Need some advice....

[JEDIYoda]

I am currenrly running windows2000!! Mainly because until now I have been too cheap to upgrade my OS!!

Before we go any further I am running Intel p4 3.2 EE
I have 2 gigs of ddr memory
I am running a geforce 9600 video card
My mobo is ASUS
I donot game at all on this machine
both of my harddrives are going on 3 years....

I have several issues with IE.....IE freezes quite a bit of the time as does applications that have nothing to do with IE.

I am thinking it is my OS which God only knows how it is still running...

I am looking at picking up a OEM version if Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM Home Premium Version

but I have also been looking at Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3 for System Builders - OEM
Home Version..

What are the advantages and dis-advantages of purchasing an OEM version??

Should I even be looking at OEM ??

Thanks in advance....

 

[Billb2]

An OEM version is supposed to be installed on a computer built by a "system builder".
MS kind of looks the othey way when OEM disks are offered to the public.

One of the problems with an OEM disk is that , once authnticated, the OS install (actually, the key) is tied to the specific computer the install was made on. That's why OEM disk cost less. They can not be used over and over on other computers, like a Retail disk can (though Retail disks do have a limit on how many time thay can be used).

If you change components (mainly,the motherboard/CPU) and reinstall from the same OEM disk, that install will not authenticate.

MS is pretty good though if you call them and say something like "My MB died and that model is no longer available, so I had to change motherboards." They will almost always give you a new key.

 

[theAnimal]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
I have several issues with IE.....IE freezes quite a bit of the time as does applications that have nothing to do with IE.

I am thinking it is my OS which God only knows how it is still running...

IME freezes and crashes are caused by hardware or drivers, so there's a chance you will still have the same issues with a new OS.