On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:30:09 -0400, "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123>
wrote:
> I saw reference to this in another newgroup:
> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?Sort=3&Nav=|c:672|&Recs=30
>
> If OEM version, how would a buyer know WHICH OEM hardware it goes with ???
> ( Aren't they usuall for certain model hardware - like Dell Dimension
> 2100 )
> It seems to be a full version of XP SP2. I thought an OEM version was
> restricted to a particular model. So would a " Full OEM version" work on
> ANY model PC ? I never knew an OEM CD to install on " any hardware".
There are two-types of OEM versions:
1. Those that particular OEMs customize for particular computers they
sell, and are normally shipped pre-installed on those computers. They
are also often (but not always) BIOS-locked to the particular
motherboard model they come with, and won't install on anything else.
2. Generic OEM versions. Although they aren't retail versions, these
are sold in the retail market, both by big chains like Walmart and by
small local custom-builders. There was a time when the requirement was
that these could only be sold with a computer, new motherboard, or new
hard drive. Then the requirement was relaxed to be any hardware. And
apparently now, even that requirement may be gone. In terms of the
software they contain, these are identical to the retail versions.
Both types of OEM versions have the following disadvantages as
compared with the retail version:
1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold,
or given away.
2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.
3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them
with a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your
OEM; that support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or
you can get support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.
By the way, it's disadvantage number 1 above that's the deal-breaker
for a generic OEM version, as far as I'm concerned. An OEM version
usually costs only slightly less than a retail Upgrade version, and I
think the Upgrade is worth that slight additional cost to get rid of
that restriction. And contrary to what many people think, an Upgrade
version *can* do a clean installation, as long as you have the CD of a
previous qualifying version (buy a cheap used copy of Windows 98 on
eBay if you don't have one) to show it when prompted.
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
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