My daughter got a new motherboard (Asus M3A78 ). The hard drive (came with a SR5000 Series Compaq computer). She’s been told that the OEM Vista OS does not recognize the new motherboard, and it voided the licensing, and now the hard drive is locked.
I need to know this…If we bought a new Windows program, if it would install on the old hard drive, or, do we need to buy a new hard drive?
It’s Vista and not the hard drive that is the problem. You probably have to reformat the hard drive before you install the new OS though.
Thank you so much for your expertise, Harmonious Discord!
She’s ready to go over the edge at the moment, because her computer isn’t working. She’ll give it a shot, and hopefully, it’ll fix the problem.
You should be able to repair the installation using any XP disk.
You will be required to reactivate windows within thirty days of the repair. You may be able to do it online or possibly need to phone Microsoft for an activation code.
As long as you have the original installation key, which should be stuck to the side of the computer.
You may be locked out of Windows until you enter the activation code.
How do you mean locked? Vista will require reactivation after a certain number of hardware changes, but that’s simply a matter of ringing the telephone number in the Activation program. However, while Vista should autodetect the new motherboard and install new drivers, a reinstall is prudent.
Ooops, sorry, assumed XP and I see it is Vista. :o
Same should apply though.
I have never heard of this. Why does an operating system care what type of motherboard you have installed? And if it did care, why would you have to buy a new hard drive?
It is attuned to the motherboard on installation.
Change the motherboard and it won’t run, or will run very poorly.
You can re-run the installation disk and it will repair the bits that don’t work but leave the installation otherwise untouched, so all your programs still work and your files are all still there.
The license is for a specific computer and if you change the basic hardware then you need to re-activate it.
The Vista program came pre-installed on the computer. We do not have a disc for it. It came pre-installed on all of our computers (and a laptop), and there is no Vista disc at all.
Anyway, we ordered a Vista program yesterday. It should be here by the 31st. We’ll see.
Thank you, everyone, for your help.
In the mean time why don’t you down load a Linux cd that run from the cd. She can play games that are on the cd and surf the internet. These two work good from the cd in my experience.
Thank you, Harmonious Discord.
She fired up her old computer (she always runs two computers at a time, but she had another one in reserve), and she’s able to use it for gaming (She’s into WoW…On level 70-something, I believe), but it’s just not as good/fast/whatever as her newer one!
This is the problem with pre-built computers form companies like Compaq or Dell, etc.
Anything goes wrong and you HAVE to go through them. The solution for a bad mobo was to call them up, probably ship it to them and have them deal with the issue in a few a weeks (assuming your warranty is still good). Once you go and buy your own mobo they won’t have anything to do with your machine.
Given that your daughter can install a new mobo on her own, next time she should look into building her own machine.
I think you purchased vista already, but just in case you didn’t know and you can still cancel the order, they have home premium OEM at new egg for $75. I bought myself a copy for a PC I’m building for a family member.