Bob said:
To expand a bit on the previous reply:
Although I agree with most of what you say, I'd like to clarify a couple of
points, below:
The full retail version can be activated many times,
*All* versions can be activated as many times as you need to, whether they
are Retail or OEM, and whether they are Full or Upgrade.
and on different
computers, although only one computer at a time. (about $300 for pro
in a computer store)
The OEM version can be activated only one one computer.
Yes. The license for OEM versions ties them permanently to the first
computer they are installed on.
In this
context a computer is usually defined as the motherboard.
The issue of OEM licenses and what constitutes the same computer is a can of
worms. The EULA doesn't specify what constitutes the same computer, and the
EULA is what you agree to. If I had my druthers, all licenses would be the
same, with the retail rules, and there wouldn't be such a thing as an OEM
license.
There are people here (and elsewhere) who claim that if you change the
motherboard, it's a different computer. Although that certainly sounds
logical, the OEM EULA does *not* say that. Some of these people will point
to a Microsoft site for System Builders (one that can't even be accessed by
the general public) that states that changing the motherboard makes it a
different computer. Again, the EULA, which is what you agree to, does *not*
state that, so as far as I'm concerned, what this site states is irrelevant.
My guess is that if it ever came before a court (which is highly unlikely)
and Microsoft ever pointed to that web site, they'd be laughed out of court.
The real issue in my mind is what happens if you change the motherboard and
have to reactivate an OEM version over the phone. If you talk to a Microsoft
representative and he defends the "motherboard defines the computer" point
of view and won't activate you, you're out of luck unless you want to take
Microsoft to court (which is probably highly unlikely).
My own view is that you might be able to successfully argue in court that,
silly as it may sound, the computer is defined by the case, since that's
where Microsoft requires that the product key sticker be affixed. You could
therefore change everything inside the case, and it would still be the same
computer.
However, don't rely on that last paragraph unless you're willing to go to
court over it. I wouldn't be.
Thus, with
the OEM version, if the motherboard dies, or if you choose to replace
it as an upgrade, then you may
"May" is the correct word. Not necessarily.
need to buy a new version of XP. (about $200 for pro in a computer store,
although physical stores
rarely sell these, but many on-line stores do)
Both full-retail and OEM come in upgrade versions,
No. Retail versions are either Full or Upgrade. OEM version are clean
installations only, and can not do upgrades.
which are about
$100 cheaper. The upgrade version requires either that 98, ME, or
2000 be pre-installed on the PC, or that you have proof of ownership
of one of these.
True with regard to being installed, but regarding having a CD as proof of
ownership, a Windows 95 CD also works.
Proof of ownership means a CD that you must insert
for the XP installer to read when requested.
Additionally, there are corporate versions of XP,
The term "corporate version" is used only for pirated versions of Windows.
There is no such official name. What you are calling a "corporate version"
is properly called a copy sold under a volume license.
which are intended
to be installed multiple time on different machines. The license fee
is still per machine, but is handled differently than retail
licenses. It is some of these versions that have "pirated", and when
discovered, Microsoft refuses to accept their license keys for
activation. If it seems too cheap to be true, it might be one of
these.
Yes!
Finally, there are the versions of XP that come pre-installed on
major-brand computers, like Dell and Gateway. If the owner of such a
PC was given an XP CD, it is probably rigged to only install if it
senses the right PC, as determined by the motherboard's BIOS. Such
CDs can not be installed on another PC.
Yes, many such major brand OEM copies are BIOS-locked to the original
computer they came with.
As I said in an earlier message to Phyberlink, I would personally never risk
buying a copy on eBay.
