Windows Education

[Dumbone]

Hi
I need some help to clear up many things I don't know! (Yup, I am confused)
As I understand it when using WinXP oem I can use it ONLY ONE TIME. If I build a pc and say a few months later the hard drive fails or cpu fails I would have to buy a new copy of the oem and reinstall the os along with the cpu or hard drive. Also, as I understand it if I wanted to build a new system a year or so later I can't use the year old WinXP oem in the new pc.

With the retail version I assume that I OWN THE LICENSE to the software. If there is a drive or cpu failure I can use that same retail version WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM to rebuild the pc.
Also, I think I can use the same copy of the retail version to build a new pc several months later.
Am I right or wrong on my thoughts?

I have a older pc I want to update. It has WinME running on it and the drive giving me errors. My thought is to replace the drive and install a copy of WimXP retail.
Then a few months later when I can build a new pc I want to use that retail version on the new pc.
I know WinXP oem is cheaper. But, if I have to keep buying new copies it might be cheaper to go with the retail version.
And, last of all,,, I want to use Win XP because I feel Win Vista is still too new, I prefer to wait till Vista is out a year and the bugs are ironed out and more drivers are available.
I know this post is long but I am new and need lots of help!
Thanks
Dumbone

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Dumbone
Hi
I need some help to clear up many things I don't know! (Yup, I am confused)
As I understand it when using WinXP oem I can use it ONLY ONE TIME. If I build a pc and say a few months later the hard drive fails or cpu fails I would have to buy a new copy of the oem and reinstall the os along with the cpu or hard drive. Also, as I understand it if I wanted to build a new system a year or so later I can't use the year old WinXP oem in the new pc.

The motherboard is the tiebreaker item for OEM licenses. If the motherboard fails, and your computer builder replaces the motherboard with the identical model, or as close as practical, then you're entitled to keep using your OEM Windows license. If you're replacing it to upgrade the system to something new, then you're at the point where the OEM license did its job and now you should get another one.

With the retail version I assume that I OWN THE LICENSE to the software. If there is a drive or cpu failure I can use that same retail version WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM to rebuild the pc. Also, I think I can use the same copy of the retail version to build a new pc several months later. Am I right or wrong on my thoughts?

You got it. The retail license can be moved along to a new PC over and over as needed. You may still have to phone in for activation if you do it too many times in too short of a timespan, but you're entitled to do that, so don't let it worry you if/when that happens. Just tell them it's a retail Windows you bought from a store and yep, you've only got it installed on one PC, and they'll give you your activation code.

More info including full versus upgrade and Vista versus XP, as well as installing Windows without catching worms: http://www.mechbgon.com/build/security1.html

I have a older pc I want to update. It has WinME running on it and the drive giving me errors. My thought is to replace the drive and install a copy of WinXP retail.
Then a few months later when I can build a new pc I want to use that retail version on the new pc. I know WinXP oem is cheaper. But, if I have to keep buying new copies it might be cheaper to go with the retail version. And, last of all,,, I want to use Win XP because I feel Win Vista is still too new, I prefer to wait till Vista is out a year and the bugs are ironed out and more drivers are available. I know this post is long but I am new and need lots of help!

Thanks
Dumbone

If the computer is old enough that it runs WinME, you sure won't run Vista on it. You may not even be able to run WinXP on it, actually. What are the specs?

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

If the computer is old enough that it runs WinME, you sure won't run Vista on it. You may not even be able to run WinXP on it, actually. What are the specs?[/quote]

This is a good point. In my experience many of those old WinME boxes use RDRAM, which makes upgrading nigh imposible. Unless it's got at least 256MB of RAM (and even then!), don't install Windows XP on that thing.

I suggest a version of Linux tailored to older machines, like Xubuntu.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Noema

Originally posted by: mechBgon

If the computer is old enough that it runs WinME, you sure won't run Vista on it. You may not even be able to run WinXP on it, actually. What are the specs?

This is a good point. In my experience many of those old WinME boxes use RDRAM, which makes upgrading nigh imposible. Unless it's got at least 256MB of RAM (and even then!), don't install Windows XP on that thing.

I suggest a version of Linux tailored to older machines, like Xubuntu.
[/quote]There ya go. Or if there's still some need for the WinME installation, consider booting from a Linux CD or DVD so you can use either OS. Because at this point, if you're going to get a Windows to keep for the next ~5 years, it shouldn't be WinXP, it should be Vista, for the improved security if nothing else. IMHO. Try to hold out until you're ready to get your new rig.

 

[Dumbone]

HI
Sorry I am late getting back to the forum. Spent all day cutting grass and spraying bug killer around the house. The wife hates creepy crawly bugs and I hate pc bugs!!! LOLOLOL

That old pc I mentioned is a AMD 750 mhz Duron with 320meg of ram. (one stick of 64 meg and one stick of 256 meg) I did a little research and the ram is sdram pc100.
I could probably buy another 256 meg or ram for around $40 or so. That might make it run ok if I used WinXP Home.

If I do update the machine all it will be used for is internet access and maybe some word processing. And, maybe playing some solitaire!!!

Thanks for the help and advice
Dumbone