Hmm.. there was this comment from this fellow using the nick, 'Shorty' previously, who had claimed that there's a loophole in allowing OEM licences to be transferred from an old computer to a new. First time I've heard of it actually, does anybody know of it? Or is it just smoke?
I thought MS's activation prvent you change hardware. So won't that pretty much is the same idea as OEM.
Well, you have to call them up after three activations. If you have a good reason, they will give you an activation code that will work even with subsequent hardware changes.
do you mean that the code will work for 3 times again. For people like me who love to reinstall OS, it's a huge hassle.
shouldnt be a problem activating unless one day you found out you cant activate hmmm ... OEM .. linked to the motherboard? if you motherboard screwed up you will have trouble
Well, legally, it's linked to the system. But what constitutes a system? You can buy the OEM version with any piece of hardware. That's why cheap mice are popular. Hehe.. I guess the licence follows whatever hardware you purchased with it?
Don't think its to do with that. He was claiming that the existing OEM license with your current computer can be transferred to a new computer.
Well, from what I've read, current M$ practice is that a new motherboard constitutes as a new computer, unless its due to motherboard defect.
Can u really get the OEM licence with just any piece of hardware? Sounds a bit odd, as M$ themselves had already defined what constitutes as a change to a new system.
Yeah, exactly. It doesn't really matter what component you buy, the problem comes when you are trying to upgrade something big on your system, like a motherboard, you will not be able to reactivate.
Well, have to ask Jason. He did it before. If you have a good reason, like tell them you are upgrading the motherboard, they will give you a new key which does not need to be reactivated again and again.
Hmm.. I'll have to ask Jason again, but I remember him telling me that according to the guy he spoke to, they don't really mind. The point is at least you have a legit copy.
yup. just have to tell them there are some changes in your hardware configuration. never asked further than that. this is probably the stupidest system ever.
see that I can understand. As long as it's legit, they should let you install as many time as you want. I think what sucks is that you can't install 32bit and 64bit as you choose. I think MS should let people install either one with the same code (ie insall home 32 or 64 as your choice, but they want you to buy 2 licenses so they can make double of the money). So is it better to buy the OEM version (it's really consider as retail version then). What about the newegg promo on the free upgrade? what do you guys think about that?