Dumb Operating System question

[ChuckFinly]

Is it possible to legally upgrade from an OEM license of windows XP (32-bit) to Windows 7 Professional (64-bit) on a different motherboard than the original OEM license is on?

 

(example in case question was worded improperly) I have mobo "X" with a legal copy of XP OEM.

 

I want to upgrade to Windows 7 on mobo "Y" using the hard drive from mobo X

 

Is this legal or even possible as mobo X is an Intel and mobo y is an AMD.

 

I really don't want to spend a rediculous amount of money for a full disk version of professional (I'll buy an OEM Builder Kit before I do that!)

 

 

Thank you for your time and have a nice day.

Edited December 27, 2011 by ChuckFinly

[Illiad86]

9. Can I transfer my operating system license from an old PC to a new one?

ANSWER. Not unless it was purchased as a Full-Packaged Product from a retail store (i.e., Windows in a box). Current OEM licenses for all Microsoft operating system products are not transferable from one machine to another. The End User License Agreement (EULA) governs the terms for transfer of licenses. Some EULAs for copies of certain older OEM operating system products (i.e., MS-DOS®, Windows® 3.1, and Windows for Workgroups 3.1) distributed in 1995 or earlier may permit transfer of the OEM operating system software license under limited circumstances. (See Software Product Transfer section of your End User License Agreement.)

 

 

10. If I “retire” a PC with an OEM license on it, can I use that software on a new PC?

ANSWER. No. To put it simply, OEM product is “married” to the original PC on which it was installed. Current OEM licenses are not transferable from one machine to another. The software cannot be moved from PC to PC, even if the original PC it was installed on is no longer in use. This is true for all OEM software – operating systems and applications.

 

Straight from Microsoft's OEM FAQ. OEM licenses are cheap anyways..last I checked like $140ish for W7 64 bit.

Edited December 27, 2011 by Illiad86

[ChuckFinly]

Thanks, I was hoping that was not going to be the answer, but oh well. :sad:

 

Ok, can I load a Dell reinstallation CD on my new mobo (their license is legal for 30 days before one has to "activate" it), then buy a windows 7 upgrade (from XP or Vista) and load that on it legally?

[Illiad86]

Dell installation CDs are locked to a Dell system....so you cannot put it on a new motherboard unless it's another Dell that uses that same exact OS. Those recovery disks have some kind of code built into them telling that you can only use that CD on a Dell system.

 

You're pretty much stuck with buying a new OEM license or buying the retail version (which is a huge rip-off for MS so-called "support"), sorry :(

 

It's lame, but OEM licenses are intended for people who make computers and re-sell them. If those people were allowed to transfer the OS onto a different computer, they wouldn't be in business haha.

Edited December 28, 2011 by Illiad86