Removing COA sticker in one piece

I regularly get PCs in for repair with blown PSUs, Fujitsu Siemens Scaleos seem to be the prime suspects. The problem with these machines is that the PSU is non-standard and about double the price of an ordinary ATX unit.

As a result I usually need to replace the entire case. But removing the Windows Certificate of Authenticity is a tough task, it seems to be perforated in such a way to prevent it from being taken off in one piece.

Does anyone know how to get it off without tearing it? Up to now I've just been handing the customer the product key on a sticky, lol.

Gandalf23

Is it even legal to do that?

I seem to remember something about the license being broken if the sticker was removed. I could be wrong tho.

Well I simply want to preserve the license for the original owner. If I can give them back their original COA I can't see anything wrong with that.

I know I could give the old case back but most people say "keep it, what good is it to me?"

Kazujo

They are designed specifically so they cannot be removed without ripping. Are OEM licences associated to the PC/serial number they are issued to?

If they are, by changing the case and unbranding the PC is the licence still technically valid (I know how ridiculous it sounds but this is Microsoft we are talking about) I remember ringing MS before and they told me that a licence key that I had was assigned to a Compaq which it was as it was supplied with a Compaq PC but it registered it to my name when I got it originally. That was a Windows 98 key back when you got the windows book with the key on it.

KdjaCL

Photo copy it then get some warm soapy water and a a tea towel soak the tea towel the water apply it to the sticker (case on its side place towel onto sticker) after about 5 minutes it will fall off.


kdjac

mp3guy

yeah, steaming it off would be the best option, then just glue it onto the new case

SolarNexus

try a pallet knife and warm soapy water. if that doesnt work, use a hair dryer to warm the underside of the glue, it should melt the glue if you warm it just right you can slide it off.

I've read the EULA from my copy of XP a while back, and it said nothing about the license being 'paired' with the physical sticker - your license is represented by the serial number, not the sticker.

if you get desperate, get yourself a dremel and cut the panel out, it will still be attached to the case, heh.

Capt'n Midnight

I haven't found anything on the microsoft site that defines exactly what the OEM license is bound to. In the EULA it says computer hardware but not defined further and besides Microsoft don't use associate many words with the same meaning as the rest of use. cf. "remove all"

I've found this on a third party site - so can't call it gospel.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/oemeula.htm

If you haven't already, please take a moment to review a comprehensive group of OEM Licensing Questions and Answers which are specific to system builders:
https://oem.microsoft.com/worldwide/514341.asp.

The link above is for registered OEM builders.

That's right folks, million's of people are bound to the Microsoft OEM agreement and they aren't allowed to see all the terms and conditions and definitions.

Regardless, the OEM operating system must remain with the device that retains the motherboard.

Does this mean you can glue an old motherboard to the inside of the case and put in a new one in as well.

Love the way that site says only warranty repairs to motherboards count - one interpretation of this is that if you replaced the motherboard for one you puchased from the manufacturer you would be breaking the license.

maidhc

But you dont need to buy a motherboard from komplett in order to get an OEM copy of XP from komplett.

I'd imagine the commonsense view would be that if there is some continuity between the old system and the new one then the OEM copy is ok. This might be using the original mobo, cd rom drive, or something that is an intrinsic part if the computer. Alternativlely perhaps none of the original computer need exist provided the original was upgraded over a period of time rather than just replaced.

Privity of contract ensures a person cannot be bound by a contract between two third parties. I dont see how an agreement between two american mulitnationals can confer unknown duties on individuals in Ireland.

Kazujo

It might be slightly different with resent Pc's that use a proprietry image rather than providing an actual XP cd

rogue-entity

AFAIK, Microsoft only considers an OEM licence to be bound to the componants that it was sold with, this usualy refers to the mainboard. If you replace your mainboard but keep everything else, microsoft will consider it a new PC, and you will need a new licence. So replacing the case is not considered getting a new PC, just when you replace the mainboard.