I thought the OEM license was "per computer" so it doesn't matter which
computer it is. You can install it on one computer, then uninstall it,
and install on a wholly different computer. You are allowed to
reactivate if you change enough hardware to trigger the activation.
What's different about changing a motherboard versus a hard drive,
modem, video card, network card, sound card, or any other hardware
component? I sincerely doubt Microsoft won't reactivate because of a
change in the motherboard. They certainly don't hesitate after you have
changed the hard drive or CPU. At
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/mpafaq.asp:
The underlying principles of Microsoft's software licenses have not
changed. Microsoft's End User License Agreements (EULAs) have always
stipulated the number of PCs that software can be installed on. Product
Activation does not change that.
You get to install on one personal "computer". A hash is made based on
the current hardware configuration. If enough hardware gets changed
then a new hash gets computed and you need to reactivate, but you are
still activating for one computer. I believe Microsoft's response when
queried about multiple boot systems that only one copy of that license
can be running at the same time so, for example, you can have Office XP
installed in Windows 98 and again in Windows 2000 on the same
multibooting computer as long as only one instance of any OS with that
install is running at a time. So, as another example, you cannot
install under Windows 98 and Windows 2000 and use VMware to have both
versions of Windows concurrently running with both running a copy of
Office XP. You also cannot run around to each of your computers to
install Office XP on each one. Although you might regulate the PCs so
only one is powered up at a time, the license is "per computer" so if
that computer is off you still cannot run a copy of Office XP on another
computer that is on. (Although I've used Office XP as the example
product, which does allow concurrent installs on 2 computers, one
desktop and one laptop, you get the point.) While the Office XP license
lets you install the product on a desktop and a laptop, it doesn't
restrict you from tossing the first laptop (with Office XP uninstalled
or the mass storage wiped) and using a completely different laptop.
"Windows XP may be installed on one PC", so the boundary is a computer,
not the parts within it. I've reactivated Office XP on a wholly new PC
and had no problems with Microsoft (but I did have to make a call
instead of using the online procedure).
I would think the OEM license would only mean you don't get any support
from Microsoft since you never paid the incremental increase in cost for
Microsoft to offset the cost of supporting it. Microsoft might play
hardball on providing any support for an OEM version of their products
(but that doesn't include activation) whereas ATI is more forgiving.
The best source for determining what is allowed in the license would be
to read the actual EULA. Aren't OEMs still required to supply a
hardcopy of the license so the user can know its terms. Knowing the
terms only *after* the sale makes the contact unenforceable, as long as
you're willing to go to court about it. Sellers are not allow to change
the terms of the sale at their whim *after* the sale.
