Win 7 OEM License - Changing Motherboard & Processor

fireberd said:

If you change the motherboard to a different model or manufacturer technically the OEM version cannot be activated as it is tied to the motherboard. However, I know Microsoft has made some exceptions.

I'm facing the same thing right now. I suspect a problem with my motherboard. I have another to replace it but it is a different vendor and I'm afraid Microsoft will not activate it. I've considered an "anytime upgrade" from Home to Pro version but I don't know if that will change the OEM version into a full version. So, I'm stuck.


XP was different and the process was much more lenient.

I suspect that changing the motherboard model or manufacturer may cause a red flag on activation, but if you have to take it to the next level and explain the reason for the change, such as failed or defective motherboard, the activation will happen.

I think that if you go for the anytime upgrade from OEM Home to Pro, you won't have an OEM license any longer which is good, because you will be eligible for free support and you won't have the OEM license which seems to give you more options when you contact MS. I've done that in the past with XP. I don't think there is a price difference when doing an anytime upgrade between OEM and retail versions.

fireberd said:

I asked about the anytime upgrade and whether it would make it a retail version, on another thread and haven't got any definitive answers

I think that if you buy the anytime upgrade from Microsoft, you have a new license and that new license is a non-OEM retail license even if you are upgrading from an OEM product. I believe it's the same as buying an upgrade version of an OS from a brick-and-mortar store or online. I suspect you may need your original OEM license every time you do a clean install of the upgrade license.

SIW2 said:

I have heard several reports of MS activating for people on the phone after mobo change.

I have never heard of MS refusing to do so. There was also an article several years ago in one of the PC mags ( think it was a UK mag), where MS had told them they do it. Seems to be standard practice. You will need to let them know you will be using it on only one machine.

I've done it before with my OEM Win 7 when I had to change my damaged motherboard with a new motherboard, same make and model, because I bent the processor pins cleaning it "real good." The old motherboard makes a nice doorstop now.

Hi there.

changing a Mobo and activation is a real game of Roulette. I've changed from an AMD to an INTEL chipset - completely different MOBO - and I never got a request for re-activation -- the system just booted up, got loads of new drivers, couple of re-boots and it was fine.

However I've had another case where I simply added a BLU RAY DVD writer -- guess what the wretched box requested a re-activation -- OK it passed but it was surprising in that what you perceive as a major change gets through while a trivial hardware upgrade flags re-activation.

I think you're on your own on this one. As far as retail is concerned Ms are quite lenient if you use the activate by phone method and are a bit good with gift of the gab or as some of my Irish friends would say - use a bit of the blarney!!).

Cheers
jimbo