You are referring to a major OEM, Dell in this case.
The major OEMs add their own technology preventing the use of a
motherboard from a different manufacturer.
That is not the same.

"cdroms that have Windows on them are all generic"
False, not all, major OEMs often add the technology preventing use on
a different brand of computer.

Using generic OEM media, a motherboard is easily replaced/upgraded.
A phone call may be needed for activation but if it was just a
motherboard replacement/upgrade, Windows will be activated.
Depending on other variables, internet activation may succeed and
phone activation may not be required.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
[url]http://www3.telus.net/dandemar[/url]
[url]http://www.dts-l.org[/url]


"***** charles" <me@mine.com> wrote in message
news:CK6Ti.11745$4V6.10889@newssvr14.news.prodigy.net...[color=blue]
> In the eyes of M$, the motherboard is the computer and if you change
> it
> you are dealing with a different computer. Let's say you have a two
> year
> old Dell and the motherboard goes south. If you can't find an exact
> replacement for a reasonable amount of money then a good option is
> to
> upgrade with a "shortblock" (mb,cpu,fan and ram) to newer
> technology.
> If you use an exact replacement the OS on the hard drive will not
> know
> the difference, since the software is not tied to either a
> motherboard ID
> or a CPU ID, at least not yet but I fear it is coming. Anyway,
> putting in
> a different mb will trigger at least a recovery install which
> requires
> putting
> in the KEY ID number again. Since this process may work either auto
> matically or by calling M$ for activation, it it NOT the legal way
> to do it.
> I know people who have dug out junk computers with stickers on them
> and used an OEM cd to do a clean install and a clean activation.
> The
> cdroms that have Windows on them are all generic, it is the key id
> that
> makes the install unique.
>
> I have noticed that the phone call to M$ for activation has changed
> over
> time. Now they ask you more questions.
>
> later.....
>
> "Jupiter Jones [MVP]" <jones_jupiter@hotnomail.com> wrote in message
> news:%23rzuTwNFIHA.4544@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...[color=green]
>> Not the only reason, just one of many reasons why OEM is cheaper
>> than
>> retail.
>> There is nothing in the license that refers to the motherboard.
>> A fried motherboard replaced is an upgrade/replacement and you can
>> do
>> that with OEM.
>>
>> --
>> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
>> [url]http://www3.telus.net/dandemar[/url]
>> [url]http://www.dts-l.org[/url]
>>
>>
>> "***** charles" <me@mine.com> wrote in message
>> news:9V5Ti.15683$JD.15482@newssvr21.news.prodigy.net...[color=darkred]
>> > With Retail if the computer goes belly up you can install it on
>> > another
>> > computer (one at a time). With OEM if the computer/motherboard
>> > dies the licence reverts back to Micro$oft and can't legally be
>> > installed
>> > on another motherboard. That's why OEM's are cheaper.
>> >
>> > later.[/color][/color]
>
>
>[/color]