[ale] OT: replace your motherboard, buy XP again

[Geoffrey]

I found this juicy tidbit in the Oct. MaximumPC:

"According to the advice offered on Microsoft's bulletin board: 
'Generally, you may upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on 
your customer's computer and the customer may maintain the license for 
the original Microsoft OEM operating system software, with the exception 
of an upgrade or replacement of the motherboard.  If the motherboard is 
replaced, then a new coputer has been created and the license of a new 
operating system software is required.  Once the motherboard has been 
replaced, you are not authorized to reinstall the OEM Microsoft software 
that was originally pre-installed on the computer system.'"

To MaximumPC's credit, the end the article with the comment:

"...we recommend you buy the retail version, or switch to Linux..."

-- 
Until later, Geoffrey