Used PC with Windows OEM sticker...

I have purchased a used PC and it has the windows sticker with the reg. oem key.
Is this going to be any good to me in the case that I have to re-install Windows or replace the HDD if I do not have the original windows disk that was used to install the current OS issued with the serial key that is on the sticker?
Thank you!!!!

 

If the HDD has a Restore/Recovery partition then you will be able to reinstall Windows.
Replacing the HDD will not be possible with an OEM key

 

Just to add. If it's a branded PC like Dell, HP etc you can call them and they wiil send you a installation/recovery disk at a cost.

 

It is an IBM Thinkpad A31 and it has a brand new Hard drive that was installed and loaded with Windows XP Pro SP2. So if I had to reload the OS system, I could reinstall it from any certified OEM disc and use the reg. serial from the sticker on the Laptop and would be good to go....????

 

Did IBM change the HDD? Do you have a recovery partition. If yes you can restore to factory settings. I have an oldish IBM R52 which had a recovery partition.

You cannot use any OEM disk as they are tailored for the machine.

You really need to find out where the HD was replaced and how the OS got in. Is Windows updating?

 

Got it from a company on ebay that refurbs and resells off lease computers. They are the ones that put in a new HDD and loaded the OS and stickered the unit. No recovery partition. It runs great!!!
I normally tailor the OS to suite my needs. I remove certain MS junk and the bundled crap that is hogging up the system.
Yes, I have received updates and I custom install those as well. There are lots of the optional updates I do not want installed.
I was just wondering what good the oem windows sticker is, if in the event, I want to either wipe the HDD or install a new drive???
I would think if I have an oem windows xp pro disk to install the OS and use the key on the sticker, I would be fine.

 

In case of a wipe you will need to image the drive, before. Use Norton or Acronis for the same, to enable a reinstall. Changing the HD is - again not a possibility.
Cheers..

 

I have a similar problem. I have a legal win XP cd, (original version of XP), but the sticker is lost. It was apparently never installed on another machine, I opened the package myself. However the product key is missing. Anything I can do?

 

@tarmin8or: as long as the OEM sticker does not list a brand name, like: "Windows XP/HP" then you are fine to reinstall using any XP CD. I have done it plenty of times before.

@dannygjk: If you have no product key, there is nothing you can do (legally)

 

Is this right sikvik? My understanding has been that an OEM version is tied to a motherboard rather than to a HDD. After I bought my present machine I reformatted the HDD to get rid of the recovery partition and create others, which is equivalent to fitting a new HDD, and had no activation issues.

 

I only ever use OEM OS when i build, and have never had any activation problem changing any component at a later date.
i have just changed the HDD and Mobo on one comp that was brought in last week and used the OEM sticker i put on years ago and a random XP disk i had kicking around with NO activation problem.

 

this is the license from microsoft. it doesn't say you cannot change components.http://oem.microsoft.com/public/sblicense/2008_sb_licenses/fy08_sb_license_english.pdf

however i found the following in the FAQ section of the OEM page for microsoft.

Q. If my customer asks me to upgrade a PC with new hardware components, when is a new operating system needed? When would the PC be considered "new"?

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.



when i asked, A system builder it seems would determine what constitutes as a qualifying motherboard

 

Microsoft has been very vague and unclear on their OEM licensing. This argument will not be going away any time soon.