win xp pro oem!!!

[bigpapamd1]

what are the pros or cons of getting this product oem, and will you be able to update critical components like in the retail version.

 

[mechBgon]

OEM Pros: all the functionality of retail at about half the price (except for it can't do upgrade-style installs over a previous Windows version). Updates and everything. Still waiting to see how they'll handle the x64-edition upgrade situation though.

OEM Cons: From a legal standpoint, the OEM license agreement ties the OEM license to the system you first build with that license key, whereas Retail is licensed to you for any single computer you care to use it on. OEM has no support from Microsoft, unlike retail (by which I mean, like, calling them up with your BSOD message and having them open a support ticket, etc). Also, you have to buy OEM with hardware, although that appears to be a mere formality of throwing a 99¢ cable into your order these days 😕


HTH 🙂

 

[NightCrawler]

OEM and retail are exactly the same. The cd key is different but that is it.

Most people don't read the eula and don't know that the oem copy is married to the machine so I bet it gets ignored pretty much all the time.


PS: It does install over older version of windows with some tweaking. 🙂

 

[cubby1223]

Once they are activated, they are EXACTLY THE SAME.

Pro: it's much cheaper
Con: you have to reactivate over the phone when you upgrade

 

[RVN]

The biggest con is that the OEM license XP can't ever be installed on another computer. It is to be installed on one computer and only one computer ...the first one you activate on. If you retire that computer you can't transfer it to another computer.

Originally posted by: mechBgon


OEM Cons: From a legal standpoint, the OEM license agreement ties the OEM license to the system you first build with that license key, whereas Retail is licensed to you for any single computer you care to use it on.

HTH 🙂

MS fully expects for that OEM license to go away when the original computer that it was installed on goes away and for you to buy another new copy/license. Their product activation enforces that. The full retail license version can be re-installed and reactivated on another box ad infinitum as you retire computers along the way.

The OEM is only cheaper initially ...it is far more expensive if you so much as upgrade to another computer even one time.

 

[mechBgon]

Yeah, I think I'm going to get a retail one next time myself. My computer tends to suffer from "component drift" 😀 and it's difficult to draw the line and say where it has become a different computer. If I change out everything but the mobo...? If I change the mobo and nothing else...? The license sticker gets stuck to the case, well what if I want to change cases and keep the rest? Etc etc. 😛

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: RVN
The biggest con is that the OEM license XP can't ever be installed on another computer. It is to be installed on one computer and only one computer ...the first one you activate on. If you retire that computer you can't transfer it to another computer.

Well, 2 issues there:

1) WinXP OEM is about half the price of full retail, so you can buy two OEMs for the price of one retail.

2) if you call MS & explain what you are upgrading, they will reactivate it for you with no hassles. Is this legal? Absolutely! MS is the one that makes the rules & MS is the one telling you that yes, you can reactivate the copy. If it were illegal, the MS rep would not allow the changes, but they do. Conversation goes like this: "Why are you reactivating this license?" "I upgraded some computer components and Windows needs to be reactivated." "Okay, here's the activation key."

 

[RVN]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: RVN
...you can't transfer it to another computer.

Well, 2 issues there:

1) WinXP OEM is about half the price of full retail, so you can buy two OEMs for the price of one retail.

You'll have to buy two of them if ever you would want to transfer it to another computer.

[/quote]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

2) if you call MS & explain what you are upgrading, they will reactivate it for you with no hassles. Is this legal? Absolutely! MS is the one that makes the rules & MS is the one telling you that yes, you can reactivate the copy. If it were illegal, the MS rep would not allow the changes, but they do. Conversation goes like this: "Why are you reactivating this license?" "I upgraded some computer components and Windows needs to be reactivated." "Okay, here's the activation key."

This isn't an issue of upgrading or circumventing the legalities of an OEM license.

Here are their rules...

"Another common misconception is that you can transfer a preinstalled or OEM copy of Windows from an "old" machine to a new machine. An OEM software license may not be transferred from and old machine to a new machine?even if that machine is no longer in use. The OEM license is tied to the machine on which it was originally installed and can't be transferred to other machines."

There seems to be a general confusion about why an OEM software license is cheaper than a retail one. People post this question here alot. Barring the different level of product support with Microsoft Windows ...it's because you can't re-use it on another computer. And that with a product like XP that requires activation it is now enforceable. Confusing the issue with whether or not you can upgrade components and calling MS to re-activate is further muddying the water. Caveat emptor.

 

[NightCrawler]

Originally posted by: RVN

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: RVN
...you can't transfer it to another computer.

Well, 2 issues there:

1) WinXP OEM is about half the price of full retail, so you can buy two OEMs for the price of one retail.

You'll have to buy two of them if ever you would want to transfer it to another computer.

Originally posted by: cubby1223

2) if you call MS & explain what you are upgrading, they will reactivate it for you with no hassles. Is this legal? Absolutely! MS is the one that makes the rules & MS is the one telling you that yes, you can reactivate the copy. If it were illegal, the MS rep would not allow the changes, but they do. Conversation goes like this: "Why are you reactivating this license?" "I upgraded some computer components and Windows needs to be reactivated." "Okay, here's the activation key."

This isn't an issue of upgrading or circumventing the legalities of an OEM license.

Here are their rules...

"Another common misconception is that you can transfer a preinstalled or OEM copy of Windows from an "old" machine to a new machine. An OEM software license may not be transferred from and old machine to a new machine?even if that machine is no longer in use. The OEM license is tied to the machine on which it was originally installed and can't be transferred to other machines."

There seems to be a general confusion about why an OEM software license is cheaper than a retail one. People post this question here alot. Barring the different level of product support with Microsoft Windows ...it's because you can't re-use it on another computer. And that with a product like XP that requires activation it is now enforceable. Confusing the issue with whether or not you can upgrade components and calling MS to re-activate is further muddying the water. Caveat emptor.

[/quote]

LMAO....🙂