WGA: replace motherboard but keep my copy of XP?

Hi,

I find that, due to a lightning strike, my Dell Dimension 4500
motherboard and/or my CPU is bad. I bought the system nearly four years
ago, and the warranty is expired. I have the original XP install disk
that came with the system, and all the original drives, memory stick,
video card, case, PSU, etc., all of which seem to work.

If I buy a replacement motherboard and/or CPU from Dell or elsewhere,
can I legally use the original copy of Windows XP? Is it going to be a
nightmare getting past the WGA check so I can get updates?

Thanks for your help.

Matt wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I find that, due to a lightning strike, my Dell Dimension 4500
> motherboard and/or my CPU is bad. I bought the system nearly four years
> ago, and the warranty is expired. I have the original XP install disk
> that came with the system, and all the original drives, memory stick,
> video card, case, PSU, etc., all of which seem to work.
>
> If I buy a replacement motherboard and/or CPU from Dell or elsewhere,
> can I legally use the original copy of Windows XP? Is it going to be a
> nightmare getting past the WGA check so I can get updates?
>
> Thanks for your help.

Unless the replacement motherboard is the same model as the original you
would probably have Windows Product Activation issues. You might also
have issues with the old Windows installation not being able to work
properly without a repair installation or a clean installation.

I would be surprised if installation media from a name brand like Dell
would cooperate with attempts to repair or reinstall in a system that
contains any motherboard other than a relatively narrow group of models
from that manufacturer.

Be VERY careful about Motherboard-PSU compatibility issues. SOME name
brands use non standard power connector pin outs, despite having the
same connector as the generic ATX connector.

You absolutely have every right to use the CD (IMNSHO).

If you get the motherboard from Dell and boot from the CD, you should
never see any prompt for a serial number or activation.

Regards,
Hank Arnold

Matt wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I find that, due to a lightning strike, my Dell Dimension 4500
> motherboard and/or my CPU is bad. I bought the system nearly four years
> ago, and the warranty is expired. I have the original XP install disk
> that came with the system, and all the original drives, memory stick,
> video card, case, PSU, etc., all of which seem to work.
>
> If I buy a replacement motherboard and/or CPU from Dell or elsewhere,
> can I legally use the original copy of Windows XP? Is it going to be a
> nightmare getting past the WGA check so I can get updates?
>
> Thanks for your help.

> Matt wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I find that, due to a lightning strike, my Dell Dimension 4500
>> motherboard and/or my CPU is bad. I bought the system nearly four
>> years ago, and the warranty is expired. I have the original XP
>> install disk that came with the system, and all the original drives,
>> memory stick, video card, case, PSU, etc., all of which seem to work.
>>
>> If I buy a replacement motherboard and/or CPU from Dell or elsewhere,
>> can I legally use the original copy of Windows XP? Is it going to be
>> a nightmare getting past the WGA check so I can get updates?
>>
>> Thanks for your help.
Hank Arnold wrote:
> You absolutely have every right to use the CD (IMNSHO).
>
> If you get the motherboard from Dell and boot from the CD, you should
> never see any prompt for a serial number or activation.
>
> Regards,
> Hank Arnold
>
Yes, but if you get a motherboard from someone else you not only MAY
need to get a new PSU (the Dimension's 250W is a bit small anyway) the
existing OS installation would probably be useless AND the setup on the
installation/recovery media will probably refuse to work. This is one
consequence of name brand manufacturers trying to lock you into
depending on them for repairs and upgrades. It also protects them from
the expense of customers wanting support when they have trouble getting
systems with third party upgrades to work.

In other words: Unless you plan to make SURE your new Dell MB is
compatible with your existing installation media you may as well order a
new case, PSU and Windows license with that motherboard. With voltage
spike damage you may want to be prepared in case things like memory, the
CPU and drives need replacing too.

FYI, the Dimension 4500 and other Dell Socket 478 P4 systems use exactly the
same ATX-12v power connector as found in generic computers. However, many of
the other connectors are proprietary... Ben Myers

On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 01:30:45 -0400, RobertVA <>
wrote:

>Matt wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I find that, due to a lightning strike, my Dell Dimension 4500
>> motherboard and/or my CPU is bad. I bought the system nearly four years
>> ago, and the warranty is expired. I have the original XP install disk
>> that came with the system, and all the original drives, memory stick,
>> video card, case, PSU, etc., all of which seem to work.
>>
>> If I buy a replacement motherboard and/or CPU from Dell or elsewhere,
>> can I legally use the original copy of Windows XP? Is it going to be a
>> nightmare getting past the WGA check so I can get updates?
>>
>> Thanks for your help.
>
>Unless the replacement motherboard is the same model as the original you
>would probably have Windows Product Activation issues. You might also
>have issues with the old Windows installation not being able to work
>properly without a repair installation or a clean installation.
>
>I would be surprised if installation media from a name brand like Dell
>would cooperate with attempts to repair or reinstall in a system that
>contains any motherboard other than a relatively narrow group of models
>from that manufacturer.
>
>Be VERY careful about Motherboard-PSU compatibility issues. SOME name
>brands use non standard power connector pin outs, despite having the
>same connector as the generic ATX connector.

The only motherboard model guaranteed to install trouble free is another
Dimension 4500 motherboard. I ***THINK*** but I'm not perfectly certain that
the Dimension 4550 motherboard is close enough in its chipsets that it will not
cause Micro$oft WGA to belch, fart and throw up all over your system. The
Dimension 4600 motherboard has an Intel 865 chipset, which is different than the
Intel 845 family chipset in the 4500. To use a 4600 board would require some
chipset driver software installation and may have WGA issues, too. All use the
same chassis with the same connectors for front panel, audio, and cooling fan.

In addition to WGA issues, a non-Dell motherboard would be extremely difficult
to integrate into a Dell chassis because it has several proprietary connectors
to which proprietary Dell cables attach... Ben Myers

On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 04:35:07 GMT, Matt <> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I find that, due to a lightning strike, my Dell Dimension 4500
>motherboard and/or my CPU is bad. I bought the system nearly four years
>ago, and the warranty is expired. I have the original XP install disk
>that came with the system, and all the original drives, memory stick,
>video card, case, PSU, etc., all of which seem to work.
>
>If I buy a replacement motherboard and/or CPU from Dell or elsewhere,
>can I legally use the original copy of Windows XP? Is it going to be a
>nightmare getting past the WGA check so I can get updates?
>
>Thanks for your help.

See my earlier post about motherboard models. A Dell branded motherboard is
the only practical option for a replacement. Period.

The Dell 250w power supply has proven to be perfectly adequate for a Dell
4000-series system, even if it is tricked out with more memory and more devices.
Still, if a power supply replacement is in order (generally a good idea when
lightning strikes), careful selection of a good brand (Antec for example) of
generic power supply will work. The Dell P4 series 4000, 8000, 2000, tower
Optiplex, and tower Precision all use power supplies with a standard form factor
easily obtainable.

You are 100% correct that a thorough check of all the other hardware is in order
after a catastrophic failure. The value of the OP's data accumulated over four
years is yet another consideration... Ben Myers

On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 05:41:26 -0400, RobertVA <>
wrote:

>
<SNIP>
>Yes, but if you get a motherboard from someone else you not only MAY
>need to get a new PSU (the Dimension's 250W is a bit small anyway) the
>existing OS installation would probably be useless AND the setup on the
>installation/recovery media will probably refuse to work. This is one
>consequence of name brand manufacturers trying to lock you into
>depending on them for repairs and upgrades. It also protects them from
>the expense of customers wanting support when they have trouble getting
>systems with third party upgrades to work.
>
>In other words: Unless you plan to make SURE your new Dell MB is
>compatible with your existing installation media you may as well order a
>new case, PSU and Windows license with that motherboard. With voltage
>spike damage you may want to be prepared in case things like memory, the
>CPU and drives need replacing too.

On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 04:35:07 GMT, Matt <>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I find that, due to a lightning strike, my Dell Dimension 4500
>motherboard and/or my CPU is bad. I bought the system nearly four years
>ago, and the warranty is expired. I have the original XP install disk
>that came with the system, and all the original drives, memory stick,
>video card, case, PSU, etc., all of which seem to work.
>
>If I buy a replacement motherboard and/or CPU from Dell or elsewhere,
>can I legally use the original copy of Windows XP? Is it going to be a
>nightmare getting past the WGA check so I can get updates?
>
>Thanks for your help.

You may be covered by your homeowners insurance. Four year old
pc are reallyout of date.Fry's has some that are under $400 that
would probably out-run your old machine....

Bill

Bill wrote:

> Four year old pc are reallyout of date..
>
> Bill

Um, I have a six year old machine, AMD Athlon 800, 512MB RAM, 64MB
Video, Soundblaster Live and an ASUS motherboard. XP Pro runs like silk.

Alias

Bill wrote:
> On Mon, 21 Aug 2006 04:35:07 GMT, Matt <>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I find that, due to a lightning strike, my Dell Dimension 4500
>>motherboard and/or my CPU is bad. I bought the system nearly four years
>>ago, and the warranty is expired. I have the original XP install disk
>>that came with the system, and all the original drives, memory stick,
>>video card, case, PSU, etc., all of which seem to work.
>>
>>If I buy a replacement motherboard and/or CPU from Dell or elsewhere,
>>can I legally use the original copy of Windows XP? Is it going to be a
>>nightmare getting past the WGA check so I can get updates?
>>
>>Thanks for your help.
>
>
> You may be covered by your homeowners insurance. Four year old
> pc are reallyout of date.Fry's has some that are under $400 that
> would probably out-run your old machine....
>
> Bill

I find I can get a new or refurb motherboard plus a power supply for
about $120 delivered. I have a 2.4G P4 that may still be good. Dell is
still selling new machines with 2.26G Celerons. Newegg has socket 478
Celerons for $40 delivered.