A refurbished PC is a used PC that has gone through the following processes to prepare it for use by a new owner:

• Data wiping
• Testing
• Minor repair and/or replacement of defective PC components

Refurbishment must either leave the original motherboard as is, or replace a defective motherboard with one of exactly the same make, model, and specification. Otherwise, replacing a motherboard results in a "new" PC and not a "refurbished" PC.

A new Windows license is not required for a refurbished PC that has:

• A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for a Windows operating system affixed to the PC,

  and

• The original recovery media or hard-disk-based recovery image associated with the PC.

The COA constitutes proof that the PC is licensed for the version of Windows named on the COA and the refurbisher can use either:

• The original recovery media,

  or

• The original hard-disk-based recovery image to re-install the operating system software named on the COA.

If the original recovery media is missing, the refurbisher may be able to obtain recovery media from the PC's original manufacturer. A new Windows license is required for a refurbished PC if:

• The refurbisher cannot obtain the original recovery media,

  or

• The PC does not have a hard-disk-based recovery image.

In this case, the refurbisher must purchase a new license in order to deliver a genuine Windows operating system experience with the refurbished PC.

An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a "new personal computer" to which Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred from another computer. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced, for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created and the license of new operating system software is required.

If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC. The replacement motherboard must be the same make/model or the same manufacturer’s replacement/equivalent, as defined by that manufacturer’s warranty.

End User Software License Terms The primary reason for the above licensing rule is due to the End User Software License Terms and the support of the software covered by those End User Software License Terms:

• The End User Software License Terms are a set of usage rights granted to the end user by the PC manufacturer. It relates to rights for that software only as installed on that particular PC.
• The system builder is required to support the software on that individual PC. However, Microsoft understands that end users, over time, upgrade their PCs with different components. Therefore, one base component needs to be identified that, as long as it is "left standing," defines the original PC. The motherboard is the logical choice.
• The motherboard contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC. When the motherboard is replaced—for reasons other than a defect—a new PC is essentially created. The original system builder did not manufacture this PC and, therefore, cannot be expected to support it.

A used PC is a computer system that has had few or no hardware changes. The license for OEM software on a used PC may not be transferred to a new or different PC. However, the entire used PC, including the software media, manuals, and Certificate of Authenticity, may be transferred to another end user along with the software license rights.