>>>Hi all
>>>
>>>If there is a planned upgrade of the CPU + MB, does the validated Windows need to be unvalidated (if so how?) and then validated after the upgrade?
>>>
>>>HDD and RAM remains the same.
>>>
>>>Please advise
>>
>>You do not need to unvalidate it, if you are installing the OS again you will need to reactivate, if you keep the same OS it will prompt you for reactivation. I've done that several times as I have several computers and I am (was?) always upgrading them, and the worst that happened was that I needed to make a phone call to MicroSoft to reactivate, very short call, I think they asked me what I changed and that was it.
>
>I have been hearing rumors that for Win7 OEM editions, Microsoft is enforcing the single activation only policy. Earlier versions of XP Pro OEM edition had license agreement stating something along the lines of 2 CPU (basically 2 activations, to allow for CPU/motherboard upgrade). Later XP Pro OEM editions changed to state 1 CPU only. Typically this meant that you can go through the activation process the specified number of times w/o having to call Microsoft. You could still get around the limit by calling Microsoft if you've already used up the specified number of activations. Apparently the policy now for Win7 is that for the OEM edition that you might not be able to re-activate on different motherboard/CPU (i.e. it's permanently "married" to the motherboard/CPU -- so changing motherboard/CPU requires purchase of new copy of the OS) -- it appears that the the retail edition is not subject to the limitation (though you will probably still have to call Microsoft to re-activate).

Thanks Naoto, I did not know that, neither am I surprised...