On 02/08/2010 13:15, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:


There's only one thing likely to be missing from it. A legitimate
licence...

It is genuine and has the product key. Bought from a long established
reputable supplier. IIRC, the only real difference from a 'full' price
version is no paper handbook.


Nope. It's OEM and is licensed for use on the machine it's sold with.
Once that machine dies, Microsoft says the right to use it has also died
- and you have made an agreement with them (the EULA) that says you will
comply with this.

There is a dodgy loop hole if you can convince them that the motherboard
died and was unreplacable with like, but that involves speaking to MS
product activation staff who have heard it all before...

However, the 'full' price retail package is different, in that you _can_
install it and activate on your upgrades.

With neither, you get the right to install the operating software on
another machine for use simultaneously. You have to buy another copy.
The "legitimate licence" Adrian was refering to.

Just to complicate things further, looks like your OEM disc has been
knobled by whoever left the 'XP repair' utility off. In my mind that is
not even a complete OEM disc, and you may have grounds to argue that one
with the supplier.

Anyway, this isn't helping your current situation. A proper OEM disc
(obtained from anywhere cough cough) that matches your current
license key and service pack level (though not exactly essential,
useful) should sort you out until it starts wobbling about reactivation.

--
Adrian C