Um, we must be having definition issues here. I believe what I'm referring to is a retail version of the OS. In light of this, what is your understanding of the definition of an OEM version of a (any) product versus a retail version of a product?

>Technically no. Even if you purchase an OEM version of Windows XP off the shelf (which can be done from TigerDirect, Walmart, etc) once it is installed on a machine you cannot install it on another machine REGARDLESS. The license virtually dies with the life of the machine. Even if you remove it from the machine you first installed it on you cannot install it on another. That is why the OEM version is cheaper. The version you want is the 'Retail Version.'
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>>Gotcha. So as long as the OS is the "generic" off the shelf type and not made for a specific manufacturer's machine, movement to another machine after removal from the original machine is ok. This will be fine.
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>>>Bill,
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>>>You are not supposed to install an OEM OS (or OEM MS Office, for that matter) on a different machine, even if you remove it from the original machine.
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>>>>OIC. We're talking oem in this respect as opposed to purchasing off the shelf that could be installed on "any" computer. But these still have to be activated and then are tied to "that" computer by hardware profiling (AFAIK) until the OS is removed from the machine, at which time I assume the OS is eligible to install on a different machine ( probably after MS has "reset" the activation ), correct?
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