[LUG] Licences preventing the user from using other OSes?

["PWBunce" <peterbunce@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

More of the same

 

from my other os group

 

 

 

That raises a question: when can it be called the same PC it was pre-installed
on? Is it
>the same PC when I change the video card? In XP terms I guess it is another
PC after
>changing three components, because then you have to beg Microsoft for a new
XP
>license (I heard).
>

 

Yeah, just don't flash the bios.  XP will 
wig out.  Manufactures of PC's are 
complaining that something as 
inoccuous as a new lot of the same model hard 
drive requires a new image to 
be made, as XP will pitch a bitch about the 
hardware being wrong.  
Stepping changes in a chip on the MB will do the same 
thing.  Even with 
a same model motherboard, one chip with a later stepping 
revision will throw 
XP into a tizzy.  Corporations got a break  from this, as that 
particular feature has been disabled.  But everyone using XP is now on 
the 
"subcription license plan"  By that you are licensed for a period 
of time.  After 
that, you are no longer permitted to use the 
software.  We should start seeing 
complaints about Office XP expiring 
later this year and Windows XP early next 
year.  Should be 
interesting.  I can see it now.  I'm sorry teacher, I don't have 
my midterm report to hand in because my license for Office XP expired and I 
couldn't get a new license because MS is closed on the weekends.  Think 
the 
teacher will still give the kid an "F" or at the very least deduct some 
major points 
for the paper being late?  Or how about this.  I'm 
sorry IRS, I can't file my taxes 
because everything is in Quickbooks and my 
Windows XP expired and I can't 
get access to my files without a new license 
and Microsoft is refusing to send 
me one.