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Difference between OEM and Retail??

I

ichilds

Junior Member
I have some friends who want to upgrade to Windows XP Home. I've managed to find a source for the OEM version which is about half the price of the Retail version. I just wanted to confirm this, if im not mistaken there is no difference between OEM and Retail versions (apart from maybe some customisations adn the packaging). Could someone please confirm this for me before i tell them what to do.
Thanks
 
There is no difference between OEM & Retail operating systems except for the red tape. One reason OEM is about half the price is that it was meant to be installed and "supported" by the person or company building the computer. In other words, no free support from Microsoft. Also, OEM software does not have any transfer rights. This means that the OEM software is tied to the computer it is installed on. If your friends decided next year to build another computer, they could not transfer the OEM OS to the new computer.

Hope that helps!
 
It's amazing how much BS passes for truth on the web. 🙁

I just recently tranfered my OEM copy of Win XP Pro to a NEW computer and had no problem at all reactivating it via the Internet. Nuff said.
 
Originally posted by: Doomer
It's amazing how much BS passes for truth on the web. 🙁
I just recently tranfered my OEM copy of Win XP Pro to a NEW computer and had no problem at all reactivating it via the Internet. Nuff said.
Click to expand...

The issue isn't technical, it's a legal restriction in the license...

Bill


 
Originally posted by: bsobel
Originally posted by: Doomer
It's amazing how much BS passes for truth on the web. 🙁
I just recently tranfered my OEM copy of Win XP Pro to a NEW computer and had no problem at all reactivating it via the Internet. Nuff said.
Click to expand...

The issue isn't technical, it's a legal restriction in the license...

Bill
Click to expand...

Thanks for the support Bill. Yes, it is a "legal" restriction in the license. There are all kinds of things you can do and/or get around. "ichilds" ask the difference between "OEM and Retail" so I was offering info on differences I would tell my own customers.
 
Originally posted by: Doomer
It's amazing how much BS passes for truth on the web. 🙁

I just recently tranfered my OEM copy of Win XP Pro to a NEW computer and had no problem at all reactivating it via the Internet. Nuff said.
Click to expand...
If it has been 120 days or over since XP was last activated, then of course it's gonna activate.
Also, OEM software does not have any transfer rights. This means that the OEM software is tied to the computer it is installed on. If your friends decided next year to build another computer, they could not transfer the OEM OS to the new computer.
Click to expand...
Balloney..As long as it is only running on one machine, then you are ok. My one copy of XP has seen about 4 near-complete rebuilds and still activates like a charm. As long as it stays one-machine, one-OS, then all is good.
Difference between OEM and Retail? Retail gets you a nifty box, MS tech support, and a higher price tag to justify that support. OEM gets you a CD in shrink wrap, No tech support from MS, and a lesser price tag.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, i cant see them upgrading at any point in the fufture as they're the sort of people who keep with one thing until absoulutely necessary to replace it. Just needed to confirm they're the same product.
 
Originally posted by: GonzoDaGr8
[Balloney..As long as it is only running on one machine, then you are ok. My one copy of XP has seen about 4 near-complete rebuilds and still activates like a charm. As long as it stays one-machine, one-OS, then all is good.
Difference between OEM and Retail? Retail gets you a nifty box, MS tech support, and a higher price tag to justify that support. OEM gets you a CD in shrink wrap, No tech support from MS, and a lesser price tag.
Click to expand...

Sorry to disappoint you but legally, OEM OS is tied to the one machine it was installed on, quoted by our Microsoft rep. No transfer rights at all. I'm not saying it won't work, because I have seen it done many, many times over. It's just not legal, at least according to Microsoft.
Click to expand...
 
Sorry to disappoint you but legally, OEM OS is tied to the one machine it was installed on
Click to expand...

To tell you the truth..I'm not disappointed at all. If I want to rip the guts out of my box and upgrade to newer parts, I will. As long as activation goes thru and I am using one OS/ one machine and have the C.O.A. on the side of my case to prove it, then it don't really matter. I never advocate piracy, But when I build a new setup, Your damn right that my expensive software is going back on it as long as it not being used on any other machine. Every piece of software I own has been paid for, lock, stock, and barrell.
quoted by our Microsoft rep.
Click to expand...
Well duh, What do you think their gonna say. They want to sell you more software.
rolleye.gif
 
Originally posted by: GonzoDaGr8
Sorry to disappoint you but legally, OEM OS is tied to the one machine it was installed on
Click to expand...
To tell you the truth..I'm not disappointed at all. If I want to rip the guts out of my box and upgrade to newer parts, I will. As long as activation goes thru and I am using one OS/ one machine and have the C.O.A. on the side of my case to prove it, then it don't really matter. I never advocate piracy, But when I build a new setup, Your damn right that my expensive software is going back on it as long as it not being used on any other machine. Every piece of software I own has been paid for, lock, stock, and barrell.
Click to expand...
My computer has been through so many "upgrades" that very few pieces of the original hardware that was in it 4 years ago remain. To me, it's the same damn computer, but Microsoft would probably say otherwise. I've kept the same (legal, of course) copy of XP over several revisions, which would probably get the licensing department at MS all in a frenzy, but I don't really care (fair use provisions of copyright law > Microsoft). MS, bite me. :disgust:
 
My computer has been through so many "upgrades" that very few pieces of the original hardware that was in it 4 years ago remain. To me, it's the same damn computer, but Microsoft would probably say otherwise. I've kept the same (legal, of course) copy of XP over several revisions, which would probably get the licensing department at MS all in a frenzy, but I don't really care (fair use provisions of copyright law > Microsoft). MS, bite me.
Click to expand...
Thank you jliechty, I couldn't agree more. :beer:
 
the devil's corporate OEM is the best, no activation, cant activate it even if you wanted to. alot less paine and torture to go thru.
 
Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
the devil's corporate OEM is the best, no activation, cant activate it even if you wanted to. alot less paine and torture to go thru.
Click to expand...
Advocation of piracy has been allowed on AnandTech since when? Remember that the "corporate" XP that many people use has a very common serial, which is blocked by Windows Update. Ergo, no updates for you if you use a pirated version.
 
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