Is it a PC upgrade or a new PC?

[gumby6371]

At what point does a PC upgrade officially become a new PC?

I ask because I've just built a media centre for the bedroom and am considering having one in the lounge.

Here's the issue, I can buy an old machine from the bay of e spares or repair with windows 7 premium for about £40.

If I end up dumping all the internals can I still use the windows license 'legally'?

Microsoft state the license is for 1 pc and stays with that machine and dies with that machine, but as you could quite easily upgrade every single component in that machine do you need a new license ?

Financially a new oem windows costs between £70 and £80 and a reasonable case £20 to £40, potentially £120 for a box with a sticker on it, or go the ebay route for £40 but am I allowed to do that?

As I want a media centre a new BIG hard disc would be fitted and a super silent cooler and PSU combination are 'neccesary' upgrades, so if the existing MB is fubared, might as well replace with the latest standard which requires new RAM and a new CPU that leaves the case....see my point?

[CalamityJames]

Shhh, don't tell anyone but you would probably be fine to install that on the new PC so long as the old one is no longer in use! MS back in the day used to get stroppy when you just added more RAM (I had to reactivate an OEM XP install twice!). They give a bit more leeway now.

If it fails to activate you can activate by phone using the 0800 number they give, and when it asks you just say it's installed on 1 PC only (it's all automated so no need to speak to someone).

If it's a retail copy of Windows you can disregard all of the above because they are transferable to new PCs, it's only OEM copies that shouldn't really be used on new PCs

James

[406loon]

Ive had the same copy of XP Pro installed on 4 systems. All systems are online and have no problem running windows updates. I also have the same copy of windows 7 installed on 3 systems, again, all online and updating.

And as for it being all automated, in some cases it is but others when activating office or windows products sometimes the only way to activate is to speak to a microsoft tech who will generate a new code and read it to you as you put it in.

[ToddM]

Absolutely nobody cares matey. There is nothing Microsoft can do either so don't worry about it! If you want any help choosing components whack me a PM with a budget and what you want and I'll try my best to help you. (Build and sell PCs in my spare time)