License Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shane Whittington
  • Start date Start date
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Shane Whittington

I am building a computer for my company. I have decided to
go with an OEM copy of Windows XP. My IT Director has
advised me that an OEM copy will not work because if the
machine was to fail due to hardware failure, I would have
to buy another copy of Windows XP. He claims I could only
use the copy of Windows XP for one computer, even if the
original fails. I'm not talking placing it on multiple
computers. I'm just curious if this is true. If my machine
fails, Do i have to buy another copy of Windows? Can't I
just replace the bad parts and re-install? thx!
 
Yes it's true. You can also replace most bad bits - it's still the same computer. But motherboards are a nono unless replaced under warranty.
 
Greetings --

According to the EULA, an OEM license may not be transferred from
one distinct PC to another PC. However, this doesn't prevent one from
repairing/upgrading that PC.

Microsoft has, to date, been very careful _not_ to define when an
incrementally upgraded computer ceases to be the original computer.
The closest I've seen a Microsoft employee come to this definition is
to tell the person making the inquiry to consult the PC's
manufacturer. As the OEM license's support is solely the
responsibility of said manufacturer, they should determine what sort
of hardware changes to allow before the warranty and support
agreements are voided. An incrementally upgraded computer ceases to
be the original computer, as pertains to the OEM EULA, only when the
*OEM* says it's a different computer.

If you've built the PC yourself, and used a generic OEM WinXP CD,
*you* are the OEM, and *you* get to decide when you're going to stop
supporting the system and its OS.


Bruce Chambers

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I know of one instance where a small OEM replaced a motherboard two weeks
after the customer purchased, and used a different motherboard as the
original was determined to be a problem. The OEM left it up to the end user
to call for reactivation, and when the end-user explained to MS that the
motherboard was replaced after 2 weeks, he was told that he would need a new
copy of Windows and also Office, as that was also OEM.

The OEM had no problem calling it a warranty replacement, but the end-user
apparently said the wrong thing when he called for activation.

Just something to think about.
 
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