Did I buy the correct operating system?

[Guest]

I bought a Vista Ultimate OEM system builder pack (not upgrade) for my
home/family computer. I have a corrupt XP and my Internet Explorer will not
work. (I already tried updating) The package keeps talking about OPK and
when I go to the site it asks about my organization.(I don't have one)
Did I buy the wrong thing? I need help!!!
the product description is: Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit English 1pk OEI
DVD
If I did buy the right package how do I go along installing it? Do I erase
everything then install?

 

[Lang Murphy]

#1 - 64-Bit (x64)? For your home computer? Probably should've gotten 32-bit
(x86). Mainly because of lack of x64 drivers for common legacy components
(or many components regardless of whether they're legacy or current)

#2 - If you're unsure of whether you got the right OS, my guess would be
you're not a system builder. Your only hope is that you have not opened the
package. If you've not opened the package, you can return it for another
flavor of 32-bit Vista. If you have opened the package and it is OEM, then
you either need to try installing it (not recommended) or sell it on eBay or
someplace.

Lang

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Who says x64 is not ready for consumers because of drivers? Its very ready
here, just lacking the RAM. Usually the hardware developers roll out
driver updates for the both platforms at the same time.

As for Kintzy - you might want drop by the Microsoft Support group for OPK:
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/sblicense/OPK/default.mspx

 

[keepout]

Who says x64 is not ready for consumers because of drivers? Its very ready
here, just lacking the RAM. Usually the hardware developers roll out
driver updates for the both platforms at the same time.

As for Kintzy - you might want drop by the Microsoft Support group for OPK:
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/sblicense/OPK/default.mspx

Jeez simple question = simple answer.
Did he buy the wrong OS ? Yes. He's got more OS than he'll ever use. The salesman saw him coming. opened case or not, he should go right back to the crook that sold it to him [he saw him coming or was also as clueless,either way he should have NEVER sold that package] and demand a replacement useful OS. Why should he be stuck with dumping the wrong OS he was steered into buying ?
Only a developer would have any use for that.
He wanted a Chevy, the salesman sold him a Hummer with a Chevy label.

 

[Lang Murphy]

Andre,

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. All it takes is
one crappy or non-existant driver to make a system unuseable. Even MS says
on their web site that a user should absoultely verify, prior to installing
Vista x64, that their apps are compatible and there are drivers available
for their hw/system.

Since this fellow doesn't seem to possess the experience to deal with all
that, I think one would be doing him a disservice by telling him to "have at
it" with Vista x64.

Lang

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I bought a Vista Ultimate OEM system builder pack (not upgrade) for
my home/family computer. I have a corrupt XP and my Internet
Explorer will not work. (I already tried updating) The package
keeps talking about OPK and when I go to the site it asks about my
organization.(I don't have one)

Did I buy the wrong thing? I need help!!!

the product description is: Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit English
1pk OEI DVD ?
If I did buy the right package how do I go along installing it? Do
I erase everything then install?

Jeez simple question = simple answer.
Did he buy the wrong OS ? Yes. He's got more OS than he'll ever
use. The salesman saw him coming. opened case or not, he should go
right back to the crook that sold it to him [he saw him coming or
was also as clueless, either way he should have NEVER sold that
package] and demand a replacement useful OS. Why should he be stuck
with dumping the wrong OS he was steered into buying ?
Only a developer would have any use for that.
He wanted a Chevy, the salesman sold him a Hummer with a Chevy
label.

I am not so sure it actually was a simple question.
Perhaps - if you don't care about all the 'left out' information...

Are you sure he got more OS than he'll ever use?
Or did he need the parts Ultimate has that other editions do not?

Was there a mention of a salesman or an actual physical store in there I
missed?
Some reference to having talked to a salesperson?
Any hint of prior research done by KINTZY that I skimmed over?

We do not know if KINTZY did not just go online and buy what KINTZY thought
to be the right thing. The salesman you speak of - at least in as far as I
can see - was KINTZY. KINTZY may have browsed the web page, read something
and saw the price and bought away. If it was - then yes - the 'salesman saw
him coming'... Too bad KINTZY was the salesman...

What I get out of the OP is this:

KINTZY purchased Microsoft Vista Ultimate 64 bit (OEM) from an online store
and it arrived to KINTZY's delight. KINTZY's current computer install is
toast and KINTZY (in a lack of knowledge/ability/willingness to learn and
repair the trouble/not wanting to take it to someone to have it
fixed/whatever...) thought that getting this new OS and installing it over
the old one would fix all the little issues KINTZY mentioned originally.

What KINTZY did not know/understand/did learn was that an OEM copy of an OS
does not do upgrades. It is a clean installation only. It wipes out the
world that was there and builds a new one on a new foundation.

I cannot tell if KINTZY did go further and actually installed the OS. I am
assuming not or the final question in the post would not be: "... how do I
go along installing it?" So KINTZY's questions should get answers like the
following (in my opinion and my interpretation of KINTZY's post...)


KINTZY,

I cannot make the call if you bought the right 'thing' or not. Windows
Vista Ultimate is the edition of Windows Vista that contains all the
features Windows Vista offers. If you wanted everything Vista has to
offer - you bought the correct edition. You should compare and make your
own decision:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx
and
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_02.asp

There are different types of that edition (OEM, RETAIL...) and it seems you
have purchased yourself an OEM type. One thing I dislike about this type is
that it is 'tied' to the first computer you install it on. Doesn't matter
if that first computer gets stolen, melts into slag or you just decide to
sell it at a later date - in accordance with the End User License Agreement
that comes with the OEM type - that installation of Vista is permanently
tied to it and wherever it goes, whatever state it enters - the Windows
Vista license/install/DVD has to follow suit.

With that in mind - if you planned on keeping this copy of Windows Vista
Ultimate through more than one computer - you chose the right edition, but
the wrong type. Yeah - it was less expensive - but now you know one of the
reasons why. You may have purchased the correct EDITION for your needs, but
have gotten the wrong TYPE for your plans. Then again - not knowing what
your thought process was - you may have gotten everything as planned. Only
you can tell us after reviewing the materials in this response.

Now - another thing in this thread you mention makes things more
complicated. You purchased the 64-bit version of the OEM type of Windows
Vista Ultimate Edition. Do you have a 64-bit capable system? If not - then
you bought the wrong version - you need a 32-bit version. Only you can tell
us this. You need to find out (receipt, description of the system hardware
using BELARC ADVISOR, etc) whether or not you can even run the 64 bit
version of ANY OS - much less Windows Vista Ultimate Edition. Once you find
out - only you can decide if you want to. Here is a nice little article to
help you decide...

http://361degrees.wordpress.com/200...-install-64-bit-or-32-bit-version-x64-vs-x86/

And a special note - **if** you do not have a 64-bit capable system, then
that 64-bit version of the OEM type of Windows Vista Ultimate Edition is
pretty well worthless to you. If you do have a 64-bit cpabale system - then
you may be able to install and use the 64-bit version - but who knows if you
will be able to use much hardware and if you will gain anything but
confusion.

Now that I have covered whether or not you bought the 'right thing' - we
move on to 'how to install' - assuming you have the right thing in had at
some point (now, later, whatever.)

Change your computers setup/BIOS to boot from the optical media (DVD drive)
and put in the Windows Vista DVD. Turn off the machine, turn on the
machine, watch carefully and boot from said DVD. Follow the directions
given on the screen and install your OS.

Good Luck, KINTZY.

 

[Ashton Crusher]

I bought a Vista Ultimate OEM system builder pack (not upgrade) for my
home/family computer. I have a corrupt XP and my Internet Explorer will not
work. (I already tried updating) The package keeps talking about OPK and
when I go to the site it asks about my organization.(I don't have one)
Did I buy the wrong thing? I need help!!!
the product description is: Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit English 1pk OEI
DVD
If I did buy the right package how do I go along installing it? Do I erase
everything then install?

First, excuse me for the following nasty comment... Did it ever occur
to you to simply do a GOOGLE search on OPK and see if that might tell
you what you need to know???

Second, I did a Google search on OPK and in the first few hits found
this link which largely explains what's going on.

Look here... http://www.microsoft.com/oem/sblicense/OPK/default.mspx

Third, why would you buy a system builder pack if you just want to put
it on a single home computer? As long as you have a valid XP you
could have simply used an Upgrade version of Vista and been done with
it by now.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I bought a Vista Ultimate OEM system builder pack (not upgrade) for
my home/family computer. I have a corrupt XP and my Internet
Explorer will not work. (I already tried updating) The package
keeps talking about OPK and when I go to the site it asks about my
organization.(I don't have one)

Did I buy the wrong thing? I need help!!!

the product description is: Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit English
1pk OEI DVD

If I did buy the right package how do I go along installing it? Do
I erase everything then install?

First, excuse me for the following nasty comment... Did it ever
occur to you to simply do a GOOGLE search on OPK and see if that
might tell you what you need to know???

That it probably did not - as they may not know to do that.

Second, I did a Google search on OPK and in the first few hits found
this link which largely explains what's going on.

Look here...
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/sblicense/OPK/default.mspx

Fantastic.
Way to use Google...
As for those who do not know how or do not get the hits they expect:

Search using Google!
http://www.google.com/
(How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )

Third, why would you buy a system builder pack if you just want to
put it on a single home computer? As long as you have a valid XP
you could have simply used an Upgrade version of Vista and been
done with it by now.

Really? Didn't read very closely, eh?

"... I have a corrupt XP and my Internet Explorer will not work. ..."

Upgrading a defunct operating system - even with Vista who basically just
cleans off all traces of the old OS (even during an upgrade) probably is not
the best plan. After all - who is to say an upgrade would have even
functioned? If Internet Explorer does not work on the current system (at
the very least) who is to say the upgrade version would have correctly
identified the current OS? Then you have nothing.

The OPs choice of OEM may not be an uninformed one - although it may well
have been. It may have been one of cost. It looked less expensive, looked
to be the same and so the OP went for it. Should/could they have done more
research? Sure. But they could/should have included more information in
their post and/or more information should be requested before any
assumptions leave responders down an incorrect path of answers.

See my answer elsewhere in this conversation. Hopefully the OP will read
this and that and come back with the information needed to figure out what
they need to do and what they have done.

In case you or the OP is interested in seeing this conversation thread in
its entirety:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...2a3cdcb2ca6?lnk=st&q=&rnum=1#768682a3cdcb2ca6

 

[Ashton Crusher]

That it probably did not - as they may not know to do that.


Fantastic.
Way to use Google...
As for those who do not know how or do not get the hits they expect:

Search using Google!
http://www.google.com/
(How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )


Really? Didn't read very closely, eh?

"... I have a corrupt XP and my Internet Explorer will not work. ..."

Upgrading a defunct operating system - even with Vista who basically just
cleans off all traces of the old OS (even during an upgrade) probably is not
the best plan. After all - who is to say an upgrade would have even
functioned? If Internet Explorer does not work on the current system (at
the very least) who is to say the upgrade version would have correctly
identified the current OS? Then you have nothing.

You can do an "upgrade" on a blank hard drive, you don't need to have
installed xp. You just theoretically need the XP disk. In actual
practice you don't even need the XP disk as the Vista Disk will also
work to validate the "upgrade". So even if you don't own XP you can
actually do a clean install of Vista even if you only bought the
upgrade version. You need to do the "upgrade" install WITHOUT doing
the "validate and register now" step but leave that till later.
Details available thru google.

The OPs choice of OEM may not be an uninformed one - although it may well
have been. It may have been one of cost. It looked less expensive, looked
to be the same and so the OP went for it. Should/could they have done more
research? Sure. But they could/should have included more information in
their post and/or more information should be requested before any
assumptions leave responders down an incorrect path of answers.

See my answer elsewhere in this conversation. Hopefully the OP will read
this and that and come back with the information needed to figure out what
they need to do and what they have done.

Since the OP has posted the same question several times creating
several threads asking the same question I am not sure the OP is even
computer literate at this point.