[Ham-Computers] RE: Relocating a MS WinXP License?

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

Since I manage licenses on a day-to-day basis, I feel (somewhat) qualified to answer this question...esp since I've asked MS the same question.

There are two common types of licenses that Microsoft offers - "Retail", and "OEM".  "Volume" licenses are a third option, but the terms are based on individual contracts.  Since each contract may be different, I won't cover "volume" licensing.  But, as a guideline, it's similar to OEM licensing.

When it comes to Windows XP, this is how it breaks down...

"Retail" software comes in a Microsoft product box and is purchased "off-the-shelf" in a retail outlet of some sort.  In the box are the installation CD/DVD (with holographic authenticity labels), a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) license and sticker, and, IIRC, a quick start guide.  With "retail" WinXP, you can transfer the license to another system as long as you un-install or wipe XP from the old system.  The "retail" license can be transferred to another owner *ONCE* as long as the previous owner un-installs or wipes his/her old WinXP installation and all documentation that came with the license is also transferred (the COA, manual(s), etc).  So, legally, a "retail" installation can only transfer hands *once*.  However, MS really doesn't have a way to track who's hands it's been in.

"OEM" software is shipped to "System Builders" - companies or people who assemble and sell computers AS A WHOLE.  This means that the OEM license can only be sold with a complete computer system.  There was a time when OEM licenses could be sold with individual computer parts, but this provision was eliminated sometime in 2005.  An example of a large OEM would be a major computer manufacturer such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.  An example of a small OEM would be the mom-and-pop store down the street who sells generic "white box" PC's.  OEM licenses live and die on the computer it shipped with - IT CAN NOT BE TRANSFERRED.  In other words, if you have a computer with an OEM license and decide to put together your own computer piece-by-piece, you can't use the old PC's OEM license and install Windows on the new computer - you need to buy a new Windows license.

What about piece-by-piece upgrades?  Certain hardware components in a PC are given a point value.  When you change a component, such as a video card or hard drive, Windows detects this change and adds up the points.  Once a certain point threshold is reached, Windows XP needs to be "re-activated".  After a certain point total, the system may be deemed "new" and, legally, you may need to buy a new license.  Microsoft recently stated (clarified) that they consider any motherboard upgrade a new PC and it is reflected in the number of points attributed to a motherboard change.


So, Doc, to answer your question...it may or may not be legal to "move" the COA label from one PC to another - it depends on what type of license it was.  Yes, it's legal to move a "retail" license as long as you're not the "third" owner of the license.  And, no, it's not legal to move an "OEM" license.


73,

  - Aaron, NN6O



-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 10:13 AM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] Relocating a MS WinXP License?

Is it legal to move the MS WinXP label from a discarded PC to the replacement PC so long as the replacement PC isn't using the same license number?

-- 

Thanks! & 73, doc, KD4E
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