Building a PC

[Howard Kaikow]

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?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

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.

 

[Howard Kaikow]

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

 

[PD43]

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.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

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.

 

[Lil' Dave]

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.

 

[Howard Kaikow]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

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.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

MS has promised an integrated image for OEMs for both XP Home and XP Pro.
It may have short-lived availability and I have no idea if there will be
system builder cds for online resellers like NewEgg, but it is easy enough
to make a slipstreamed cd using XP Pro SP2 and the SP3 Download for IT
Professionals that will be available as soon as SP3 releases to
manufacturing. I would buy what is out there now and simply update it
later.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

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.

Better? Only marginally so, in my view. You'll save a little time
downloading SP3.

When SP3 is released, you can slipstream it into your SP2 CD. If it
were me, and I wanted to buy a copy of XP, I wouldn't wait for SP3.

 

[Howard Kaikow]

I've heard that "SP3 has caused issues with High Definition audio, now used
in most motherboards".

So, it may make sense to buy an XP SP2c, and get SP3 later.
If I buy an SP3 and there's mobo problems, I'm dead in the water.

 

[Howard Kaikow]

I've heard that "SP3 has caused issues with High Definition audio, now used
in most motherboards".

So, it may make sense to buy an XP SP2c, and get SP3 later.
If I buy an SP3 and there's mobo problems, I'm dead in the water.

Finally, I bought retail Win XP Pro SP2 today.
It was sort of a "birthday" present.

I sent out the following message earlier today.
FYI, ISO 9660 is the ISO CD-ROM volume and file structure standard.

"Happy Birthday!

Today is the 20th anniversary of the publication of ISO 9660.

Seems more like 50 years! "