Shunter
Ashamed MCSE, MVP and former Microsoft trainer.
Anyone who says different doesn't know what they're talking about..
I'll give you one reason, and you should know better.
Licensing.
Yes it may be possible technically. But if you are running an OEM copy of Windows, you're not allowed to do it legally. That's probably part of the reason they make it so difficult !
However I do agree with you on this point ...
these days I just tell them to buy a Mac and spend my spare time flying instead.
I'm not sure whether or not it is the case, but helimutt might also find that Microsoft define a new motherboard as being a new computer in the case of OEM software.