady.
Never had to reactivate after an upgrade though. Even after changing quite a few components!

[Frank E]

Thanks.

[directhex]

Hint: triggering a reactivation is not a problem, as long as the license is fine. Talk of points etc is all irrelevant as long as your license is good, and your license is good unless you upgrade your motherboard.