WINDOWS 7 - OEM or Retail???

[TubeTote]

My business machine detailed in my signature is running XP professional. I am loving Windows 7 on my netbook, and my work software seems to run perfectly...so I'd like to upgrade my desktop to 7. I'm wondering if I should purchase the OEM edition of 7 Ultimate for about $175, or the retail version that runs nearly $300. I am comfortable with the OEM edition of XP, but I'm concerned that as I re-build my machines the license will void (since apparently the OEM version cannot be transferred). Any advice?

 

[lxskllr]

Ultimate? I'd use oem Pro for $140. Oem is tied to the mb, but MS allows warranty repairs, so if your MB goes up, and you replace it with something different, they'll activate it, though you'll probably have to give them a call(10 minute task).

 

[Blazer]

there is nothing wrong with oem, ms hasnt given me any problems with oem activation, 'but' to many activations within a 3 month period you may have to call, no big deal though.

 

[TubeTote]

Ultimate? I'd use oem Pro for $140.

I was thinking that ultimate offered better flexibility for running older games and programs that were designed for XP...or am I misinformed? I have lots of older games that I'd like to still be able to play.

If I am wrong on this, do you happen to know the major differences between pro and ulitmate?

Thanks for your input 🙂

 

[TubeTote]

Oem is tied to the mb

Also wondering...I have no immediate plans to upgrade my mobo, really love it actually. This doesn't mean that I won't want to do this at some point, and I would hate to have to buy the OS again. Will MS allow you to do this?

Thanks again.

PS - way off topic, newbian question...but I can't figure out how to quote multiple quotes from different people into one reply. I know about the multi quote button but it is unclear how this works and usually messes up when I try to use it. If anyone has the time to explain I would be greatly appreciative.

 

[JackMDS]

I was thinking that ultimate offered better flexibility for running older games and programs that were designed for XP..

These are the differences between Pro and Ultimate.

Ultimate has.

1. Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker.

2. Work in the language of your choice and switch between any of 35 languages.

I doubt that these effects Game support.


.

 

[zagood]

TubeTote - you're probably thinking of "XP Mode" which is available on both Pro and Ultimate. Only differences are the ones JackMDS noted.

edit: FYI you won't be able to use XP Mode with an e5200. The CPU needs to have VT (or AMD-V for AMD chips) enabled, which the e5200 does not.

 

[TubeTote]

TubeTote - you're probably thinking of "XP Mode" which is available on both Pro and Ultimate.

OK...that is probably what I was thinking of. Doesn't sound like I really need ultimate for my purposes. Thank you for letting me know.

Anyone have much experience using XP mode with 7? I tried it with Vista and it only seemed to work about half the time if that.

 

[JackMDS]

While VPC (or XP Mode) might be running on a powerful computer, the software that run on the Virtual computer sees a computer with old BX chipset, creatve old Audio, and old S3 graphic card.

That can impose limitations on some software that otherwise runs well on a souped up real computer that run with XP.

Computers are wonderful miracle but they can not compensate for every scheme that people can imagine.

I Use XP mode, but in addition I put mobile racks in a 5.25" front slot of my computers, and have trays with Win 7 and trays with old XP etc., it takes less than a minute to switch trays when needed.

If one uses only SATA drives there is No need for tray.

Put one these for $20 and you can slip in and out SATA drives as needed.

 

[TubeTote]

While VPC (or XP Mode) might be running on a powerful computer, the software that run on the Virtual computer sees a computer with old BX chipset, creatve old Audio, and old S3 graphic card.

That can impose limitations on some software that otherwise runs well on a souped up real computer that run with XP.

Computers are wonderful miracle but they can not compensate for every scheme that people can imagine.

I Use XP mode, but in addition I put mobile racks in a 5.25" front slot of my computers, and have trays with Win 7 and trays with old XP etc., it takes less than a minute to switch trays when needed.

If one uses only SATA drives there is No need for tray.

Put one these for $20 and you can slip in and out SATA drives as needed.

Hmmm that is clever.

I would rather keep everything on one drive if possible, but that is certainly worth consideration if I can't get what I want out of XP mode.

 

[lxskllr]

Also wondering...I have no immediate plans to upgrade my mobo, really love it actually. This doesn't mean that I won't want to do this at some point, and I would hate to have to buy the OS again. Will MS allow you to do this?

Thanks again.

PS - way off topic, newbian question...but I can't figure out how to quote multiple quotes from different people into one reply. I know about the multi quote button but it is unclear how this works and usually messes up when I try to use it. If anyone has the time to explain I would be greatly appreciative.

MS has been pretty lenient in the past about activating Windows on different hardware. As the saying goes though, past performance is no guarantee of the future. Look at it this way, if you buy 2 oem copies, you're even money with retail. Unless you're a complete hardware junkie, Win8 should be out before you get through 2 copies, worst case.

Multi quote? There's a way to do it, but I haven't looked into it. On the rare occasions I want to, I open the thread in 2 tabs, use 1 as my primary reply, then use the other as a quote farmer. I'll quote, copy it, hit back, then paste into the primary response page. It sounds like a lot of work reading it, but it goes pretty fast :^)

 

[TubeTote]

MS has been pretty lenient in the past about activating Windows on different hardware. As the saying goes though, past performance is no guarantee of the future. Look at it this way, if you buy 2 oem copies, you're even money with retail. Unless you're a complete hardware junkie, Win8 should be out before you get through 2 copies, worst case.

Multi quote? There's a way to do it, but I haven't looked into it. On the rare occasions I want to, I open the thread in 2 tabs, use 1 as my primary reply, then use the other as a quote farmer. I'll quote, copy it, hit back, then paste into the primary response page. It sounds like a lot of work reading it, but it goes pretty fast :^)

That's a really good point, and I agree. I think I'll be fine with OEM, so I'm gonna order it right now.

I seem to have issues with multi-quoting, but I'll try your method.

Thanks for your reply, you are usually pretty helpful and always polite.