so i have a OEM install of vista home premium from dell and plan on switching the motherboard. is there anyway to keep that OS valid or will i have to install a new license of home premium. also if buying a new OS is required is there any way that i could keep my settings/registry intact to avoid having to recustomize and reinstall my games/programs?
your OEM license of XP comes with 10 time activation. soon it becomes infinte when microsoft drop updates for xp roughly about now... if you have not gone over your 10 time limit then all you have to do is change the motherboard install the drivers like normal the only thing is that it might come up with window when you try and logon saying your hardware has changed considerably, windows will require re-activation... then just do it over the internet like normal and voila hope this helps
poor nub is on about fista.. talk to M$ before doing anything else, or else ditch that bloated drm riddled crap and go free open source.
do as munkyears had said MS will ask why just say like the motherboard died and had to reinstall and they will give u a code and just reinstall the motherboard drivers.