Motherboard and OS

[ChazFarote.-FTX-.]

OK, I think I may replace my Motherboard with the new MSI K9A2 Platinum. I'm considering this because of my whole USB problem.

Now, when I bought my OS I got an OEM version of Vista. Does anyone know what I can do with it? My guess is I'd also have to buy a new OS.

Please tell me what you think.

Everything else I'd keep the same. Right now I have a MSI k9A Platinum Mobo. I'd probably give it away.

[Redbull]

not quite sure what u meant by that but if what your asking is if you can still keep the same OS disc and re use it on ure updated computer. then yes it doesnt matter if uve already installed it and registered to microsoft with that liscence key, your computer specs were registered when you decide to register ure vista, but that wont change anything, Microsoft cannot limit their software to hardware changes, it would be ridiculous to have to buy a new OS for swapping out a piece of hardware.
as for the mobo upgrade. good idea considering the new MSI mobo was released after vista came out, many problems will have been resolved.
hope this helped even if im not quite sure what u were asking.
Cheers

edit** just went to make sure. OEM versions are restricted to installation on a new system, your system is the same system, i might add aswell that re-installing your os after changing youre motherboard is not required, un-installing the old mobo drivers and removing the registry keys it created will suffice.

[Xeon]

Don't change the OS even if it's OEM version you bought, when you change your mobo don't do run the performance rating thing on Vista, I see it more as a ploy by M$ to invalidate your copy as it scans for hardware changes. If it's still invalid either way, just call up them up for a new key and they'll ask if you have installed on multiple machines, and of course the correct and smart answer would be to say 'no'.

[ChazFarote.-FTX-.]

Rebull, that is sorta what I was asking. Thanks, but now we see the problem.

Xeon, not sure about your reply, you must have been sleepy or in a hurry lol but I don't understant it fully. Are you saying cuz I have an OEM I'll have problems after the hardware change? Or are you saying it'll install but that I shouldn't do the Vista score thing?

So you are saying if I change the MoBo I need a new OS or do you agree with Pit?

I'm going to go look at MS's faq's now.

[Xeon]

Rebull, that is sorta what I was asking. Thanks, but now we see the problem.

Xeon, not sure about your reply, you must have been sleepy or in a hurry lol but I don't understant it fully. Are you saying cuz I have an OEM I'll have problems after the hardware change? Or are you saying it'll install but that I shouldn't do the Vista score thing?

So you are saying if I change the MoBo I need a new OS or do you agree with Pit?

I'm going to go look at MS's faq's now.

Not saying you will have problems, I don't like the performance rating thing in Vista, I find it to be the culprit that was deactivating my OEM copy. So I gave MS another call and they gave me a new key, after then changing my mobo (since my previous one died due to the OC'ing) I decided not to do the performance rating and leave it alone and even after changing my mobo it didn't deactivate the key, and as you know, changing a mobo is like buying a whole new PC. After you install your mobo, check to see if the key is still activated. If yes, leave it alone, don't do performance rating, (or if you want you can, but it will probably deactivate it but you can get a new key from them anyways). If not, give MS a call anyways on the toll free line provided on there to re-activate your copy and you'll get a new key from them. I hope this clears up any confusion.

[ChazFarote.-FTX-.]

That makes better sense but I'm still confused. So I should be able to use the same install disk and if I have activation problems a call should fix them?

[Filthy.X.-FTX-.]

If I understand him correctly he's saying - If you already have vista installed on one machine, and want to install it on another - the detected hardware changes may cause it be picked up as non-genuine. So call up MS and tell them you had alot of hardware changes and you need a new key because your comp doesn't think yours is genuine

[Knight.-FTX-.]

Chaz, change out the mobo, start up the computer, and DON'T run the Vista score thing. That is all he is saying. You should be fine as long as you follow those instructions. Your copy of Windows will not be deactivated as long as you do NOT run the Vista score thing, and it will boot up just fine.

[Xeon]

So call up MS and tell them you had alot of hardware changes and you need a new key because your comp doesn't think yours is genuine

Basically, yes, they can't really check anyways if you are lieing or not. I know for sure doing just one hardware change doesn't invalidate the key, but multiple ones. It actually is algorithm-based, and at a certain degree where more hardware changes add up it becomes invalidated. When there's a new key it goes back to it's default value. Smaller things such as adding new RAM or a new hard drive might not invalidate it the first time, but a mobo might/should. For me however, it didn't and this is in from not running the performance thing. I remember though when a simple thing such as an new update for the SATA drivers was released, and I did the performance rating and it invalidated my key, Vista thinking as if I added a new drive. I learned from my mistake that I was actually doing the performance rating that was causing it to invalidate. So I had gave MS a second call and I got another key.

Chaz, change out the mobo, start up the computer, and DON'T run the Vista score thing. That is all he is saying. You should be fine as long as you follow those instructions. Your copy of Windows will not be deactivated as long as you do NOT run the Vista score thing, and it will boot up just fine.

Yep. After changing the mobo, he'd wanna check to see if the key is still valid, then I wouldn't recommend running the Vista performance thing. If it says it needs to validate, give a call to MS anyways and they'll give you another key, simple as that.



Just found an image on the screen where to check. This would be in system properties, I don't know on top of my head since I use XP most of the time.

[ChazFarote.-FTX-.]

I got a response from MS, I'll post it tomorrow, lazy right now. The pic didnt' show up Xeon.