Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (
More info?)
On Mon, 22 Aug 2005 16:43:10 GMT, Leythos <void@nowhere.lan> wrote:
> In article <91tjg1h62s7avvhr023ujhg3ou0p421qi8@4ax.com>, dlmcdaniel2005
> @yahoo.com says...
> >
> > On Mon, 22 Aug 2005 13:56:59 GMT, Leythos <void@nowhere.lan> wrote:
> >
> > > In article <5DD95DF2-C09F-4C00-9A42-F7FFEAC72DB8@microsoft.com>,
> > > jj@discussions.microsoft.com says...
> > > > Help. I have a Dell pc and the mobo just fried and of course I didnt take the
> > > > extended warranty, so I bought a new mobo (asus) now that everything is back
> > > > together it won't let me activate. When I use the 800 number they say that
> > > > the product can't be activated. Please help.
> > >
> > > Here's the deal - since your motherboard died, MS permits a replacement
> > > motherboard of a different type to be installed and still be considered
> > > the same system under the OEM agreement. In your case, you need to call
> > > MS, tell them that you have a replacement motherboard as part of an OEM
> > > repair from Dell, and that Dell said you need a new activation key.
> >
> > Actually, this is not completely true: Microsoft's OEM policies
> > require you to fulfil the conditions of the OEM (in your case, Dell)
> > in replacing the burnt motherboard. The Dell OEM agreement requires
> > you to replace a defective motherboard with an identical one purchased
> > from Dell.
> >
> > > If you explain it, nicely, as the fact that you are replacing a
> > > defective OEM board with an OEM board, it fully qualifies you to
> > > reactivate.
> >
> > If your OEM CD is a so-called "Full OEM (generic)", Microsoft allows
> > you to replace it with any other motherboard. But if your OEM is
> > Dell, it must be replaced with an identical one purchased from Dell,
> > IF you want to keep your Dell OEM license.
> >
> > Unless you fulfil the Dell warranty conditions, your Dell OEM license
> > will lapse.
>
> Not true - any defective motherboard from any OEM may be replaced with
> an identical or a different motherboard if no identical board is
> available - please check the Systems Builder site if you don't want to
> believe this.
Actually, you should have written "not completely true". What I wrote
was true in general for OEM licenses distributed by large system
builders such as Dell. End-users are required to fulfil the OEM's
license terms if they want their OEM license to remain in effect after
a motherboard change.
However, you do make a good point. What happens if Dell has no
identical replacement motherboard?. I am pretty sure they would allow
you to install a non-Dell-supplied motherboard in that instance. I
didn't think about that, nor did I know that Dell (never bought a Dell
computer) has that policy. But it really makes sense to me. Hopefully,
it also makes sense to Microsoft.
Donald L McDaniel
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