Windows 10: Upgrading PC but want to preserve my windows licence.

if I have activated windows 10 does and it attaches with a Microsoft account. Can I use the same licence in a brand new setup? Mine is OEM.

:)

 

MS: Upgraded Motherboard = New Windows Licence

MS changes licence retrspectively too!

My friend has a eMachines PC complete with OEM installed copy of XP home. The PC stopped working, I investigated and found the power supply blown - easy and cheap to fix £30 - a new power supply from PCWorld. *Smile
Then USB and audio on motherboard was found to have failed - easy and cheap to fix - new mother board. £30.*Smile

So for £60 I have a working PC BUT what is this? XP wants to be validated.
OK I phone MS and they are very helpful. I put in my valid key and ... Oh dear it is no good. *Mad

After speaking with a number of MS staff they tell me that they cannot help me as it is an OEM copy and give me the number of the eMachines support. I phone the "tech guys" and they are very helpful, tell me how other customers have had the same problem and ask for my extended support contract details - as soon as I say I haven't one they tell me they cannot help me... *Bang Head :banghead:

Back to MicroSoft, it seems the line is new motherboard = new pc = new XP licence
(cost £199 from PC world). I could get a new PC for not much more than £200 complete with another OEM licence!

I haven't upgraded the PC, I have changed nothing but the powersupply and motherboard. The PC has the same CPU, same memory, same hard disk, same case, same CD drive, same floppy. But microsoft insist it is 'new' and needs a full licence.

Microsoft's policy may help their bank balance and manufacturers of complete pcs but it contibutes to waste, adds to global warming and increases the number of disaffected microsoft users by 2.

So how do I get at all my photos and applications and data? MS answer is to pay for a full licence £199; my answer is to install a second hard drive £50, install linux (free) and copy over my pics, mp3s and data. I will need some new apps too as MS office wont work on linux.

So Microsoft, you have lost me (and my friend) lost future upgrade licence fees to vista, lost MS office licence fees and driven me reluctantly to linux.

PCWorld, I will now advise not to buy a PC with MS windows unless you are willing to pay for ongoing support that covers windows licence costs should the motherboard fail.

 

Microsoft: Upgraded Motherboard = New Windows Licence

Microsoft recently made a change to the licence agreement saying that a new motherboard is equal to a new computer, hence you need to purchase a new Windows licence.Here is what Microsoft has to say:

The reason Microsoft gave for this term is that:

Microsoft sent a memo to its OEM partners asking them to enforce this new policy, every time they upgrade a computer for a client.

Source: Aviran's Place

 

Windows XP Home Licence...

Yep, and I'll give s simple summary for anyone that is still confused.

Retail License:

• Supported by Microsoft
• Can only be running on 1 machine per license
• Can be transferred from one machine to another as long as it is removed from the old machine first

OEM License:

• Supported by the whoever installs it
• Bound to the motherboard it is originally installed on
• The motherboard can only be changed in the event of a motherboard failure, and then the replacement motherboard must be the same model or an equivalent model

Upgrade License:

• Support is bound by the license of the version you are upgrading from
• Can be transferred from one PC to another as long as it is uninstalled from the previous computer first
• When transferred support is bound by the license of the version you are upgrading from on the new machine