OEM VS Normal, Why the price difference

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Why is that all they can ask? Simply because MS knows that the whole 1 motherboard per license will never hold up. It is your copy of windows, and MS can only restrict it from being installed on 2 computers at once. MS can't prove that you aren't replacing your motherboard because the last one quit working and they know that.

I agree with your logic. Microsoft HAS occasionally denied reactivation, but usually because people try to use the COA Key from a discarded brand-name PC on a new home-built PC. As long as it's a "Generic OEM" version, it seems that Microsoft has been letting MOST people re-Activate OEM XP on a new motherboard.

We'll see whether this practice continues with OEM Vista licenses. My guess is, it will.

Exactly. BTW, you have to literally call Microsoft if you want to re-activate an OEM copy of windows on your computer with new hardware. The phone number appears when you are trying to activate and it won't let you (because of the new hardware). Just dial it, they'll ask for your CD key, ask if it's on more than one computer, and they'll give you a new one.

Keep this in mind if you think to yourself "Oh noes!!!111 it wont activate cuz my new motehrbaord!!!11"