Hi,

I have several questions about Thinkpads T4x and Windows licences :

1) I would like to know if Thinkpads T4x were originally shipped with OEM or non-OEM licences.
On the Windows stickers pasted on Thinkpads T4x, I cannot see "OEM" being mentioned.

2) What to do when a Second-Hand Thinkpad has the Windows sticker removed, and if I am interested in installing Windows XP on it. Should the original licence for the laptop not stay attached to it? Can I ask Microsoft or Lenovo to provide me a new sticker?

3) I observed that, technically speaking, moving a hard drive from a defekt Thinkpad to a working Thinkpad works if both laptops are of the same typ. Now, I would like to know if possible to reassociate the licence to the new laptop (i.e. motherboard) by re-activating Windows XP Pro without reinstalling it.

Thank you.

1) AFAIK Thinkpads all ship with OEM license.

2) The sticker is the COA/license, when it's missing the ThinkPad no longer has a Windows license. Don't expect Microsoft or Lenovo to provide another license, without cost. Microsoft will gladly sell you another.

3) Probably won't have to re-activate a factory install, or install from recovery media, when moved to another machine. IMHO, if the ThinkPad has a valid COA attached, and you are using a matching IBM/Lenovo install of Windows, your in compliance with the Microsoft EULA. But my opinion doesn't count for anything, legally speaking.

Thank you, Neil.

One thing that I don't understand is --as an OEM licence are attached to the motherboard-- why do some people detach the COA (Certificate of Authenticity) ? To give an appearance of validity to other computer? As most laptops already come with a OEM COA sticker, is this practice not only illicit, but also really senseless?

Another thing that I don't understand is why Microsoft does not offer any guarantee to people wanting to check if their computer has a valid sticker. After all, if someone purchases in good faith, a computer with a sticker coming from another machine, he has no mean to check if the sticker is valid and could go himself into troubles.

I observed that on some green COA stickers is written "Cannot be sold separately". These are probably the COA for OEM licences.

But on one Thinkpad, is a violet COA sticker where this is not mentioned.
Instead, its is written "1-2 CPU". I assume that such sticker is for non-OEM versions, but Microsoft doesn't tell much about the meaning of the sticker colors.