"Not Me" <cargodZeroOne********.com> wrote in message
news:3EAF3E8E-8F6D-4A5E-B81F-D3D382125922@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> The other thing with OEM software is that it is tied to the first machine
> it is installed on and you can not (legally) use it on another system.[/color]

I keep reading this but I'm wondering just how far you have to go before
it's "another system."

I had a computer I'd built a couple of years back and installed Vista
Ultimate OEM on it around the beginning of 2007.

During the summer of '07, I replace the motherboard, video and DVD drive.
Fired up and let Vista figure out the changes. Afterwards it said I needed
to activate, which I'd expected. I called them up, told them what I'd done.
They asked if I had another copy of Vista from this DVD running on another
computer, and I said "no." They phrased the question a different way, and I
still said "no." Next thing I know, he's giving me a new activation (or
whatever it is) number.

In the sense that it's the same powers supply, case, and hard drive, I
suppose it's the same computer.

What I wonder is, just how far could I have gone with replacing things
before they'd have given me a hard time about it? Or if they would? The
only thing he seemed concerned about was whether there was another instance
of Vista FROM THAT DVD running on another computer anywhere.

So, as a practical matter, how far can you go before they tell you you've
got to get a new license?

- Bill