Need to buy oem XP Home or is there a work around

[nixie]

A friend of mine installed a new motherboard into his Compaq computer case and attempted to reinstall Windows XP Home from the System Restore Set that came with the computer. The problem is that the system restore set pops up stating that the hardware does not match, so I am guessing it detects the motherboard somehow during this process and doesnt allow install as bootleg protection is blocking because of this new foreign motherboard in the original box.

Does he need to buy a new copy of Windows OS, even though this box is already licensed for a single copy of XP Home when it was made?

Does the Windows XP Home License die with the motherboard for that box, or can he legally use another persons OEM copy of Windows XP Home and his key off the side panel to activate?

[Geek-9pm]

Does the Windows XP Home License die with the motherboard for that box, or can he legally use another persons OEM copy of Windows XP Home and his key off the side panel to activate?

Short answer, yes.
Any OEM version of Windows ® is tied to the motherboard and possibly the hard drive from the manufacture. However, the retail version of Windows can be moved from one PC to another  by calling in to the Microsoft telephone support.

[patio]

If you borrow an MS XPHome CD and completely wipe the machine and do a clean install thiss is well within your rights under the EULA...
The versions need to match.
Then boot to the XP CD...delete and re-create the C:\ partition and run setup...

NOTE: It would be a good idea to collect all the neccessary drivers from the manuf. site before starting...

If activation hiccups after this use the 800 # for MS and they will issue a new key.

[nixie]

Thanks!

[patio]

Anytime...let us know.