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

[kd4e]

Thank you Aaron for your concise reply!

Microsoft's absurd and greedy licensing rules is one
of the many reasons why I am a Linux guy.

They sell a version of their product for use on one PC
at a time.  To then say that ownership somehow vanishes
when the PC hardware is upgraded is outrageous!

I guess I will return to trying to get these programs
to work with WINE under Linux.  I will not be a puppet
of MS nor will I pay for the dubious privilege of using
their poorly written OS merely because some programmer
failed to make their children's app. cross-platform
compatible.  Sigh.

Question:  Once Microsoft abandons support for a version of
their operating system is it still legal for them to try to
dictate terms of usage?

 > Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal) wrote:
> 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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