Windows Xp OEM and DSP OEI

You can't? Why not? I have a Boot Camp + Parallels installation of Windows XP from a 'Get Genuine Kit for Windows XP Professional' which it says somewhere it's OEM. Since it's target at legalising XP installations, I legalized it, I even have a XP OEM sticker on that Mac (yeah, looks ugly on a mac, that's why it's in the battery compartment ;P). The only downside is, I cannot transfer this installation to another computer.

EDIT: It's actually an OEI DSP license and not OEM.
 
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All,

OEM Versions are legal. I checked with Microsoft & several retail vendors. The only restriction is that you can only install on one PC, you receive little or no documentation & you cannot expect technical support from Microsoft. You should be sure to receive a certificate & a License Key from any vendor you purchase an OEM copy from.
 
John,

OEM Versions are perfectly legal as long as you are installing on one PC (actually all retail versions should only be installed on one PC). I have verified this directly with Microsoft as well as several retail vendors.
 
The legal ones for macs are OEI DSP OEM and not OEM. But you can only get OEM if you buy it with a computer, if you bought XP independently and it's shrink wrapped, chances are it's OEI DSP OEM and not OEM. The only way to buy OEM Windows would be if you were a computer manufacturer.
 
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John, you can't buy a OEM Windows license unless you are a computer manufacturer anyway, so it's not even an issue, the issue is that OEI DSP versions license stickers say they are OEM, which is misleading, if you buy an OEI DSP license you can implement on a Mac (Boot Camp, BC + Parallels, o just Parallels) but you can't transfer it to another machine.

The link you posted is misleading, not to mention that it hasn't any endorse by Microsoft.
 
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Yeah, I manufactured my computer and sold it to myself, or you can always tell that the store you bought it from pre-installed it for you, there's no way to disprove that, so technically it's legal since there's no way to prove the illegality.
 
All,

I can only tell you I checked with Microsoft directly and with several retail vendors and ALL confirm that use of OEM versions are perfectly legal with the only restriction being that the OEM version can only be used on one machine and do not come with any Microsoft support or documentation. Please note that several reputable online vendors such as Amazon, Buy.com, NewEgg & Tigerdirect are selling OEM versions on their website directly to consumers and not just to manufacturers. Reputable online vendors such as Amazon would not risk their business selling illegal software to consumers or misinform consumers when asked the question of legality directly (not to mention that Microsoft themselves confirm legality when you call their Customer Service/Sales line).

As far as usability... I have successfully installed OEM version into Parallels 3.0 & you can do so as long as your OEM software comes with a Certificate & a License Key. The fact that a reputable online vendor provides you with a License Key for your software is just another indication of legitimacy.
 
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