"Luis Med" <LuisMed@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:235FA5BE-90FB-4611-B046-61AC8C3DC651@microsoft.com...
>
> Thank you, Rock.
>
> I didn't know that rule. Probably I was so excited when I got my new
> computer that I missed that detail in the fine (or not so fine) print. OK,
> not that I like it, but that's not the issue.
>
> Then we are talking about OEM in my case. My worry is still the same.
>
> Even if keeping the same computer, parts of the hardware may be changed in
> the future; and the original+genuine+legal+wonderful Windows XP software
> will
> have to be reinstalled. I still think that Microsoft will be fooled as
> soon
> as some serial number doesn't match (let's say for example I changed my
> hard
> disk or the motherboard). Microsoft will think that I am installing
> illegally
> and will take every effort to make my life impossible (not that it's very
> easy as of now) even if I paid for this OEM version when buying my
> computer.
> If Microsoft were error-free I would sign the agreement immediately. But I
> know by many frozen blue screens and other unforgettable experiences that
> dear Microsoft sometimes makes mistakes. So, I still have the same fear
> before signing the agreement because I want to feel as free in the future
> as
> I do now. I don't see the interests of the consumer reflected in the
> agreement.
>
> This "what-if-I-reinstall" is still my concern. Can someone from Microsoft
> reassure me everything will be fine?
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>> "Luis Med" <Luis Med@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
>> >I have legal Windows software. I have not yet accepted the WGA
>> >agreement,
>> > because so far I don't know what will happen in the future. If I agree
>> > to
>> > WGA
>> > at the present time, Microsoft will link my present software to my
>> > present
>> > computer. Let's say that I buy a new computer tomorrow because what was
>> > my
>> > present computer has a hardware problem. I still have the Windows XP
>> > original
>> > software. It won't be used anymore in my old computer and I want to
>> > install
>> > it in my new computer. My fear is that Microsoft will think that the
>> > computer-software legal link has been broken and will deny service to
>> > my
>> > new
>> > computer with the old software. Please tell me if my concern is right
>> > or
>> > wrong.
>>
>> The issue is not whether your copy is legal, the issue is whether the XP
>> is
>> OEM or retail. A copy of XP can be moved from one computer to another if
>> it
>> is a retail copy (as long as it's first uninstalled from the computer
>> it's
>> on). If the copy on the first computer is OEM, by it's license it's tied
>> to
>> that first computer and cannot be moved to another one. This is not a
>> WGA
>> issue.


Signing what agreement, I'm not sure what you're talking about.

You can reinstall an OEM copy on the same computer as many times as you
want. Again this has nothing to do with WGA. It's all in the license
agreement or EULA. Read it for the details. The issue is activation and
what hardware you change. On many OEM systems the XP version is BIOS locked
to the motherboard so it can only be installed on a motherboard from that
OEM, and there is no activation, it is already activated. If it's not a
BIOS locked version then it will need to be reactivated when the OS is
reinstalled. Then the activation with go through on the internet or if
needed you have to make a phone call. This has nothing to do with WGA.

If you don't want to install the WGA update, don't.

This is a peer to peer newsgroup, not official MS support. If you want to
talk to someone at MS, you have to call them.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]