OEM or Retail????

[Pghpooh]

HI
Other then the cost advantage of buying OEM software are there advantages in buying the retail versions??
My pc is 4 1/2 years old. I currently use Windows XP Home which was a oem. I'm thinking of upgrading the machine or just building a new one.
No matter what I do I will buy a new motherboard, cpu and ram.
If I remember right when you replace the motherboard Windows sees that as a "NEW" machine forcing you to either buy a new license for the software or buying new software.
Sometime ago there were a few posts in favor of buying retail software. If I remember right if I were to buy the retail version I "OWN" the license and I can install or reinstall the Windows O/S as many times as I want to. Am I right??

Another dumb question.
If I build a new pc and use my current Windows O/S for the initial build can I buy a retail version of XP Pro Upgrade version and install that over the XP oem version? That would be double work but I am retired and I have the time!!!


As always and and all comments and thoughts are NEEDED!!! LOL
Thanks
Pghpooh

 

[Nothinman]

If you replace the motherboard there is a good chance that Windows will need reactivated, you'll most likely have to call MS and tell them what happened and see if they give you a new activation code. If they do, you won't have to buy anything.

When you buy OEM software it's tied to the hardware that you bought it with, so once you lose, replace, etc that piece of hardware you're not legally allowed to use that copy of the software any more even if it's something as stupid as a SATA cable.

I don't know if you'd be able to install the upgrade version of XP over top of the OEM version, technically it's not an upgrade since they're both the same release and I have no idea how XP looks for candidates for upgrade.

 

[Fresh Daemon]

Other then the cost advantage of buying OEM software are there advantages in buying the retail versions??

Yeah, you get a nice box. 🙂

Seriously, if you were to get an OEM version of XP, and you called MS for tech support, they'd say "ah heck off and contact your OEM." If the OEM is you, then it's back to the forums. 🙂 If you got a retail one, then they'd say "We can certainly help you. Let's start by getting your credit card number."