OT - what constitutes a new computer?

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Saw this yarn in the Register - goes to show what you can get away with
when you shove it into the fine print:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/17/microsoft_oem_shocker/

To strip away the mystery, it says that if you upgrade your mobo, then
you have a new PC. Hence you have to buy a new Microsoft licence.

Apparently this condition isn't new.

There's a link to a licence -

http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/e/3/4e3eace0-4c6d-4123-9d0c-c80436181742/OSLicQA.doc

The relevant clause says:

11.Rather than purchase completely new PCs, my organization performs
in-place upgrades to the hardware on many of our computers. We often
times only replace the motherboard, processor, and memory. Since the COA
is still on the case and the OS is still installed on the hard drive,
this computer is still licensed, right?

ANSWER.  Generally, you may upgrade or replace all of the hardware
components on your computer and 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." Microsoft OEM
operating system software cannot be transferred from one computer to
another. Therefore, if the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for
reasons other than a defect then a new computer has been created, the
original license expires, and a new full operating system license (not
upgrade) is required. This is true even if the computer is covered under
Software Assurance or other Volume License programs.

One more good reason to switch.

Sam
- -- 
Sam Varghese
http://www.gnubies.com
The expert at anything was once a beginner.
My PGP key: http://www.gnubies.com/encryption/sign.txt
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQFD9kesZyXhknb+33gRAjGNAJ94K25eKE8PoHH/XuLHh5SEEDoqBgCfcDkp
bXq2jo1u7ovdGOdDVAHvQUw=
=7kZf
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----