Quick Windows XP question

[Amanda85]

The only way that Windows XP Home OEM differs from its Retail counterpart is that OEM does not have Microsoft support right? Can I install it on any self-build PC?

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Amanda85
The only way that Windows XP Home OEM differs from its Retail counterpart is that OEM does not have Microsoft support right? Can I install it on any self-build PC?

The other major difference is that an OEM license is tied to the machine it is originally installed on. If you replace the machine (or, specifically, the motherboard), you need to replace the OS license as well.

Retail licenses can be transfered to different machines, provided that the licensed copy is only installed on one machine at a time.

 

[bruceb]

There are some legal differences in the license, in that, technically, the OEM version
is supposed to be tied to and remain with the original build .... eg: it can't be transfered

In reality, however, you can almost always get MS to reacitvate it, if your hardware
signifigantly changed

Mr Chad beat me to the post ... also OEM does not come with a User Manual as does the Retail Copy

 

[Amanda85]

O.k. thanks for the helpful info. I got an OEM copy.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: bruceb
There are some legal differences in the license, in that, technically, the OEM version
is supposed to be tied to and remain with the original build .... eg: it can't be transfered

In reality, however, you can almost always get MS to reacitvate it, if your hardware
signifigantly changed

Mr Chad beat me to the post ... also OEM does not come with a User Manual as does the Retail Copy

Mine sure didn't come with a user manual.

 

[bruceb]

You may be correct ... I thought I saw somewhere that a Retail Box Copy
came with the Manual, but OEM did not ... might be mistaken