- Joined
- Jun 30, 2014
- Location
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Hello 
It's my very first time, building a PC on my own, and first time i bought an new Win8.1 Disk.
However, I've read online that this can only be installed once.
(or maybe it's a misunderstanding from my side)
Because, I need to replace my (upgrade) Motherboard and CPU later on. But I have an SSD already and I plan to install it now because my PC is slow in starting up.
But after I install a new mobo and CPU, I'd have to reinstall Win8.1 correct?
But is it true that OEM Win8.1 Disks can only be installed once? One motherboard?
Here's from Microsoft's Licensing FAQ:
Q. Can a PC with an OEM Windows operating system have its motherboard upgraded and keep the same license? What if it was replaced because it was defective?
A. Generally, an end user can upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on a computer—except the motherboard—and still retain the license for the original Microsoft OEM operating system software. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created. Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred to the new computer, and the license of new operating system software is required. If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer's replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer's warranty.
The reason for this licensing rule primarily relates to the Microsoft Software License Terms and the support of the software covered by those terms. The Microsoft Software License Terms are a set of usage rights granted to the end user by the PC manufacturer, and relate only to rights for that software as installed on that particular PC. The system builder is required to support the software on the original PC. Understanding that end users, over time, upgrade their PCs with different components, Microsoft needed to have one base component "left standing" that would still define the original PC. Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created. The original system builder did not manufacture this new PC, and therefore cannot be expected to support it.
thanks in advance for your replies. Have a good day
It's my very first time, building a PC on my own, and first time i bought an new Win8.1 Disk.
However, I've read online that this can only be installed once.
(or maybe it's a misunderstanding from my side)
Because, I need to replace my (upgrade) Motherboard and CPU later on. But I have an SSD already and I plan to install it now because my PC is slow in starting up.
But after I install a new mobo and CPU, I'd have to reinstall Win8.1 correct?
But is it true that OEM Win8.1 Disks can only be installed once? One motherboard?
Here's from Microsoft's Licensing FAQ:
Q. Can a PC with an OEM Windows operating system have its motherboard upgraded and keep the same license? What if it was replaced because it was defective?
A. Generally, an end user can upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on a computer—except the motherboard—and still retain the license for the original Microsoft OEM operating system software. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created. Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred to the new computer, and the license of new operating system software is required. If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer's replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer's warranty.
The reason for this licensing rule primarily relates to the Microsoft Software License Terms and the support of the software covered by those terms. The Microsoft Software License Terms are a set of usage rights granted to the end user by the PC manufacturer, and relate only to rights for that software as installed on that particular PC. The system builder is required to support the software on the original PC. Understanding that end users, over time, upgrade their PCs with different components, Microsoft needed to have one base component "left standing" that would still define the original PC. Since the motherboard contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the motherboard is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created. The original system builder did not manufacture this new PC, and therefore cannot be expected to support it.
thanks in advance for your replies. Have a good day
