OEM or "Upgrade" Version of XP???

[Caveman]

Near as I can tell, they are the exact same pieces of software except that the "upgrade" version requires me to key in an old serial number from any previous version of Windows that I own...

Right?

Or, is there some reason to opt for one version over the other?

 

[Navid]

If you have a retail version of 98 or ME, you can get an upgrade and you will be able to sell it later on or put it on another computer as long as it is on one computer only at any point in time.

If you get OEM, officially, you will not be able to sell it and you will not be able to install it on another PC even if the PC you install it on for the first time dies!
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/partners/YourPC_do.mspx

 

[Raincity]

Originally posted by: Navid
If you have a retail version of 98 or ME, you can get an upgrade and you will be able to sell it later on or put it on another computer as long as it is on one computer only at any point in time.

If you get OEM, officially, you will not be able to sell it and you will not be able to install it on another PC even if the PC you install it on for the first time dies!
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/partners/YourPC_do.mspx

Wrong, The upgrade is tied to the original OS license. You must retain the original for the upgrade to be legal.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Raincity

Originally posted by: Navid
If you have a retail version of 98 or ME, you can get an upgrade and you will be able to sell it later on or put it on another computer as long as it is on one computer only at any point in time.

If you get OEM, officially, you will not be able to sell it and you will not be able to install it on another PC even if the PC you install it on for the first time dies!
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/partners/YourPC_do.mspx

Wrong, The upgrade is tied to the original OS license. You must retain the original for the upgrade to be legal.

If he has a retail version of 98 and he gets an upgrade to XP, he can sell them both to someone else since neither is an OEM license, can't he?
Neither is tied to a piece of hardware. They are both tied to the owner.

An OEM license is tied to the machine.

I never meant that he could get the upgrade and install XP and then sell the 98. He is not supposed to do that. I never said he could!

 

[Raincity]

Originally posted by: Navid

Originally posted by: Raincity

Originally posted by: Navid
If you have a retail version of 98 or ME, you can get an upgrade and you will be able to sell it later on or put it on another computer as long as it is on one computer only at any point in time.

If you get OEM, officially, you will not be able to sell it and you will not be able to install it on another PC even if the PC you install it on for the first time dies!
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/partners/YourPC_do.mspx

Wrong, The upgrade is tied to the original OS license. You must retain the original for the upgrade to be legal.

If he has a retail version of 98 and he gets an upgrade to XP, he can sell them both to someone else since neither is an OEM license, can't he?
Neither is tied to a piece of hardware. They are both tied to the owner.

An OEM license is tied to the machine.

I never meant that he could get the upgrade and install XP and then sell the 98. He is not supposed to do that. I never said he could!

My apologies, I read the post as it was ok to sell the original license after the upgrade was installed.

 

[Jon855]

They are not any difference in the aspect of the OS itself. I guess whichever one is the cheapest one...

 

[Blazer]

go with the oem,it is a full version and can be found for less $s,a upgrade cost more and is not nearly as good,as old outdated software is still hanging around and can cause probs.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: blazer
go with the oem,it is a full version and can be found for less $s,a upgrade cost more and is not nearly as good,as old outdated software is still hanging around and can cause probs.

There is no need for any old software to hang around! You can perform a clean install with upgrade.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/before.mspx
Look mid page under "Upgrade Version Questions".
It says:
1. Q: Can the Windows XP upgrade version be installed on a clean hard drive?

A: Yes. Insert the Windows XP upgrade CD, and start Setup if necessary. When prompted, click Install Windows. At the Welcome to Windows Setup window, choose the installation type New Installation (Advanced). Click Next, and follow the instructions. Setup will prompt you to insert a valid CD containing your earlier version of Windows as proof that you qualify for the upgrade.

 

[sonoma1993]

yeah you can do a clean install with the windows xp cd upgrade, but you have to have windows 98/me install on your computer if u choose todo windows setup program, but if you do it where you boot from cd when you turn on your computer. The setup software will ask you for the 98/me cd so it can verify that you have the older software.

 

[Blazer]

NO this is not true,in the control panel you WILL have the option to uninstall the upgrade,this is not a clean install,WINDOWS XP WILL PERFORM BETTER WITH A CLEAN INSTALL! NO SMOKE BLOWING HERE.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: Navid
If you have a retail version of 98 or ME, you can get an upgrade and you will be able to sell it later on or put it on another computer as long as it is on one computer only at any point in time.

If you get OEM, officially, you will not be able to sell it and you will not be able to install it on another PC even if the PC you install it on for the first time dies!
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/partners/YourPC_do.mspx

With regards to the OEM thing, unless every single component of your existing system fries itself all at once then you will never run afoul of the OEM transfer limitation, provided you don't actually buy prebuilt. If you're like me and are continually upgrading your machine then it never transfers, the machine just changes a lot.

Also partially untrue is "you cannot sell OEM Windows". Legally you cannot sell it by itself, but you can include it with another piece of hardware, like a motherboard, hard drive, or some random ISA card that has a big-ass burn hole in the middle of it.

 

[Farmer]

What defines PC? If I keep swapping out parts, my computer will be IMMORTAL!

 

[Crescent13]

Just reformat your hard drive and buy an OEM version of XP.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: yukichigai

Also partially untrue is "you cannot sell OEM Windows". Legally you cannot sell it by itself, but you can include it with another piece of hardware, like a motherboard, hard drive, or some random ISA card that has a big-ass burn hole in the middle of it.

This Microsoft page (last sentence) clearly specifies that you cannot sell a used OEM license. This is what it says:
Many Microsoft products distributed by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) may not be transferred under any circumstances. Check the terms of the EULA accompanying the OEM products to determine transferability.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: yukichigai
With regards to the OEM thing, unless every single component of your existing system fries itself all at once then you will never run afoul of the OEM transfer limitation, provided you don't actually buy prebuilt. If you're like me and are continually upgrading your machine then it never transfers, the machine just changes a lot.

You may want to read this page from Microsoft. The third question and answer:

"Q: I hate to reiterate the meeting, but you said if you upgrade a mobo in any pc you are required to purchase a new os correct?
A: Yes, the OEM OS is tied to the motherboard. So, if the motherboard fails while under warranty the license remains intact. However, if you are simply upgrading for feature or performance enhancements, you would need a new OS license".

Your statement may be correct as long as you never upgrade the motherboard or as long as you don't care about what Microsoft has included in the End User License Agreement!

 

[Blazer]

I think someone here in this thread works for microsoft / OR is a vendor of RETAIL software.

LET ME BE CLEAR - I WILL NEVER.NOT EVER BUY A RETAIL VERSION AGAIN,NEVER.

i have changed mobo,proc,case,HD,ect,ect,ect,reloaded = NO PROB all on the same OEM XP disk.

MICROSOFTs statement about above :thumbsup: get-erdone

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: blazer
I think someone here in this thread works for microsoft / OR is a vendor of RETAIL software.

LET ME BE CLEAR - I WILL NEVER.NOT EVER BUY A RETAIL VERSION AGAIN,NEVER.

i have changed mobo,proc,case,HD,ect,ect,ect,reloaded = NO PROB all on the same OEM XP disk.

MICROSOFTs statement about above :thumbsup: get-erdone

I for one am not an employee of Microsoft and am not a vendor. I just find it amusing how people come here and distribute information without backing it up. I have stated several times before why it is that you can activate or change the motherboard without running into trouble. I have explained the way activation is enforced is not fool-proof. In fact, every record is believed to stay on the data base for only 4 months. I often post links to (in this case) Microsoft statements to show that I am not babbling.
I have learned a lot from these forums. I would like to contribute as well.

If you say that you have upgraded your motherboard with an OEM license and have had no problem, I believe you.
If you say that Microsoft supports that action, even if the motherboard is not malfunctioning under warranty, I would be very grateful if you can back that up by a link.

Have fun!