Hello peeps,
I have a dilema. I have a purchased a new motherboard and cpu and wish to install a fresh copy of windows xp onto it. The only problem being the only copy of xp home I have is on a system restore disc designed for advent computers. Will I be able to format and reinstall windows using the legit key I paid an extra £150 on top of the price of my computer only 6 months ago for or does Microsoft really expect me to spend another £150 on something I already have. I was told a repair install should keep it 'legal' (I hate the way the internet makes you feel guilty! I PAID for my xp) but a fresh install will invalidate microsofts OEM policy. On the other hand I am told of nightmares left over from previous installation, dodgy drivers, blue screens etc. not using some mobo features etc.
What do I do?
I have a very legit XP key, when I bought this PC Microsoft themselves keep telling me to upgrade "It's what PC's are all about" I'm told. So why am I expected to pay out everytime I want to upgrade or replace a componant? Help or advice appreciated, bye!

The basic premise is that one copy (product key) of XP can only run on one computer.

You can upgrade your computer (or get a new one) and move XP but at the activation process you will have to call Microsoft on the phone and speak with a human who will change the motherboard link that has been established. In other words right now your product key xyz is associated with motherboard 123. Microsoft will change the association of xyz to the new motherboard 345. But XP will no longer work on the old board. Only one.

All that being said trying to load an OEM onto a different brand of motherboard could be troublesome just because of how Advent tailored the Microsoft XP. There is no legal question here but a real mechanical question.

Your new motherboard will have a driver disk that may overcome these issues.

But again the basic concept is that you can not use both computers with one version of XP.

Hi Jephree,
I understand that I can't have XP running the same key on 2 machines at the same time and don't intend on keeping the old board and CPU but I feel I should be able to make an upgrade of this type while keeping my copy of XP and my settings etc. The truth of the matter is I cant even boot into windows with this new motherboard and CPU so to get it running I loaded an old Windows98se disc I had lying around onto an old xbox HD.
For a fresh install (!!!!ARGHH!!!!) would I need to buy a copy of XP again? Or could I do it with the OEM disc I have?
Obviously I don't want to reinstall all my programs, settings etc. is there anyway that I could get this running? Booting up the old board and deleteing all hardware drivers then switch boards?????? Unistall old mobo chipset etc. drivers and install new ones before switching????? Afterthat I could phone Microsoft and tell them 'its all going to be ok, calm down' then have a sandwhich.
Please help someone I don't want the headache of reinstalling everything and setting everything up again, I had it going so nice aswell. Thanks

If you have any priceless data on your old hard drive please back it up before experimenting.

Then you can try to install the old hard drive and see if you can run a Repair Install of XP:

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

This should leave your data and programs intact. Worth a try.

If you can get this to reload XP then the next step would be to install the new motherboard drivers as per their instructions.

If this doesn't work: what happens?

Firstly thanks Jephree, some good points I didn't think of before which helped with my final decision.

Right I've decided, Im going to sell the old motherboard, CPU, case+PSU and some ram as a machine and include Windows XP with legit key and rescue disk. Seeing as this software seems tied to the hardware (its because I cant get the 'genuine microsoft product' sticker off the side of the box isn't it!) might as well add a bit to the price and use the extra I make to get a copy of xp pro.

I understand why Microsoft & PC Manufacturers do this but feel ripped off at the same time, its like I'm borrowing an operating system.

Tara

I am a bit confused as to what you paid the extra money on.

In general Recovery Disks are part of an OEM product.

Anyway beyond my confusion I think your idea is the best at this point.

Although you might want to wait 6 months and get Windows Vista and or I bet that the price of XP will plummet on Vista's release.