For years folks who wanted to buy a copy of Windows XP to build their own PC would simply purchase an OEM copy with some major component. Well, apparently that’s no longer possible. In a little publicized move, Microsoft changed its OEM license restrictions so that you can only buy an OEM copy of windows along with a fully built PC. In fact, they’re rather explicit, stating that the PC must include:
- CPU
- motherboard
- hard drive
- power supply
- case
I realize that they were doing this to close the loophole in the previous version which stated you only had to buy a non-peripheral component (motherboard cable isn’t peripheral, right? 
), but I’m not sure this is a good solution. Now, it’s apparently impossible to build a PC yourself if you plan on using windows unless you buy all of those components assembled (with windows pre-installed installed, no less) without buying a full $300 retail copy. And believe me, the retail version doesn’t go for much below $300. I wonder what Vista retail will be?
There are us who has bought a fully assembled computer who didn’t want the Microsoft stuff, how do we get rid of it and the money back for what we didn’t want to buy?
Left by Linux User on November 9th, 2006