How Many Changes Before a EULA Violation??

**MegalosSkylaki** · May 12th, 2008, 09:09 AM

As I understand it, the EULA on an OEM box comuter (Microsoft) requires the OS be used only on that Computer.
Now I've heard of people having to justify changes they made to these machines.

Maybe 'Genuine (Dis)Advantage picks these up. DK.

Question ralates to how many and what is a "change."

Like to put in a Video Card, one needs to change the OEM PSU for a decent PSU.

Is this one change or two?

also adding a controller for SATA or a Sound card.

Want to upgrade a MCE 2005 OEM rig with VID Card, Tuner card, and PSU to support same so as to make use of Media center 2005 OS.

Also OEM cases are too small and crappy to work with.

What if the whole enchilada, i.e. ALL the parts in an OEM rig are just simply moved to another larger case. All parts are the same. What constitutes a "compueter change"??? for the OEM M$ OS ?

DOOOOG

**Rootstonian** · May 12th, 2008, 03:32 PM

Not sure about OEM, but to me, if I buy the OS and I want to change my vid card, power supply, hd, mobo, then it's none of MS's business

I bought MY license for MY pc.

If they want to come out to the house and see that it's only one machine, then send someone out. "Innocent until proven guilty!"

You know, if they just lowered the price of the OS to a REASONABLE amount, then everyone, IMO, would buy a license and they wouldn't have to worry about pirating.

**Cmptr-Gy-Dv** · May 12th, 2008, 03:58 PM

major change, Motherboard, everything else is add on, you may have to call MS to get a new key, but they never question anything like memory, CD, DVD, Video,Hard drives, and unless you change allot of stuff at once nothing will happen,

**MegalosSkylaki** · May 12th, 2008, 08:19 PM

As I understand it, you can buy an OS Retail, OEM, or get it with a store-bought computer from an OEM maker.

Now is there any difference in the status of these three avenues??
I would think that a Retail OS is yours to put wherever, provided you only use in one computer at a time.

now with an OEM copy bought from a store you used to have to buy hardware with it, is that still the case, and is that theoretically intended to be used on a DIY computer?

But here's the question I'm really interested in. cases that OEM machines and their PSU come with are junky. Suppose you move the whole enchilada, except for the new PSU to a quality case, one that allows you to make upgrades without having to saw off a Vid card in half, or find half-length hard drive? I would think that this is still the "same computer".

Are there different levels of EULA rights and restrictions in these three types?
Maybe , but my guess is that the "gotcha" is if you use the same OS on more than one computer at a time. Or look as if by doing a lot of upgrades at a time.

MegalosSkylaki

**RamonGTP** · May 12th, 2008, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Rootstonian

Not sure about OEM, but to me, if I buy the OS and I want to change my vid card, power supply, hd, mobo, then it's none of MS's business

I bought MY license for MY pc.

If they want to come out to the house and see that it's only one machine, then send someone out. "Innocent until proven guilty!"

You know, if they just lowered the price of the OS to a REASONABLE amount, then everyone, IMO, would buy a license and they wouldn't have to worry about pirating.

Not that I agree with it, but it IS MS' business. When you buy an OS, you do not have the rights to it, MS does, all you have is permession to use it, in the fashion that MS says you can. That is basically what the EULA states. If you do not agree to it, you do not use the software. That is why the software is sealed with a note saying that if you break the seal, you have agreed to the EULA.

That said, I believe MS is ok with hardware changes as long as it is NOT the motherbaord.

Prices of the OS are pretty reasonable IMO, especially for OEM. $200 gets you Vista Ultimate. Figure about 5 years product cycle for an OS before a new one is released and that's not that bad of an investment. $200 over the coures of 5 years comes out to $3.33 a month.

**MegalosSkylaki** · May 12th, 2008, 08:33 PM

PS. What happens when they stopp supporting an OS? remember when MS tried to stop supporting 98SE when it was the most widely used in the World? I think 2kpro is the most widely used now.

DOOOG

**RamonGTP** · May 12th, 2008, 08:35 PM

I don't think ceasing the support of an OS is the same as relinquishing their rights to it.

**Cajunheat** · May 12th, 2008, 08:50 PM

MS oem OS'es are tied to the 1st. motherboard they are installed on (MS feels that a different mb creates a new computer). Any other hardware is ok, the worst that will happen is you will need to reactivate it. Retail versions can be installed on any machine at any time but, must be limited to just one machine at any given time .

**DeathWish187** · May 12th, 2008, 09:09 PM

I had to call up M$ to have them unlock XP when I was swapping ram to test each stick individually.

**RicheemxX** · May 12th, 2008, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by DeathWish187

I had to call up M$ to have them unlock XP when I was swapping ram to test each stick individually.

I have seen that happen a few times. Just one or two changes to things like ram or hdd's usually is ok. But swapping in and out four or five parts or repeatedly swapping parts that are different from the original hardware profile might cause the activation to re-trigger.

**cunokyle** · May 12th, 2008, 11:20 PM

I have swapped every piece of my system...a couple of different motherboards, processors, many sticks of ram and a few different vid cards. All on the same license as when I first purchased it. just had to call a couple of times to get a code.

**MegalosSkylaki** · May 13th, 2008, 12:56 PM

ThanX everybody. I think I get the idea now.

I am planning on upgrading a GFs computer by changing an Duron (!) 800Mhz to an Athlon 1.0 mhz/FSB200 i picked up awhile ago for that purpose. It's the highest CPU it will support. Lucky to find it in FSB200.

Worst that can happen with other computers I want to upgrade by adding parts is a reactivation.

Changing a mobo usually means building a new computer anyway, unless it exactly the same Mobo. Otherwise, you'll probably want to get a better one and new parts for it anyhow. If its an older mobo, you might not even be able to find parts for it. Ever look for a socket 939 core X 2 to upgrade from a single core, assuming the chipset will support it?? Some old parts are expensive because of scarcity and just not worth it.

DOOOOG

ThanX again.