Re: Muddy Waters

It's hard to believe Microsoft would let that slide; the OEM licensing terms are likely enforced by activation. There's a good page about XP Product Activation here:

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

"OEM Windows XP systems (...) can be purchased separately, with qualifying subsidiary hardware, and installed with that hardware to an existing machine, to which it becomes bound. The software may be reinstalled and reactivated indefinitely as with a retail system as long as it is still on the original machine. It may not be transferred (...), if it were installed to hardware seen as not substantially the same, the activation would be refused as falling outside the license."

Well, considering that Microsoft refuses to sell Windows XP anymore under any circumstances, they can't really complain when you use your copy on another machine. But that's just my opinion. :-)

- Tricob.