Swapping OEM keys

[CWatters]

I'm planning on buying a new PC but none of the good deals come with a
Windows XP OEM CD. They all come with windows pre-installed and some form of
proprietary "restore" mechanisim (either a set of restore CDs or a hidden
partion etc).

If I buy a seperate copy of Windows XP OEM on CD can I swap the keys
somehow? If I wipe the drive and install the new copy I'll loose other free
S/W provided with the machine.

 

[Michael D. Alligood]

Please understand I am not being rude but honestly, why bother. If they
come with a restore CD, isn't that enough? Most nowadays do not even
come with that. Or am I not understanding your question. That has been
known to happen!

 

[Kerry Brown]

Then maybe they are not such good deals

Buy a computer that comes with a Windows CD or buy a second legitimate
Windows license and do a clean install with that product. In most cases the
software that they throw with the really good deals is trialware and spyware
anyway and of no real value. Make sure you can create a set of recovery
media so in the event you want to go back to using the original license you
can.

 

[Stan Brown]

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 21:20:55 +0000 from Michael D. Alligood

Please understand I am not being rude but honestly, why bother. If they
come with a restore CD, isn't that enough?

No, it's very far from enough.

After you've been working on your computer or a few months, to say
that you can't fix a corrupt Windows file but must throw away
everything and start over with a factory-fresh install is not an
acceptable alternative.

 

[Michael D. Alligood]

I see your point Stan and agree with you. My previous comment was a
little ambiguous. My experience has shown that the restore CD and
partitions have two options; non-destructive restore and a destructive
restore. If Windows needed to be reloaded without format, you could use
the non-destructive selection just as you would use the Windows XP disc
to do a "Repair" installation. However, I am also aware that this is not
always the case with these "restore CDs and recovery partitions".
Thanks!

--
Michael D. Alligood,
MCSA, MCDST, MCP, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW Assoc.,
CIW Certified Instructor

 

[Ken Blake]

I'm planning on buying a new PC but none of the good deals come with a
Windows XP OEM CD. They all come with windows pre-installed and some
form of proprietary "restore" mechanisim (either a set of restore CDs
or a hidden partion etc).

If it were me, that world be reason enough not to buy a computer from one of
those manufacturers. Costing less money isn't always a good deal.

If I buy a seperate copy of Windows XP OEM on CD can I swap the keys
somehow? If I wipe the drive and install the new copy I'll loose
other free S/W provided with the machine.

What other free software? Most of what's usually provided is either junk, or
downloadable for free by anyone. If it's any good, and doesn't come with a
CD for it, that's exactly the same situation as with Windows--if there's no
CD, it's of little or no value, as far as I'm concerned.

I generally avoid national brands of computers, but if that's what you want,
you might consider Dell. Last I heard they were still offering an optional
Windows CD for only $10 extra.

 

[Tony Luxton]

FWIW, my humble opinion is *never* buy one of these PCs, but instead buy one
with just the Windows OS and the proper Microsoft CD. (And maybe any other
software that's bundled with it - but make sure it comes with the CDs for
these also.)

Then you can just buy the software you want.

I'm assuming that you don't want to build a new machine yourself - not
everyone can (or wants to) do this - but it means you also get the hardware
you want.

Regards Tony.

 

[CWatters]

Then maybe they are not such good deals

Buy a computer that comes with a Windows CD or buy a second legitimate
Windows license and do a clean install with that product. In most cases the
software that they throw with the really good deals is trialware and spyware
anyway and of no real value.

I'm talking about programs like Nero for the DVD burner and similar useful
stuff

 

[CWatters]

FWIW, my humble opinion is *never* buy one of these PCs, but instead buy one
with just the Windows OS and the proper Microsoft CD. (And maybe any other
software that's bundled with it - but make sure it comes with the CDs for
these also.)

Then you can just buy the software you want.

I'm assuming that you don't want to build a new machine yourself -

I built my last two machines and the one I'm typing on. The hardware alone
works out much more expensive. This new one is for a relative. They don't
play games and don't need a state of the art machine - hence I'm looking at
machines for a few hundred.

I just find it easier to support a machine if I have all the original CDs. I
guess I hate to rely on a restore mechanisim that's out of my control.

 

[gls858]

I built my last two machines and the one I'm typing on. The hardware alone
works out much more expensive. This new one is for a relative. They don't
play games and don't need a state of the art machine - hence I'm looking at
machines for a few hundred.

I just find it easier to support a machine if I have all the original CDs. I
guess I hate to rely on a restore mechanisim that's out of my control.

We have a local hardware provider here that not only sells hardware but
will build the PC for a mere $10! Their prices are only slightly higher
than the national brands. Less than 10%. I get the hardware I want with
Windows and ONLY Windows loaded on the PC. No junk software or any of that
branding crap you see on the others, and I get a "real" copy of Windows.
Look around you may have something similar in your area.

gls858

 

[Ken Blake]

gls858 wrote:

We have a local hardware provider here that not only sells hardware
but will build the PC for a mere $10! Their prices are only slightly
higher than the national brands. Less than 10%. I get the hardware I
want with Windows and ONLY Windows loaded on the PC. No junk software
or any of that branding crap you see on the others, and I get a
"real" copy of Windows. Look around you may have something similar in
your area.

That's a great deal! The local builder I use charges $40 with a one-year
warranty and $75 with a two-year warranty. And their prices are also usually
very good. I always prefer to pick my own components rather than get
whatever the big national OEMs provide, and for so little extra money, I
prefer to let the local builder build it, and be responsible if something
goes wrong, rather than doing it myself.

So I second your recommendation.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

I built my last two machines and the one I'm typing on. The hardware alone
works out much more expensive. This new one is for a relative. They don't
play games and don't need a state of the art machine - hence I'm looking
at
machines for a few hundred.

I just find it easier to support a machine if I have all the original CDs.
I
guess I hate to rely on a restore mechanisim that's out of my control.

I have a dealer who sells PCs to customer specs for less than it costs me to
build one and you get a real OEM CD. I guess it will be DVD for Vista. I
had two quit last week and I'll probably replace them after the first of the
year.