About XP Software

[LadyDungeness]

I'd like to get a retail version of the XP windows operating system to use in the future. I have an OEM version that came
with my computer when a local company (now out of business) built it. I do not know if the OEM version is "tied" to any
particular hardware. I want the retail version to make sure that if and when I change my motherboard, that XP will still
work.

I was looking at NewEgg, and they are selling XP OS for OEM system builders and XP OS retail. I don't know the difference.
In effect, I build my own systems. Though I would never call myself a "system builder" and I never sell the systems I build.
I just replace components in my case from time to time as needed. The XP OS for OEM system builders is about half the price
of the retail version.

If I buy the OEM for system builders version and install it, will I be able to reinstall it later when I install new system
components like the motherboard? Or will I get a message saying that I cannot reinstall it because I don't have the same
components?

Appreciate the help ...


Lady Dungeness
Out of Danger until September
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[Big_Al]

I'd like to get a retail version of the XP windows operating system to use in the future. I have an OEM version that came
with my computer when a local company (now out of business) built it. I do not know if the OEM version is "tied" to any
particular hardware. I want the retail version to make sure that if and when I change my motherboard, that XP will still
work.

I was looking at NewEgg, and they are selling XP OS for OEM system builders and XP OS retail. I don't know the difference.
In effect, I build my own systems. Though I would never call myself a "system builder" and I never sell the systems I build.
I just replace components in my case from time to time as needed. The XP OS for OEM system builders is about half the price
of the retail version.

If I buy the OEM for system builders version and install it, will I be able to reinstall it later when I install new system
components like the motherboard? Or will I get a message saying that I cannot reinstall it because I don't have the same
components?

Appreciate the help ...


Lady Dungeness
Out of Danger until September
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I think simply put, OEM means you get no support from Microsoft.
You become the Manufacturer like Dell does. Dell supports their OEM,
not MS. You support your OEM not MS.

Except this is a OEM version that is not tied to the BIOS of the PC like
some Dell OEM discs are.

Retail means your valid for support from microsoft.

 

[Big_Al]

<typos corrected>
I think simply put, OEM means you get no support from Microsoft.
You become the Manufacturer like Dell does. Dell supports their OEM,
not MS. You support your OEM not MS.

Some OEM's like Dell ships, are tied to the BIOS of the motherboard.
This is not the case however in the NewEgg products since they don't
know your board. But their OEM still implies the lack of MS support.

Retail means you can get support from microsoft.

 

[LadyDungeness]

Good information. So it sounds like I can continue to "support" myself if I buy the OEM version. And I can install it and
reinstall it on the same machine. Or take if off an old machine and install it on a new one that I build Right?

As for my newsreader wrapping lines, I have no idea. Am I supposed to set it to wrap at 76? If you can tell me the nature
of the problem, I'll try to fix it.

:-D


Lady Dungeness
Out of Danger until September
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

[Bob I]

Good information. So it sounds like I can continue to "support" myself if I buy the OEM version.

Yes
And I can install it and

reinstall it on the same machine.

Yes

Or take if off an old machine and install it on a new one that I build
Right?

No.

 

[LadyDungeness]

why "NO" -- if the old machine dies, why can't I install it on the new one? If I change the motherboard and the hard drive,
isn't that the same thing as changing the machine? Does the software "know" which machine it belongs to?


Lady Dungeness
Out of Danger until September
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

[Bob I]

OEMs may not be transferred from one PC to another.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/e/3/4e3eace0-4c6d-4123-9d0c-c80436181742/OSLicQA.doc



6. What is the difference between OEM product and Full-Packaged Product
(FPP)?
ANSWER. OEM products are intended to be preinstalled on hardware before
the end user purchases the product. They are “shrink wrapped” and do
not come in a box like the retail products do. Full-Packaged Product
(FPP) is boxed with CD(s), manuals, and the EULA and is sold in retail
stores in individual boxes. The End User License Agreements (commonly
referred to as “EULAs”) for OEM and FPP products are slightly different.
One main difference is that an OEM operating system license (such as
the license for Windows) cannot be transferred from its original PC to
another PC. However, the FPP version of Windows may be transferred to
another PC as long as the EULA, manual and media (such as the backup CD)
accompany the transfer to the other PC. Also, when a customer purchases
an OEM product, the OEM license requires the OEM to provide support for
the product.

 

[David B.]

Technically you can do that, but if you want to remain compliant with the
EULA then you cannot, see the link Bob posted for more info.

 

[LadyDungeness]

OK, thanks guys. So the OEM software cannot be uninstalled from computer #1 and installed on computer #2; to do so would
violate the EULA. I understand.

I'm still having trouble figuring out the difference between an old computer with the case changed and all the components
changed, and a "new" computer. There's some gray area there. Maybe it's okay to change the components and the case, one by
one, over a period of time -- and reinstall XP OEM. But not to change them all at one go. Is the time span the only
difference between an "old" computer that's been upgraded, and a "new" computer?

Not that it's ever going to happen, but inquiring minds want to know.


Lady Dungeness
Out of Danger until September
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

[Bob I]

Let's just say that it is a way of following the letter of the EULA
while not complying with the intent of the EULA.

 

[LadyDungeness]

Cool.


Lady Dungeness
Out of Danger until September
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

[LadyDungeness]

No. Just one computer. The laptops came with the OS already.


Lady Dungeness
Out of Danger until September
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

So are you planning on having 2 computers afterward when you before only
have 1 computer? There be the difference. You can upgrade an old
computer until it is new to you but it is still the same computer that
went through evolution.

Yes, -- I need all the following:

You getting a facelift, tummy tuck, boob job,

 

[Dragomir Kollaric]

why "NO" -- if the old machine dies, why can't I install

it on the new one? If I change the motherboard and the hard
drive,

Thanks for the entertainment I got from this "thread". But if you
a really worried about licenses, maybe you should consider using
another OS, something like *Ubuntu*. Gnu/Linux OS doesn't have the
restrictions like MS. I installed the same OS on three PC and didn't
have to worry that I'd violate a license.

Dragomir Kollaric

 

[Bob I]

it on the new one? If I change the motherboard and the hard
drive,

Thanks for the entertainment I got from this "thread". But if you
a really worried about licenses, maybe you should consider using
another OS, something like *Ubuntu*. Gnu/Linux OS doesn't have the
restrictions like MS. I installed the same OS on three PC and didn't
have to worry that I'd violate a license.

Dragomir Kollaric

Don't have to worry about installing the Windows software you bought and
need to use either! Great solution! NOT.

 

[David B.]

Yeah, then all you have to worry about is the clunky command line interface
you have to use to perform certain tasks, [sarcasm]that's much
easier[\sarcasm].

 

[Dragomir Kollaric]

Yeah, then all you have to worry about is the clunky
command line interface you have to use to perform certain
tasks, [sarcasm]that's much easier[\sarcasm].

clunky command line?
Ever read about "alias" in Unix/Linux?
this are commands for my "shell"

alias ecarecord90min='ecasound -c -t:5500 -i /dev/dsp -o'
alias ecarecord45min='ecasound -c -t:2800 -i /dev/dsp -o'
++++

Lets say I record a 45 min Tape to the PC, I just start a
terminal (command line) change into the directory I want.
press the start/pause button on the Tape-deck, and then type
"eca" hit" tab" it will then expand the "record" portion
waiting for me to hit either "9" or "4" "tab" then the whole
command will finish and wait for me to type "my-music.wav"
as the out-put. Finish the whole with a last "RETURN" Press
"start" on the Tape-deck" and the recording to the PC
starts.

The cool thing is that the tool (a recorder) will stop after
the 45 minutes, then 5 minutes later the PC will shut down
if I want it to. I've used several "gui" programs to record
music, but all of them need me to be there, and I still have
to hangle through the menus to the "Save as button" and then
search for the directory I want the music to be stored.
This "simple" command-line beats them all.

To process the resulting "wav-file" I use a "GUI" program.

or update the System:

"apt-get update" "apt-get dist-upgrade" in a terminal with a
"return" is all, of course then there is GUI to "Menu |
System | Update" then comes a box I have to type in my
password. If I have a "shell" as "root" running this is way
faster. besides for the above I use another "alias" stored
in a config-file.

Mind you I'm not a programmer, but I can say that I can get
any GNU/Linux configured and running, by simply editing a
few files if there are any problems.

But the latest versions are much easier to maintain as those
I started out with. One can set up Ubuntu and almost never
need to use the clunky command-line tools. If I type
this reply in a "terminal-news-reader" or GUI-program like
"t-bird" "Pan" etc. etc. doesn't matter, the typing speed in
all of them is dependent on my abilities.

But to each its own. Over the years using GNU/Linux saved
me some big bucks, as I didn't have to buy the sound
recording/processing software I'm used on my PC's. Instead I
could buy better hardware. But this is getting OT here.


Dragomir Kollaric

 

[Dragomir Kollaric]

Don't have to worry about installing the Windows software you bought and
need to use either! Great solution! NOT.

The last reason for me to use a MS-OS went out the
window was when my old flat-bed scanner died on me, it's
replacement works fine under GNU/Linux.

I didn't say that these are my PC in my previous post now did
I?

These installs were on boxes of two friends of mine, (and my
own box I used at the time) both running older MS-versions.
They used their boxes as dual-boot for a while. Don't know
what they are using now. As for me, the last MS-OS I used
was the 98'er version, have it still on a PII stored in the
attic.

Besides I build all my PC's myself, this latest box is a
liquid-cooled AMD 64bit dual-core, and instead spending
money on the OS, I could get me better hardware/RAM. I like
this option a lot. But if your happy with the choice you
made, this is fine by me. Also one can get PC's without a OS
if on looks for this is well. OK for about 200 Euros one can
get them.




Dragomir Kollaric