Hi Daisy:

"OEM" means "Original Equipment Manufacturer"
It's the kind of disk Microsoft sold to computer
manufacturers who would sell the computer with
Windows already installed.  This differs from the
packaging you (as an individual customer) would
buy by going to your local computer store.  It
should work fine on your computer.

"COA" means "Certificate of Authenticity"
(sometimes called a "key") and is a piece of paper
issued by Microsoft to accompany a legitimate
version of Windows.  It will include a NUMBER
which will need to be entered during the
installation of Windows from the CD.  The number
must match the CD, and there is no way to tell by
looking at the CD or its contents if any given
number is authentic.  (Although, sometimes one COA
number WILL work on another CD.  There have been
many discussions about Microsoft's secret
numbering system -- but nothing published
definitively that I know of.)

Jerry

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