OEMs may not be transferred from one PC to another.

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...42/OSLicQA.doc



6. What is the difference between OEM product and Full-Packaged Product
(FPP)?
ANSWER. OEM products are intended to be preinstalled on hardware before
the end user purchases the product. They are “shrink wrapped” and do
not come in a box like the retail products do. Full-Packaged Product
(FPP) is boxed with CD(s), manuals, and the EULA and is sold in retail
stores in individual boxes. The End User License Agreements (commonly
referred to as “EULAs”) for OEM and FPP products are slightly different.
One main difference is that an OEM operating system license (such as
the license for Windows) cannot be transferred from its original PC to
another PC. However, the FPP version of Windows may be transferred to
another PC as long as the EULA, manual and media (such as the backup CD)
accompany the transfer to the other PC. Also, when a customer purchases
an OEM product, the OEM license requires the OEM to provide support for
the product.


LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
> why "NO" -- if the old machine dies, why can't I install it on the new one? If I change the motherboard and the hard drive,
> isn't that the same thing as changing the machine? Does the software "know" which machine it belongs to?
>
>
> Lady Dungeness
> Out of Danger until September
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
>
>
>
>>
>>LadyDungeness@Fish.Net wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Good information. So it sounds like I can continue to "support" myself if I buy the OEM version.
>
>
>> Or take if off an old machine and install it on a new one that I build
>> Right?
>>
>>No.
>>
>>
>>>As for my newsreader wrapping lines, I have no idea. Am I supposed toset it to wrap at 76? If you can tell me the nature
>>>of the problem, I'll try to fix it.
>>>
>>>:-D
>>>
>>>
>>>Lady Dungeness
>>>Out of Danger until September
>>>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
>>>
>>>
>>>On Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:57:37 -0500, VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>"LadyDungeness@Fish.Net" in
>>>><news:km0j64hpoj35fog6aca8qbal1q3vsrl8se@4ax.c om> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456 789012345678901234567890123456
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I'd like to get a retail version of the XP windows operating system to use
>>>>>with my computer when a local company (now out of business) built it. I d
>>>>>particular hardware. I want the retail version to make sure that ifand w
>>>>>work.
>>>>
>>>><overly long physical lines were truncated at 76 characters>
>>>><snip - more lines that exceed 76 characters in length>
>>>>
>>>>And the reason you have Forte configured to line-wrap at around 128
>>>>characters for each line is?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>An OEM version is tied to the first computer onto which it is installed.
>>>>
>>>>If an OEM version won't work after you change the motherboard, neither
>>>>will the retail version work on that new motherboard. Changing the
>>>>motherboard does not constitute getting a new computer but it will
>>>>require revalidating the OS license. Microsoft cannot bar anyone from
>>>>repairing their own computer.
>>>>
>>>>Okay, Newegg is selling OEM and retail versions. What's the difference?
>>>>How about the price? How about that the OEM version comes with no
>>>>support from Microsoft, like the first 2 calls are free, because you
>>>>didn't pay the extra money to Microsoft to get support? While retail
>>>>versions let you wipe and do a fresh install or do an upgrade install,
>>>>OEM versions do *not* perform upgrades. OEM versions wipe the partition
>>>>so you get a fresh install of the OS.
>>>>
>>>>"OEM for system builders". What, are you going to buy a volume license
>>>>now? The OEM license sticks to the first computer on which it is
>>>>installed. It does bar you from repairing your hardware. It does not
>>>>bar you from adding more hardware. It does bar you from upgrading your
>>>>hardware.