Vista - Replacement motherboard issue?

Recently, I have built a new system and installed vista home premium 64 bit OEM (genuine copy). The machine worked perfectly for a week. Then my motherboard and CPU died. I have already sent the Motherboard for RMA and I am getting a new one (same make and model) and a new cpu is on the way(slightly faster cpu).

Knowing that OEM versions of windows vista are tied to the motherboard, I do have one question: Am I going to have any problems with windows activation when I boot up with the new motherboard? Or is everything going to be ok since its going to be exactly the same motherboard (only working)?

I did talk to a MS representitive on the phone. She has not heard of anyone in my situation but said, "If the motherboard dies, The license dies. Buy a new retail copy" I honestly don't fully believe her.

That is so not true!!!!

If motherboard dies, you change motherboard infinite times, and activation works perfectly...

The most probable that could happen is that windows will ask you to activate again, after installing the new motherboard.However, you might be even lucky and skip this part if the mobo is same brand/model. Anyway, iIf it doesn't accept the online activation, you will have to follow the phone activation method, which will guide you through some questions and answers, and then will give you the new activation key or string. You just have to answer that your copy of windows came with your PC, not that you bought it retail.

Regards

No need to buy a new OS. The most you'll have to do is call MS and explain the situation and they'll reactivate your OS, but more than likely you'll wind up doing what limneos described.

Whoever you spoke to was either unknowledgeable or didn't understand your question.

Have any of you guys been in this situation before?

I hope you guys don't frown on me digging up my old thread, but this story has a happy ending.

After a few weeks of my motherboard going through ups and MSI forgetting to repair my original mobo, I now I have a working motherboard and a fully running vista machine.

I booted vista and made sure everything was working properly. I checked to see If I my copy was still good, It said I had to activate in 3 days, so I decided to get this out of the way. The automatic activation through the internet didn't work, so I had to do the activation over the phone. It only took 10 mins, and I everything went smoothly.

I plan to stick around this message board in case I haveany other problems with vista.

From what I understand from my past dealings with Microsoft Operating Systems, your only hope if it is an OEM version is to contact the company that made your computer, if it came installed on that computer. If you bought an OEM Operating System and installed it, you are out of luck. Microsoft does not support OEM, and will not issue another key for it. If it is a retail version Microsoft will issue another key as long as it is not installed on another machine.

I do have a question; If I replace my motherboard and use the same cpu, ram, video card, harddrives, can I expect my copy of vista boot from my harddrive?

Depends on what you mean by "replacing your motherboard"???

It may or may not; expect to at least have to reactivate Windows. I've had past experiences where that's all I had to do. However, that was under XP, and the motherboard being "replace" was one step up from the one originally installed. Haven't tried it on Vista.

You could give it a try though, and at the first sign of trouble, replace the OS. (since you figured you had to...)

hi,
talking about new mobo and the oem vista. as long as your new mobo is compatible with windows vista your oem vista will definitely work including all your hardwares. microsoft will only give you activation key if it stand alone (retail i mean and not bundled in the purchase of the computer) as long as that vista worked with previous computer/s it will definitely work with a new one.

good day!

Thanks for the replys. I'm sorry, I'm new to these message boards. I'll give some of my background and what is happening with my current issue. I took an A+ course about 8 years ago, about the time xp first came out, and have built all my computers and several for my brother, also work on other friends computer problems.

My current problem stems from a power supply that has failed. When I was disconnecting it from my motherboard, an Asus P5WD2 Premium, one of the legs on the square four prong connector broke off in the socket on the motherboard, when I dug it out, the pin came off the motherboard. I ordered a new P5Q Pro Asus Motherboard and a new 650 watt power supply. Thus the need to replace the motherboard.

My hope is to be able to run a repair of the operating system, once I get the new parts and get the computer running again, without having to reinstall.

Yes, I only purchace Retail versions of Windows Operating Systems, because I am aware that microsoft does not support oem versions, costs a bit more but worth it in the long run. Murphy's Law is real. "What can go wrong, will go wrong."

I expect I will recieve the new components next week and will post my experience.

Like I said before, give it a try, at worst you'll have to reinstall the OS; or you courld try this before doing a reinstall - Repair Install For Vista, if things don't work out.

Let us know