Actually, the original software DOES have to stay with the original computer if it's OEM, BUT that doesn't mean it has to be used! You guys are all freaking out about nothing IMHO. All they're saying is the recipient of a donated computer is entitiled to the original OEM software (disks, manuals, certs, etc.) and the donator is not legally entitiled to retain those items when they transfer the hardware. And it's sad how many do. The same applies to selling a computer, actually. And it applies to OEM versions of apps as well as OSes. All of you who think MS is trying to coerce people into using their OSes on donated computers, please note the phrase "...it is recommended...." They are not threatening, but advising. Whether their advice is worth following is of course a completely different issue, but at least they are giving schools and others backup for negotiating for the license if they want it and it is not being offered.
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Actually, the original software DOES have to stay with the original computer if it's OEM, BUT that doesn't mean it has to be used! You guys are all freaking out about nothing IMHO. All they're saying is the recipient of a donated computer is entitiled to the original OEM software (disks, manuals, certs, etc.) and the donator is not legally entitiled to retain those items when they transfer the hardware. And it's sad how many do. The same applies to selling a computer, actually. And it applies to OEM versions of apps as well as OSes. All of you who think MS is trying to coerce people into using their OSes on donated computers, please note the phrase "...it is recommended...." They are not threatening, but advising. Whether their advice is worth following is of course a completely different issue, but at least they are giving schools and others backup for negotiating for the license if they want it and it is not being offered.