MicroDev said:
I wouldn't be so sure. Amazon just passes along external references. If you check the fine print, they aren't responsible in any way. The agreement with MS states that you cannot sell the OEM variant without a system. Many fly-by-night here-and-gone resellers have been busted doing the opposite when MS takes notice.
Good luck.
This person does not know what he is talking about.
Evidently he has never read the XP OEM EULA before.
1) If you purchase your OEM copy directly from AMAZON, you will get an AUTHENTIC, Generic Microsoft-produced OEM copy. This will include ALL the proper holograms (inset into the disk itself, not printed), as well as a genuine OEM COA, plus the Microsoft booklet (in the case of PRO, it will be blue.).
2) The EULA states specifically that it must be sold along with an "essential" piece of hardware. This can be ANYTHING from a powercord, a mouse, to an entire machine.
3) The Amazon-sold OEM will be around $150 for XP Professional. I suggest you purchase this one. You will have absolutely NO PROBLEMS activating this, UNLESS you ALSO install it on ANOTHER machine after it has been activated. In that case, you deserve problems.
The OEM license does not allow one to transfer his license to a second machine. You MAY experience having to do a phone activation IF you previously activated the same copy while using Boot Camp Assistant, since the Parallels virtual machine will look DIFFERENT to the Activation server. Simply call the number provided when the Internet activation fails, and talk HONESTLY to the Activation representative, telling him/her EXACTLY what happened. He/she will activate your copy installed within Parallels, since it is ACTUALLY the SAME machine (if you are honest, at least).
If you purchase an OEM from one of Amazon's user sales sites, all bets are off. These are usually much cheaper. I don't advise that you purchase one of these. Purchase one directly from Amazon.
Amazon ITSELF is NOT a "fly-by-night" reseller. They GUARANTEE that their products are GENUINE.
And PLEASE, DON'T purchase an OEM from eBAY, no matter HOW much more cheap they appear to be. Many times, these have been previously activated, or are pirated.
DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, purchase an OEM from an Eastern Bloc nation, (these are usually EXTREMELY cheap, from $20 and up). These are GUARANTEED to be pirated copies.
Let's face it, there is NO SUCH thing as a "genuine keygen'. They are ALL ILLEGAL!!!. ONLY MIcrosoft sells "genuine COAs" (Certificates of Authenticity), without which an OEM is NOT genuine, under ANY circumstance.
