IS THIS A TOUGH ONE? Or just a matter of know how
 

I have and old DELL computer (8100 series) with Windows XP Home Edition OEM and I have the installation CD and the License is mine.

Computer is about to die. Can I install the O/S on a new computer I am going to build?...or is a tough because I understand there are issues with O/S sold by DELL as OEM which prevents installation on a new machine once the original is no longer in service.

I am thinking if it is a good idea to use a different installation CD from friend of mine (also Windows XP OEM but non propietary) to install it on my new machine and use my License to validate and register with Microsoft. Is that possible?

Why don't you try it? :)

I don't see how dell can prevent you from reinstalling windows... at least not if it's a normal xp oem version.

in theory the licence is systembased.

buy (or use)a new system, and you'll need another licence.

Then, again if you use parts from the old system; which part is consider the system.

If you replace a floopy drive does it mean you need another license?

By law, OEM Winxp could be accompanied by new system consists of New CPU and board.

the system equals the case, cause that's where they put the license sticker.
but the product activation could flip with a single network card changed.

I would just get a clean (non computer manufacturer's version) WinXP and install that, if possible. When I got my more recent comupter (an HP) for some reason I only got a partial OS install. I found this out when as a fix for a multitude of software problems I decided to just format. Well, after using the HP CDs (yes, CDs, as in 8 of them) I was missing tons of extra software. This just beat it into my head that I ONLY want an off the shelf OS, not Dell's, HP's, Compaq's etc.

OEM installed XP
 

Try using your OEM XP disk to perform a fresh install on your HD of choice, connected to your old machine. Then connect HD to newest machine. First try taking out your existing HD & connecting to a different rig & see if it balks....or connect your newest machine to the old one as a home network......or Borrow your buddies Pre-Activation Required XP, or dig deep into your OEM disk & reburn a copy without a trace of Dell, you do have the product key, no??? Dig deeper, or give Bill G. lunch money.($150.)