Jim Roseberry

Sanderxpander
Huh, I guess I've never tried phone authorization, I understood OEM meant "tied to the system" which I assumed to imply mobo. I wonder if they have a number over here or if I'd need to use the US one. Thanks, I learned something!

As long as it's the same machine being repaired/upgraded (not being moved to a second physical machine), you're fine.
 
If Windows gives a BSOD with the new hardware, the OP can use something like Acronis Universal Restore.
 

I guess a new motherboard seemed like a new machine to me. You'd wonder where they draw the line, but I guess that's why there's a guy on the other end of the phone.

FWIW, They have to allow for a component failure/replacement.
If your 3-year old motherboard fails (and the only replacement is a new/different model), that could also mean new CPU and RAM.  As long as the license is only used on a single machine, you're good-to-go.

So as long as I keep the same case I'm ok? My systems are in a constant state of upgrading. I've used the same case and, two data drives and the DVD drive and monitors for the last three systems. I guess I've been on XP, Win7 and Win10 now so it doesn't really matter that much but it's a strange philosophy to me.

I'm in the same boat with my personal main studio DAW. 
It's upgraded/expanded on regular basis... 
 
I don't think about it so much as "dependent upon using the same case".  
It's a single machine... no different than if it were a high-performance race car.
The engine might change, be rebuilt, or enhanced... but it's a singular entity.
If I change the case (which is more rare), it's still that single machine (my main studio DAW).
That one Windows license is only installed on a single machine.
If my main studio DAW was rebuilt into two separate physical machines, that's where a new license is necessary.

But that would also break the terms of a regular single Windows license, right?

Sanderxpander
But that would also break the terms of a regular single Windows license, right?

As long as the install (license) is on a single machine... you're good-to-go.
If you try to migrate it to two simultaneous machines, you've violated the license.

I know, we were just discussing the difference between regular and OEM license, where I thought OEM was tied to hardware and regular is allowed to be moved. Both are for a single machine I thought.

Sanderxpander
I know, we were just discussing the difference between regular and OEM license, where I thought OEM was tied to hardware and regular is allowed to be moved. Both are for a single machine I thought.

You know, I hear what you are asking, but even Microsoft has been sending mixed signals about this subject.  It appears that they may even be looking the other way from their official terms.
 
I recall the days when you were supposed to buy a piece of hardware to go with an OEM Windows license key, so it was in apparent compliance of being tied to some hardware.  Such as a disk drive or motherboard, etc.
 
But in recent years there has been a flood of legitimate resellers selling Windows licenses only, no hardware purchase required.  The resellers are clearly getting them direct from Microsoft, so there is no doubt Microsoft knows this is going on.  MS could easily put a stop to the over the counter OEM license trade, but they don't ... why?

Well I personally thought that was because they got tied to the mobo id. Whereas you can move a "regular" Windows license to a new system. Apparently that distinction in practical sense only existed in my mind, although Microsoft may have intended it that way at some point.

Thanks everybody for the replies.  Sounds like the only assured way to swap boards with XP would be to do a fresh reinstall.
 
Final DAW hardware obstacle is selecting hard drives.  Starting a new thread....
 
Sonic