Bits bought, put together and the XP rescue disc from my old machine (now dismantled, cannibalised and out of use) inserted. It booted and informed me that it was formatting my (brand new) hard drive. It then proceeded to install XP which was validated with the aid of the serial number on the label on the old computer case. (Tip - from this forum - always use the telephone option to revaildate XP)
Naughty naughty
..... not the intended use of an OEM license.
OEM licenses live and die with the machine to which the sticker is affixed. They are
NOT transferrable, no ifs, no buts. And there are rules on how much you can tamper with the guts of a machine before it is defined as a new machine.