Hi Friends:

According to the new MS OEM EULA one must be a "system builder" to install the software on a machine. And, a system builder can be an end user. To be a system builder, one now has to be an "original equipment manufacturer, an assembler, a refurbisher, or pre-installer of software on computer systems". I think that many, who buy pieces (perhaps a single piece) of hardware, for an existing computer system may qualify as system builders under the "refurbisher" category. So for a DIYer to qualify as a "system builder," he or she would need to be assembling a computer or refurbishing one.

I wonder how far one would have to go to be considered to be a refubisher. For example, if one significantly upgrades the graphics card on a computer is he or she a refurbisher. And, on a notebook, what if one installs a faster hard drive and more RAM? Is he or she a refurbisher?

I called MS pre-sales and licensing (PSL) to get an answer to this question (i.e., I was referred there by TechNet Customer Service). PSL could not answer so they referred me to the large-volume pre-sales and licensing area. They could not answer my question either so they referred me back to PSL.

The only thing I learned is that, yes, one who is making modifications to an existing computer falls under the refurbisher category in general, but, as indicated, no one knows when an individual crosses over the line into being a refurbisher. Any thoughts?

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