You did not "buy the software", in the case of OEM you buy the right to
use the software on a particular machine. When the machine goes away, so
does the right to use the software. If you want to buy the right to use
the software on one machine today and then move it to a different
machine next month, then you may purchase it in the form of a Retail
license. You pay for the rights.

Luis Med wrote:

> Thank you, Rock.
>
> I didn't know that rule. Probably I was so excited when I got my new
> computer that I missed that detail in the fine (or not so fine) print. OK,
> not that I like it, but that's not the issue.
>
> Then we are talking about OEM in my case. My worry is still the same.
>
> Even if keeping the same computer, parts of the hardware may be changed in
> the future; and the original+genuine+legal+wonderful Windows XP software will
> have to be reinstalled. I still think that Microsoft will be fooled as soon
> as some serial number doesn't match (let's say for example I changed my hard
> disk or the motherboard). Microsoft will think that I am installing illegally
> and will take every effort to make my life impossible (not that it's very
> easy as of now) even if I paid for this OEM version when buying my computer.
> If Microsoft were error-free I would sign the agreement immediately. But I
> know by many frozen blue screens and other unforgettable experiences that
> dear Microsoft sometimes makes mistakes. So, I still have the same fear
> before signing the agreement because I want to feel as free in the future as
> I do now. I don't see the interests of the consumer reflected in the
> agreement.
>
> This "what-if-I-reinstall" is still my concern. Can someone from Microsoft
> reassure me everything will be fine?
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>
>>"Luis Med" <Luis Med@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
>>
>>>I have legal Windows software. I have not yet accepted the WGA agreement,
>>>because so far I don't know what will happen in the future. If I agree to
>>>WGA
>>>at the present time, Microsoft will link my present software to my present
>>>computer. Let's say that I buy a new computer tomorrow because what was my
>>>present computer has a hardware problem. I still have the Windows XP
>>>original
>>>software. It won't be used anymore in my old computer and I want to
>>>install
>>>it in my new computer. My fear is that Microsoft will think that the
>>>computer-software legal link has been broken and will deny service to my
>>>new
>>>computer with the old software. Please tell me if my concern is right or
>>>wrong.
>>
>>The issue is not whether your copy is legal, the issue is whether the XP is
>>OEM or retail. A copy of XP can be moved from one computer to another if it
>>is a retail copy (as long as it's first uninstalled from the computer it's
>>on). If the copy on the first computer is OEM, by it's license it's tied to
>>that first computer and cannot be moved to another one. This is not a WGA
>>issue.
>>
>>--
>>Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
>
>