As it seems that I am finally ready to commit (or should I be committed?) to
building a PC,
I perused the MSFT web site and saw articles about OEM Pre-Activation, etc.

What do I have to worry about when building from an OEM CD instead of a
retail CD?

Howard Kaikow wrote:
> As it seems that I am finally ready to commit (or should I be
> committed?) to building a PC,
> I perused the MSFT web site and saw articles about OEM
> Pre-Activation, etc.
>
> What do I have to worry about when building from an OEM CD instead
> of a retail CD?

Buying a generic CD? Not much. The difference is licensing. You have (by
building your own PC and using an OEM license) essentially made yourself the
first line of support for any issues with the OS that arise. It's one of
the reasons OEM licensed versions of Windows XP are less expensive. Another
would be that once you install and use Windows XP (activate, etc) on that
PC - the OEM license prevents you from ever transferring that license to
another PC. In other words - if you keep the CD and product key in a safe
and seperate place and the computer itself gets stolen or melts in a fire
(but the CD and product key are fine) - you've lost the CD and product key
too - as they are part of that original machine from the standpoint of the
licensing agreement.

Buying a pre-built system with XP already installed? The difference is
still licensing. You have (by purchasing a PC with Windows XP already
installed and OEM licensed) essentially made whomever built and installed
that license of Windows XP the first line of support for any issues with the
OS that arise. It's one of the reasons OEM licensed versions of Windows XP
are less expensive. Another would be that Windows XP that is installed on
that PC (the OEM license) cannot be transfered to another PC. In other
words - if you keep the CD and product key in a safe and seperate place and
the computer itself gets stolen or melts in a fire (but the CD and product
key are fine) - you've lost the CD and product key too - as they are part of
that original machine from the standpoint of the licensing agreement.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I believe that I've decided to go with the retail version as it avoids the
OEM-ish issue.

"Howard Kaikow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I believe that I've decided to go with the retail version as it avoids the
>OEM-ish issue.

A wise choice.

My current XP version is an upgrade, and I might find myself wanting
to sell this machine to someone and will want to build myself a new
one.

XP works JUST FINE for me, and I can't conceive of needing a newer
version.

On Wed, 9 Apr 2008 04:32:47 -0400, "Howard Kaikow"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> As it seems that I am finally ready to commit (or should I be committed?) to
> building a PC,
> I perused the MSFT web site and saw articles about OEM Pre-Activation, etc.
>
> What do I have to worry about when building from an OEM CD instead of a
> retail CD?



Just answered in another thread. Please don't start two threads on the
same subject. It just muddies the waters.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Howard Kaikow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> As it seems that I am finally ready to commit (or should I be committed?)
> to
> building a PC,
> I perused the MSFT web site and saw articles about OEM Pre-Activation,
> etc.
>
> What do I have to worry about when building from an OEM CD instead of a
> retail CD?
>
>

OEM generic. You don't get 30 days of free MS support. (whoopee doo from
my experiences). You can only install on one PC ever (there's alot of
glitches in that at first glance). You can't ever do an OS upgrade
installation. You can do a clean installation (from scratch), you can do a
repair installation.

Whichever, OEM generic or retail, come prepared with drivers for the
hardware. Be prepared to enter the bios setup for your system as
appropriate, and enable and disable as appropriate within bios setup. Get
the XP with the last available service pack. SP3 nearly here.
--
Dave

How about a tax to support any military conflict/police action over 3 months
old?

An actual war, we can do what's been done in the past.

"Lil' Dave" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uq1C$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Whichever, OEM generic or retail, come prepared with drivers for the
> hardware. Be prepared to enter the bios setup for your system as
> appropriate, and enable and disable as appropriate within bios setup. Get
> the XP with the last available service pack. SP3 nearly here.

You beat me to it!

I was just about to ask when SP3 would be released.

It seems better to buy a version that already includesSsP3, rather than
SP2c.

It depends on what version of XP you are buying. The Media Center Edition
will not be available with SP3 for preinstallation on new computers. The
only release date published by MS for SP3 is the first half of this year.

"Howard Kaikow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Lil' Dave" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:uq1C$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Whichever, OEM generic or retail, come prepared with drivers for the
>> hardware. Be prepared to enter the bios setup for your system as
>> appropriate, and enable and disable as appropriate within bios setup.
>> Get
>> the XP with the last available service pack. SP3 nearly here.
>
> You beat me to it!
>
> I was just about to ask when SP3 would be released.
>
> It seems better to buy a version that already includesSsP3, rather than
> SP2c.
>
>

"Colin Barnhorst" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:8393908E-ABA8-4DCB-833D-(E-Mail Removed)...
> It depends on what version of XP you are buying. The Media Center Edition
> will not be available with SP3 for preinstallation on new computers. The
> only release date published by MS for SP3 is the first half of this year.

I'd only buy XP Professional.

Could be that SP3 will not be out in time to make it on media by 30 June.

Howard Kaikow wrote:
> You beat me to it!
>
> I was just about to ask when SP3 would be released.
>
> It seems better to buy a version that already includesSsP3, rather
> than SP2c.

I don't know if it is better...

You could buy/have a copy of Windows XP RTM and with a little effort and a
CD burner - have a copy with SP3 integrated without waiting on Microsoft to
stamp you out a copy.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html