Using windows on new computer

Well that's fine, but tell me...

Who's right? Microsoft, or a client of microsoft, when it comes to microsoft software licensing?

Answer: Microsoft.

With all due respect Alidabiri, you ARE posting incorrect information.

Non-transferrable OEM licenses are EXACTLY the reason that the rules on selling OEM XP have changed so that it can only be sold pre-installed, and the installing OEM MUST use the OEM installation kit to lock the installation to the BIOS of the mainboard.

just out of curiosity, where did you get this from eula that says oem xp can not be transferred?
can you post the item number from eula so i can take a look at it, please?
thanks!

It's the second point in Part 1...

Did you even look at Nodsu's attached OEM EULA?

http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/4/4/14441b37-78ff-4b60-b726-6d91f81d3fa7/os_reqs.doc
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...8f-414b-8052-9f2de33f3b90/G34899_PROC_WLG.PDF

Note the part in both links (and the one I gave earlier in the thread) where MS says that "OEM licenses can not be transferred".

So, I get my parts in the mail for my new computer, including windows xp home edition, and just to make sure i call microsoft. I explain to the first representative that i am changing the hard drive to a new computer ect..and he tells me that i do not need to purchase a new version of windows. I figure that he doesnt know what he is talking about so i call back. Same thing. Call back again. Same thing. Contradicting EULA, i guess the hard drive is considered "the computer".

According to Microsoft, it's not. The reason installations are tied to the BIOS is because they believe tha the mainboard is the computer for the purpooses of licensing.

i relize this, but 3 microsoft employee's told me otherwise and were willing to give me the activation key on the spot.

Fair enough.

I actually emailed MS requesting that a representative email me with an outline of the policy so that I could post it here. Everything that is said on the MS website and even in the license suggests (based on this thread) that they shouldn't have allowed you to activate. Yet they gave you the activation code, which confuses matters a bit.

Whether they send me a useful reply or not I don't know, but if they do I shall post it here.

And finally, their reply...

Not very useful really. The rep claims that it isn't possible, and we know otherwise from this thread. It does say that it most definitely is tied to the mainboard though, and is intended only to run on the PC it was bought as part of. So I guess it just backs up what the MS website says. I just wish the answer could have been a little more factual and technically correct. Still, I'm not going to waste time by arguing with them lol.

Essentially it seems that Twite either had some manner of special circumstances, or MS made a mistake in giving the activation code.

Don't get me wrong, i completly agree with you that in the policy it states that if you change the motherboard, you are changing the computer.

For some reason they acted like the hard drive was the computer. I explained to them that its an OEM version of windows ect..but they insisted that i didnt have to buy a new copy.

Its coincidence because the reason i was actually calling microsoft was because newegg sent me the upgrade verion of windows xp for 98 and millenium users. I asked the guy if it would work, he said no, then i asked him about switching the hard drive and he told me i didnt have to buy a new copy. Basically neweggs error (and maybe microsofts) saved me $100.