@odhiambo I do, constantly.

The problem is that what is in the shops is the oem licence which gets tied to a single machine and requires you to only install it if you are going to sell the machine to a third party.

sample reference reading material

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/what-microsoft-wont-tell-you-about-windows-7-licensing/1514

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_for_hobbyists.aspx

I have researched this at great length both on list and online. I have also called microsoft who refer me to a list of vendors who generally specialize in volume licencing and when I ask about the retail options, dead silence follows.

I am aware that I could go the volume licencing approach but that will force me to buy stuff I really don't need at the moment. And to do this I would need a machine that already has windows, which I only have one.

Also I think that there is alot of misinformation going around concerning this issue. Especially when you find the copyright authorities looming like dark rain clouds and people run and install the oem version available in the shops and still end up with technically illegal software.

I know I could just get the oem version and keep my fingers crossed that all goes well and that the chances of being found as an individual are slim but I still need a transferable licence.

Hence my asking, is there anywhere locally one can get retail licences, full pack or upgrade?