Question on Vista OEM editions

[GT98]

I was on newegg.com and they are offering Vista Ultimate Edition OEM for $199, but they state the following:

This OEM software is intended for system builders only and cannot be transferred to another PC once it is installed.

What exactly constitutes another PC? What happens if you upgrade your motherboard or have to get a new one? Can you still buy additional $50 dollars licenses for other PC's in your house?

[Jammrock]

The new OEM license is called the "System Builder" license:

http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/Public/sblicense/English_SB_License.pdf

There is no specific text in the literature that defines what would constitute a "license transfer," or what would constitute a "new PC." In fact the words "new" and "upgrade" don't even appear in the EULA, and transfer only shows up twice, but not regarding a system upgrade.

You should be able to re-activate an SB/OEM license by calling the activation number. From what I've understood about the OEM/SB license it basically means that MS will not provide any (free) support, as it becomes the resposibility of the system builder, and if you buy a new machine, or build a completely new one, you cannot transfer the license. But since there is no defined answer to it in the EULA on the packaging (which is the same as the link) MS would be required to re-activate the license even after a core system upgrade.

Jammrock

[Helevitia]

Basically you just need to call MS to re-active it some scenarios(such as swapping mobos).

[The PIT]

MS aren't that bad in that sort of case. Plenty of times I've repaired Student laptops and they haven't got the CD but got a legit code on the laptop. MS never said no when we've activated out copy for billionth time.