Microsoft KB Archive/938344

= How to replace the motherboard on a computer that is running Windows XP Home Edition for Prepaid Computers or Windows XP Home Edition for Subscription Computers =

Article ID: 938344

Article Last Modified on 7/31/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition for Prepaid Computers
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition for Subscription Computers

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INTRODUCTION
This step-by-step article describes how to replace the motherboard on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition for Prepaid Computers or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition for Subscription Computers. In this article, computers that are running Windows XP Home Edition for Prepaid Computers are known as &quot;prepaid computers.&quot; Computers that are running Windows XP Home Edition for Subscription Computers are known as &quot;subscription computers.&quot;

When you replace the motherboard on a prepaid computer or on a subscription computer, make sure that the old hardware ID (HWID) is discontinued and that a new hardware ID is assigned to the computer. Additionally, make sure that the balance of time that has accrued on the old hardware ID is associated with the new hardware ID. You must contact the solution provider, and then you must work with a customer service representative (CSR) to complete some required tasks.



MORE INFORMATION
To replace a motherboard on a prepaid computer or on a subscription computer, follow these steps:
 * 1) Determine whether the computer uses software-only-based enforcement, CPU-based enforcement, or BIOS-based enforcement. The steps that you take after the motherboard is replaced will depend on the type of enforcement that is used.
 * 2) Replace the old motherboard with the new motherboard, and then follow one of these steps as appropriate for your situation:
 * 3) * On a computer that uses software-only enforcement, follow the steps in the &quot;After you replace the motherboard on a computer that uses software-only enforcement&quot; section.
 * 4) * On a computer that uses CPU-based enforcement, follow the established process that you use for hardware provisioning of CPU-enforced computers during manufacturing.
 * 5) * On a computer that uses BIOS-based enforcement, follow the established process that you use for hardware provisioning of a BIOS-enforced computer during manufacturing.

After you replace the motherboard on a computer that uses software-only enforcement
 Start the computer.

If the operating system does not start, use your standard practices to start the computer by using Windows XP Home Edition for Prepaid and Subscription Computing.

If customer data retention is not a concern, use the restore media. The restore media deletes all customer data, and then it restores the computer to a pre-activated state.

If the operating system starts and if you must keep customer data, revert the computer to a pre-activated state by deleting the client certificate. This step does not affect customer data. To do this, follow these steps:  At a command prompt, type mmc, and then press ENTER to open Microsoft Management Console (MMC). On the File menu, click Add/Remove Snap-in. On the Standalone tab, click Add. In the Snap-in list, click Certificates, and then click Add. In the This snap-in will always manage certificates for list, click Computer account, and then click Next. In the This snap-in will always manage list, click Local computer, and then click Finish.</li> In the Add Standalone Snap-in dialog box, click Close.</li> In the Add/Remove Snap-in dialog box, click OK.</li> In MMC, expand Certificates, expand Personal, and then expand Certificates store.</li> Right-click the Microsoft Windows PreAndSub Client certificate, and then click Delete.</li> Close MMC.</li> Restart the computer to activate the computer. Or, to leave the computer in a pre-activation state, shut down the computer, do not restart it.</li></ol> </li> Telephone the solution provider, and then inform the agent that you are replacing the motherboard on a subscription computer or on a prepaid computer.</li> Locate the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label on the side of the computer.</li> Read the product key on the COA label to the agent.</li> Inform the agent that the old hardware ID must be discontinued and that the computer must be reregistered.</li> Complete the mini-setup of the computer, and then reactivate the computer by using the COA.</li> Inform the agent that you want to transfer the time that has accrued on the old hardware ID to the new hardware ID.</li> After the agent confirms that a time packet to transfer the balance has been created, type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER:

PLActive /P

This command retrieves the time packet.</li> Make sure that the time that has accrued on the computer that has the old motherboard has been transferred to the computer that has the new motherboard. To do this, right-click the metering bar on the upper-right corner of the desktop, and then click View Prepaid/Subscription Computer Status. On the Current Status tab, locate Total number of hours added in the Details section to confirm that the hours are correct.</li></ol>

Keywords: kbhowto kbinfo kbexpertiseadvanced KB938344

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