I do not know exactly what was said between you and Microsoft.
At the least there was a misunderstanding.
The rules seem to vary depending on who you talk, but OEM is generally
available to anyone.
The variable is if the seller will sell just the OEM or if you also
need to purchase hardware with the OEM.
Typically those selling and requiring some hardware, satisfy the
requirement by selling some piece of computer hardware such as a hard
drive , motherboard, even an inexpensive cable etc.
Some people interpret the OEM agreement to mean if the motherboard
dies, the license is void, but motherboard is not named in the
license.
However, OEM is permanently tied to the original computer regardless
the condition of the original computer.
But the original computer can be upgraded and a new motherboard is an
upgrade.
Read the license for more details.
There are other differences between, but those are the major reasons.
A few of the many reasons you pay less for OEM than others pay for
retail.
Major OEMs such as Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway etc, also design their
install media to be tied to the motherboard.
So the major OEMs have effectively tied the Windows license to the
motherboard.
In that case, a motherboard replacement may mean you can no longer use
the included media if the replacement motherboard is not from the
original manufacturer.
--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org
"LeVzi" <> wrote in message
news:0A196616-277D-4E6C-A249-...
> So basically, the person I spoke to at Microsoft telling me I am not
> allowed
> to purchase the OEM and use it, was totally wrong ? Id be quite
> happy to buy
> the OEM and ive never used MS for technical support anyway, so I
> couldnt care
> less about that. What I was told, is that the consumer may NOT
> purchase the
> OEM version. And even if I did, if my mobo fried, id have to buy it
> again.
> This all seems well strange. Using the OEM is close to piracy
> according to
> MS, but not here. Whos right and whos wrong ?