Here is another, more detailed, definition of what OEM means (found on another site). In short, it confirms that OEM versions are meant to be bundled with another piece of hardware and should not be installed without it. "OEM software OEM stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer". OEM software is pre-installed software that comes either with the computer or the hard drive. OEM software dies with the hard drive. This means that you can't install software of this kind on another PC. If you're replacing your hard drive, you can't install this software on the new hard drive. Instead you have to buy the software over again. Some stores sell this software on CDs in addition to the software already found on the hard drive. Other stores offer a recovery CD instead. Anyhow, it's not possible for you - the customer - to install the software on a new hard drive. The whole idea of the CDs, is to enable you to reinstall the software, for instance if the drive or the file system have a malfunction. "

• agiel - www.linfa.net