This is copied direct from the OEM license

Generally, you may upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on your
customer's computer and the end user may maintain the license for the
original Microsoft® OEM operating system software, with the exception of an
upgrade or replacement of the motherboard.
An upgrade of the motherboard is considered to result in a "new personal
computer" to which Microsoft® OEM operating system software cannot be
transferred from another computer. If the motherboard is upgraded or
replaced, for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been
created and the license of new operating system software is required.
If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do NOT need to
acquire a new operating system license for the PC.
The reason for this licensing rule primarily relates to the end-user license
agreement (EULA) and the support of the software covered by that EULA. The
EULA is a set of usage rights granted to the end-user by the PC manufacturer
and relates only to rights for that software as installed on that particular
PC. The System Builder is required to support the software on that
individual PC. Understanding that end users, over time, upgrade their PC
with different components, Microsoft needed to have one base component "left
standing" that would still define that original PC. Since the motherboard
contains the CPU and is the "heart and soul" of the PC, when the motherboard
is replaced (for reasons other than defect) a new PC is essentially created.
The original System Builder, therefore, can not be expected to support this
new PC that they in effect, did not manufacture.

"David Sewell" wrote in message
...
Please, but you might tell me where I'm incorrect thanks, sir...
Genuine thanks from the UK!

David


"Keith AH" wrote in message
...
No you are incorrect

"David Sewell" wrote in message
...
I purchased a win xp home oem disk, at only just pennies short of
retail
edition price, from the supplier that supplied me with items I used to
build
my own system. I already have win 95 and win 98 upgrade purchases from
now
dead previous pc's. So, if my motherboard fails, am I right in
assuming
I
am supposed to buy a new motherboard and another copy of win xp,
thereby
keeping up Bill (love him to bits) Gates to the life style he has
become
accustomed, just so that I can carry on using a single system that
ain't
moved anywhere and is only used by the single self same person, whose
fault
cannot be blamed if the motherboard decides it wants to go to
motherboard
heaven?

Thanks,
David