Of axes and licenses

[Daave]

Did you know that I own the very axe that George Washington used to chop
down that cherry tree? True, 150 years ago, the handle was replaced, and
75 years ago, the blade. Still, it's the same axe...

I'll bet most of you already know where I'm going with this. If I build
my own PC and purchase a generic OEM copy of Windows XP to install on
its hard drive, I am aware that I am licensed to use it for the life of
the PC I built. But suppose after a year, I replace the motherboard, and
after two years, the hard drive? Would Microsoft be in the right if it
claimed that the license was no longer valid? Have they ever come up
with anything definitive on this issue?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Dave;
Very few say you are violating the license if you upgrade, and upgrade is
what you describe.
If you build your own PC, you probably have a generic OEM which is normally
OK with an upgrade.

The major OEM such as Gateway, Dell, HP etc may have other issues such as
BIOS locking that can impede an upgrade, but that is outside the situation
you described.

 

[Rock]

Did you know that I own the very axe that George Washington used to chop
down that cherry tree? True, 150 years ago, the handle was replaced, and
75 years ago, the blade. Still, it's the same axe...

I'll bet most of you already know where I'm going with this. If I build
my own PC and purchase a generic OEM copy of Windows XP to install on
its hard drive, I am aware that I am licensed to use it for the life of
the PC I built. But suppose after a year, I replace the motherboard, and
after two years, the hard drive? Would Microsoft be in the right if it
claimed that the license was no longer valid? Have they ever come up
with anything definitive on this issue?

It's certainly not the same historical axe if the handle and blade were
changed.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

It's certainly not the same historical axe if the handle and blade were
changed.

Especially since there was no such axe; the story is nothing but a
myth, anyway.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Rock]

Especially since there was no such axe; the story is nothing but a myth,
anyway.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand
Russell

Lol...that really spoiled the analogy.