Hi,

I have been thinking about drive imaging software to use for backup, but I
am concerned about the ability to restore an image after a hardware failure.

If I create an image with say Norton Ghost, then have a motherboard failure,
and have to replace it, if I then try to restore the image, am I right in
thinking Windows will need to be reactivated? Then if I am using an OEM
version, the licence would not cover me for a new motherboard? If so, I then
have an image that I cannot use unless I can get hold of a motherboard of the
exact same make & model.

I hope that is not too confusing - I think I may be a little confused here
myself, which doesn't help.

Thanks very much in advance.

Mav

You are correct. An OEM version is tied to first system it is installed on.
While it is possible to swap out a lot of different components without
invalidating the OEM agreement the motherboard isn't one of those. Rather
than struggling to get the same motherboard you may wish to purchase a non
OEM copy of XP. You can load the image of your current OEM on the system and
then run a Repair Install.

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


"Mav" <Mav@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6792E0E0-C91E-42FA-B761-6893FB111F54@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have been thinking about drive imaging software to use for backup, but I
> am concerned about the ability to restore an image after a hardware
> failure.
>
> If I create an image with say Norton Ghost, then have a motherboard
> failure,
> and have to replace it, if I then try to restore the image, am I right in
> thinking Windows will need to be reactivated? Then if I am using an OEM
> version, the licence would not cover me for a new motherboard? If so, I
> then
> have an image that I cannot use unless I can get hold of a motherboard of
> the
> exact same make & model.
>
> I hope that is not too confusing - I think I may be a little confused here
> myself, which doesn't help.
>
> Thanks very much in advance.
>
> Mav

There are 2 types of OEM.....the one that comes with a system purchase and
is almost always tied to the motherboard ..no changes allowed
the other type is the version of OEM XP that you buy from a reatil store
with a piece of hardware and if your mobo "breaks" and is replaced with
another model it can be re activated by means of a phone call to MS.The key
word here is "breaks".If you have created an Image of the OS and replace the
mobo due to breakage you can restore that image to the Hard Drive...and then
you will need to do a repair installation to correct the drivers ......then
you will ned to explain to MS why you needed to do this.
I had an OEM installation on a mobo from company X...when the mobo
malfunctioned the company replaced the board but with a different model.I
was able to install my Retail Version OEM XP and after explaining the
situation to MS was issued a new activation code.
peter
"Mav" <Mav@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6792E0E0-C91E-42FA-B761-6893FB111F54@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have been thinking about drive imaging software to use for backup, but I
> am concerned about the ability to restore an image after a hardware
> failure.
>
> If I create an image with say Norton Ghost, then have a motherboard
> failure,
> and have to replace it, if I then try to restore the image, am I right in
> thinking Windows will need to be reactivated? Then if I am using an OEM
> version, the licence would not cover me for a new motherboard? If so, I
> then
> have an image that I cannot use unless I can get hold of a motherboard of
> the
> exact same make & model.
>
> I hope that is not too confusing - I think I may be a little confused here
> myself, which doesn't help.
>
> Thanks very much in advance.
>
> Mav

I can and have done the same thing with a generic OEM install.
Dave

"Harry Ohrn" <harry---@webtree.ca> wrote in message
news:%23MZ35MkvHHA.2040@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> You are correct. An OEM version is tied to first system it is installed
> on. While it is possible to swap out a lot of different components without
> invalidating the OEM agreement the motherboard isn't one of those. Rather
> than struggling to get the same motherboard you may wish to purchase a non
> OEM copy of XP. You can load the image of your current OEM on the system
> and then run a Repair Install.
>
> --
>
>
> Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
> www.webtree.ca/windowsxp
>
>
> "Mav" <Mav@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6792E0E0-C91E-42FA-B761-6893FB111F54@microsoft.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have been thinking about drive imaging software to use for backup, but
>> I
>> am concerned about the ability to restore an image after a hardware
>> failure.
>>
>> If I create an image with say Norton Ghost, then have a motherboard
>> failure,
>> and have to replace it, if I then try to restore the image, am I right in
>> thinking Windows will need to be reactivated? Then if I am using an OEM
>> version, the licence would not cover me for a new motherboard? If so, I
>> then
>> have an image that I cannot use unless I can get hold of a motherboard of
>> the
>> exact same make & model.
>>
>> I hope that is not too confusing - I think I may be a little confused
>> here
>> myself, which doesn't help.
>>
>> Thanks very much in advance.
>>
>> Mav
>
>