Saving Licenses

Technically, if you are using an "upgrade" you are supposed to keep the original license as well as the new license with the same computer.

If you scrap the computer/hdd, you can take the license and use it on another single computer with the OS that the license allows for.

Hi,
I agree first answer but I have a comment: these license placed on the side of case are OEM licenses which can be used only with this hardware (teoretical/tehnical/etc.!?). I think that a hardware upgrade using the same case is a midle way...

Per Microsoft, you cannot transfer an OEM licesne from one system to another:

"This does not apply to product licenses acquired with the purchase of a PC. These "OEM" licenses are single-use licenses that cannot be transferred to another PC."

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/mpafaq.asp

You can "upgrade" the hardware of the original system, by using the case (gutting out the all other components, etc). But transfer of license, to another system, is not allowed.

OR - use the existing OEM license as basis for an operating system upgrade.

Those are your two primary choices, given your circumstances.

A third would be sell the system.

A fourth being to format the system, load and learn an open source operating system.

G'luck - Bill Rankin