Folks,
A Microsoft Windows Vista full OEM license can be used on ANY computer at any time! The ONLY restriction is that it be installed on only ONE computer at a time! I know, I have done it MANY times. In fact, I have 3 VISTA full OEM licenses and a good 15 XP full OEM licenses. Do not buy an upgrade OEM license as that causes nothing but grief in the long run (if they even make such an animal). You will have to reactivate the software either over the internet (if you are lucky) or by calling India via a 1-800 number or lately, a computer voice activated responder. They will ask you exactly TWO questions. 1: Did this software come with with your computer?- you answer "YES". 2. How many computers is this software running on? You answer "ONE". That is it. Had to do this THREE times on one of my Ultimate Vista OEM machines when I was installing it on a bad hard drive!
You can buy OEM licenses from www. ZipZoomFly.com or other places.
Donno where all these other folks are getting their expertise from, but it is not from USING the OEM versions much!
A Microsoft Windows Vista full OEM license can be used on ANY computer at any time! The ONLY restriction is that it be installed on only ONE computer at a time! I know, I have done it MANY times. In fact, I have 3 VISTA full OEM licenses and a good 15 XP full OEM licenses. Do not buy an upgrade OEM license as that causes nothing but grief in the long run (if they even make such an animal). You will have to reactivate the software either over the internet (if you are lucky) or by calling India via a 1-800 number or lately, a computer voice activated responder. They will ask you exactly TWO questions. 1: Did this software come with with your computer?- you answer "YES". 2. How many computers is this software running on? You answer "ONE". That is it. Had to do this THREE times on one of my Ultimate Vista OEM machines when I was installing it on a bad hard drive!
You can buy OEM licenses from www. ZipZoomFly.com or other places.
Donno where all these other folks are getting their expertise from, but it is not from USING the OEM versions much!
Heh! I know, I know. But I have one mitigating factor in my favor. I am typing this message on a machine that is USING A WINDOWS VISTA ULTIMATE OEM LICENSE from ZipZoomFly. And I have rebuilt this machine with completely new hardware twice now and had to install and reinstall (and reinstall) the software 5 times. I have talked to Dartma in India twice for this one license!
The ONLY difference that Microsoft ACTUALLY makes between a retail full Vista license and an OEM full Vista license is that you need to talk to someone more often with the OEM version when activating. That is IT! All these other opinions seem to come from reading the fine print in the agreement rather than USING the damn thing.
A final thought to add to the discussion. MS released into the wild a version of VISTA that requires NO activation, ever. It is for certain vendors or motherboards only. There has been a lot of discussion on the web about it so you should be able to google it.
ViRGE
Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
- Oct 9, 1999
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No. That's wrong and dishonest. It's only true for the first computer you installed the OEM software on, for future computers that is not the case. The OEM EULA is pretty straightforward: once installed it's tied to the motherboard unless the motherboard goes faulty. If you can get MS to activate the software without lying, more power to you, but telling them that the software came with the computer when it did not is not the way to do it.
No, it is not. MS does not care whether a key is being used with a 32bit or 64bit OS, it's all the same to them and can be changed at any time.
Ok still a bit confused, I've got vista 32 eval going on here. I want to buy 32bit oem now and not worry about reinstalling it. Maybe latter this year/next year reformat and switch to 64. Can you use the key for both 32/64, just not at the same time obviously?
I don't think I ever had a "computer" according to Microsoft standards! I am constantly adding or upgrading bits and pieces. Those bit and pieces migrate to the other dozen or so desktops that I have built over the past few years. The MS OEM EULA really has a big hole in it about upgrading. One particular motherboard had a valid XP Pro OEM license but now has a a valid Retail XP home upgrade license on it.
My machine that I am working on now has a Full Retail XP Pro license on one drive and a full OEM Vista Ultimate license on the other. Will the "real" license please stand up? Am I allowed to have two valid paid for licenses on this one motherboard? Does that make up for using an old "invalid" OEM license on my old motherboard that my sister has?
My attitude is "One license, one machine". My sense of fair play is fine with that.
My machine that I am working on now has a Full Retail XP Pro license on one drive and a full OEM Vista Ultimate license on the other. Will the "real" license please stand up? Am I allowed to have two valid paid for licenses on this one motherboard? Does that make up for using an old "invalid" OEM license on my old motherboard that my sister has?
My attitude is "One license, one machine". My sense of fair play is fine with that.
ViRGE
Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
- Oct 9, 1999
- 31,516
- 167
- 106
One license, one machine is fine for retail licenses, you can move those around as you wish. It is not fine however for OEM licenses, those must stay with the mobo they were installed on. If you upgrade the mobo, you have a new computer.
Puffnstuff
Lifer
- Mar 9, 2005
- 16,255
- 4,928
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OEM = can only be legally used on the hardware that it was first installed on
Retail = move it around to any hardware configuration you like but only one running copy at a time. This is why I run retail ultimate. I build/swap hardware frequently and after I make the initial change I have to phone in but after they know my new hardware configuration and see those codes they activate online again. When I change that I have to phone in to activate but not afterwards until I make another hardware change.
Retail = move it around to any hardware configuration you like but only one running copy at a time. This is why I run retail ultimate. I build/swap hardware frequently and after I make the initial change I have to phone in but after they know my new hardware configuration and see those codes they activate online again. When I change that I have to phone in to activate but not afterwards until I make another hardware change.
lxskllr
No Lifer
- Nov 30, 2004
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I'll throw my $.02 in I guess... The O/S license is tied to the mb period. If you change your mb to something that isn't a replacement due to failure you're supposed to buy another O/S. The way it works in reality is you'll usually fail online activation, and you'll call MS to activate over the phone. They may ask you why you're reinstalling(the correct answer is I replaced my mb), and they'll ask you if it's only installed on 1 machine(the correct answer is yes). They will then give you a bunch of numbers to type in, and you're on your way.
They don't have to do this according to their EULA, but historically that's the way it's worked. I imagine they don't want to piss off the people that are more or less legitimate customers. There's no guarantee that this will work forever and ever, but that's the way it is now.
My personal use of oem O/Ss is limited to the same socket mb. I don't have a moral problem upgrading or changing components within the same cpu socket. If I change sockets, I buy a new O/S. For example, my P4 478 I upgraded a couple of times and kept the same O/S. When I went to C2D I bought a new license. This might not be as stated in the EULA, but I think it's equitable to both parties.
They don't have to do this according to their EULA, but historically that's the way it's worked. I imagine they don't want to piss off the people that are more or less legitimate customers. There's no guarantee that this will work forever and ever, but that's the way it is now.
My personal use of oem O/Ss is limited to the same socket mb. I don't have a moral problem upgrading or changing components within the same cpu socket. If I change sockets, I buy a new O/S. For example, my P4 478 I upgraded a couple of times and kept the same O/S. When I went to C2D I bought a new license. This might not be as stated in the EULA, but I think it's equitable to both parties.
My problem is that I have way more licenses than running computers. Some are retail, some are OEM, some are upgrades, some are from laptops that the company elected NOT to use (just one of those). For me to try to track which license went with which motherboard at one time or another is just plain impossible at this time. That is the thing, most of you folks have one or two licenses, I have NINETEEN! Well one is windows ME! I also have 5 different MS office licenses! I build a new machine every six months or so (and get a new license for it) and pass along my leftovers to family and friends. Some of those get recycled, handed down to others,etc.
I have no problem with the retail versions of XP. In fact, I prefer them over OEM any day. It was that VISTA ULTIMATE was so expensive on my last build that I went OEM. Bring down the price and I will go retail every time.
I have no problem with the retail versions of XP. In fact, I prefer them over OEM any day. It was that VISTA ULTIMATE was so expensive on my last build that I went OEM. Bring down the price and I will go retail every time.
To me this aspect is still sort of fishy. Well, it's not if you buy a built PC, but if you build your own it can be. Warranty is decided by the manufacturer. If I build my own PC, whats to prevent me from giving myself a 99 year warranty on my motherboard, replacing it if it fails, under-performs, or lacks a needed future feature?
Given how buggy PC hardware is, even just allowing for "failure" replacements could easily apply to most motherboards- if your board isn't working 100% perfect, you could argue that it's failed and needs to be replaced.
Maybe you could even use the failure excuse when you upgrade another part- oh look my Athlon 64 motherboard must have failed because it won't boot with this core 2 duo cpu, time for a warranty replacement.
So, personally, I move OEM copies from one PC to another and feel perfectly justified doing so. I don't run a single copy on multiple computers at the same time, but I see nothing wrong with using every trick I can think of to justify getting around a stupid limitation on the license.
edit: another example of the stupidity of the oem license is that Microsoft "requires" you to affix the sticker to your case- but the license doesn't transfer with the case! That makes no sense at all to me. According to the license, you could have a perfectly legit licensed computer with NO product key sticker, because you changed cases and according to the license the license stays with the motherboard. It'd be an interesting discussion to call up Microsoft and ask how you are supposed to install windows when you don't have the key anymore.
lxskllr
No Lifer
- Nov 30, 2004
- 60,428
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I try to stay within the spirit of the EULA. They sell oem software at a significant discount under the assumption that you won't be able to use it forever. I use a different standard then they do to determine what equals a new computer, but ultimately we end up being pretty close. I guess everybody just needs to do what they think's right. I don't like using legalese, and manipulating loopholes to beat the system. MS has always been good about not sticking to the letter of the EULA with me, so I return the favor by sticking to the sprit of the EULA, if not the letter.
Perhaps they shouldn't call it OEM software, if that is the case.
Normally OEM hardware is sold at a discount because it doesn't include the full retail box, documentation, typically a shorter warranty, etc. Not because it is going to be glued to the computer you build with it. So my natural assumption is that OEM windows is cheaper for the same reasons- lack of a retail box, lack of documentation, shorter warranty.
Not because of some artificial changes to the license, which you don't even know about until after you buy and install the software, at which point most shops won't accept returns anyway.
OEM, means Original Equipment Manufacturer IIRC. This software is designed for people who build systems for others or themselves. One system per one OS tied to the original motherboard. If a person who upgrades their system every 3 months as a lot here do, then I don't understand, that if you can afford to upgrade that often, you can't afford another measley $30 for a retail upgrade version (BTW Costco had retail Home Premium for $84 last week). I know that some will drop $400 on a vid card without blinking an eye, but bitch like hell about getting fvcked for having to call for activation after the 20th time of a reformat to a new mb and system using OEM.
The ability to order the 64bit version for shipping costs, not to worry about when MS will strictly enforce it's EULA, and the ability to transfer the OS to any new system you build, is well worth the money. Remember, at any time MS can drop the hammer on OEM and its legal EULA, just like WGA.
The ability to order the 64bit version for shipping costs, not to worry about when MS will strictly enforce it's EULA, and the ability to transfer the OS to any new system you build, is well worth the money. Remember, at any time MS can drop the hammer on OEM and its legal EULA, just like WGA.
Puffnstuff
Lifer
- Mar 9, 2005
- 16,255
- 4,928
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Retail is the enthusiasts version. I'm moving all machines to ultimate retail since the price has fallen like a rock. I got my last copy of it for $260 shipped from viosoftware two weeks ago.
*update*
I installed my OEM vista HP on my new rig, and guess what? i activated it and it worked without me having to call MS... weird... i thought i will have to call them.
I installed my OEM vista HP on my new rig, and guess what? i activated it and it worked without me having to call MS... weird... i thought i will have to call them.
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