You are wrong.
Microsoft does not connect the Product Key to the Motherboard.
The OEM, in your case Dell made the connection.
That is one of several choices computer manufacturers have.
Another of the many choices is to provide a retail OS, but that would
greatly increase the cost for them and thus to the customer.
The ability to freely transfer retail Windows XP to another computer is only
one of the many reasons you paid less for your OEM.

If you like such a system, buy another computer similarly configured next
time.
If not, buy a computer configured the way you want from a competitor.
Do not forget to mail Dell and explain exactly why they lost your business.
As long as many continue to buy computers configured like this, the computer
manufacturers will continue to choose this less expensive path for their
customers

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


"DrJoel" wrote in message
...
One thing that drives me crazy is the way Microsoft connects the Windows
OEM key to the BIOS of the Motherboard. Example when I bought my Dell it
came with XP home. I paid extra for XP Pro. Now if I buy a new motherboard
I have to buy a new version of XP. I paid the same price anyone else pays
for XP why should I have to pay twice? Or am I wrong with my thought?