[DUG] Anyone need XP Pro?

[Conor Boyd]

I'd love to know what the original poster's opinion on the subject is in
light of the discussion since the original post?

You're usually pretty quick to jump in with a response on licensing when
somebody offers a copy of Delphi for sale, Richard... ;-)

C. 

-----Original Message-----
From: delphi-bounces at delphi.org.nz [mailto:delphi-bounces at delphi.org.nz]
On Behalf Of John Bird

Here is some information I found while looking for something else...

Relevant to getting OEM Windows - these paragraphs in particular may be
relevant if you want to install it on a PC other than the original OEM
manufacturer.  I am not expert in this however - I also saw references
to shops selling a $1 power cord with a OEM version to satisfy the
requirement to buy hardware with it.

Just to confuse the issue further, it looks like there are at least 2
types of OEM versions...I suspect the one offered here is the type in
paragraph 2?
It looks to me you don't want a paragraph 4 type...

(This site also describes in detail the hardware that can be changed
before activation has to be redone)

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm


Here is the context of that paragraph:

OEM versions

Restrictions of specific license types may limit the foregoing. OEM
versions of Windows XP are licensed together with the hardware with
which they are purchased, as an entity, and such a copy may not be moved
to a different computer. Also, other specific license types (e.g.,
Academic licenses) are handled in different ways. These aren't a WPA
issue per se, but rather an issue of the license for that purchase, and
therefore outside the scope of this discussion of WPA.

There are two versions of OEM Windows XP systems. One 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 to a different computer. It is activated as described above,
but if it were installed to hardware seen as not substantially the same,
the activation would be refused as falling outside the license.

In the other OEM form, the system is provided pre-installed by a major
supplier. Instead of activation, the system is 'locked' to the BIOS on
the motherboard. The validity of this lock is checked at boot. As long
as this is satisfied, other hardware may be changed freely, but any
replacement motherboard must be for a compatible one supplied by the
original maker.

If a BIOS-locked system is installed to a board where the lock fails, it
enters a normal Activation process at startup. However, beginning 1
March 2005, the Product Key supplied on a label by the computer
manufacturer, and used for the initial intallation, will not be accepted
for activation. A new copy of Windows XP, with a license allowing
installation on a different machine, will be needed. This means that any
replacement motherboard (or upgrade to its BIOS) must be supplied by the
original maker, who will ensure the lock is maintained.