OEM system builder pack?

[Gareth]

I've been sold what turns out to be an OEM "system builder pack" (I had been
told that it was a "full" and "upgrade" version of Vista and the ad came
complete with box shot of the retail version).

The instructions on the pack say that if I install Vista on a single desktop
system I should use the pre-installation environment software.

Do I have to use pre-installation kit to install the OEM "system builder"
version of XP or can I just install it the usual way - by booting the disk
from the drive?

I don't have access to the pre-installation kit and so if I have to use the
kit then it looks as if I've just wasted a significant amount of money.

Gareth.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I've been sold what turns out to be an OEM "system builder pack" (I had
been told that it was a "full" and "upgrade" version of Vista and the ad
came complete with box shot of the retail version).

The instructions on the pack say that if I install Vista on a single
desktop system I should use the pre-installation environment software.

Do I have to use pre-installation kit to install the OEM "system builder"
version of XP or can I just install it the usual way - by booting the disk
from the drive?

I don't have access to the pre-installation kit and so if I have to use
the kit then it looks as if I've just wasted a significant amount of
money.

Gareth.

Boot from the DVD and install Vista. You don't need to use the
pre-installation kit. Be aware that there are some licensing considerations
when using OEM software. The System Builder not Microsoft is responsible for
all support. In this case you are the System Builder so you are responsible
for your own support. OEM software is forever tied to the first system it is
installed on. If you buy a new computer you can't transfer the license to
it. You cannot perform an upgrade with OEM software, only a clean install.

It sounds like you may have been a victim of fraud. If the ad was for a
retail version then you should return the OEM version and insist you get
what you paid for.

 

[Chad Harris]

The OEM VP is an accountant who used to work for the Mickey Mouse company
Disney, as well as Price Waterhouse named J. Scott Di Valerio. He has
constructed a contract that forbids the OEM named partners from shipping a
Vista DVD. Dell bucked him but no one else does.

He is responsible for the screwing of millions of end users who do not have
the tools like Win RE to fix Vista.

His office unlike most at MSFT will not receive calls.

He is an insult to all the consistently very hard working and very
knowledgable system builders like Kerry.

Last year, MSFT held an OEM system builders large meeting around the country
with AMD. The guy MSFT sent to speak was pathetic and knew less about
software than a stray cat.

When some system builders got up to challenge some policies that were
squeezing them, and asked why they had to provide genuine software and the
300 OEM named partners did not, the response from this software challenged
idiot from MSFT--he could not have been an engineer or even one of their
very knowledgable sales people was and I quote:

"When you guys place an order for 50,000 boxes,we'll exempt you from
providing genuine MSFt software too."

Usually MSFT speakers are extraordinarily talented and well versed, but this
was a glaring sloppy exception. He represented the worst that could
possibly draw a paycheck from MSFT, but was indicative of the lack of
quality that Di Valerio promotes.

CH

 

[DP]

I installed my Vista 64-bit OEM without using that pre-installation thing.
As Kerry Brown said, just install it from the DVD.

 

[DP]

I'm confused. Other than the fact that this post and the original post both
refer to OEMs, I'm having trouble understanding what this post has to do
with the original post.
What am I missing?

 

[DP]

It sounds like you may have been a victim of fraud. If the ad was for a
retail version then you should return the OEM version and insist you get
what you paid for.

Who was the vendor? If he is acting fraudulently, then others should know.

Did you get a terrific price break on the product?

 

[huwyngr]

What am I missing?

Nothin? <g>

 

[Lang Murphy]

I've been sold what turns out to be an OEM "system builder pack" (I had
been told that it was a "full" and "upgrade" version of Vista and the ad
came complete with box shot of the retail version).

The instructions on the pack say that if I install Vista on a single
desktop system I should use the pre-installation environment software.

Do I have to use pre-installation kit to install the OEM "system builder"
version of XP or can I just install it the usual way - by booting the disk
from the drive?

I don't have access to the pre-installation kit and so if I have to use
the kit then it looks as if I've just wasted a significant amount of
money.

Gareth.

OEM is not the "Full" or "Upgrade" retail version of Vista. You were told
incorrect information. With the OEM package, you can only install Vista on a
single PC per the license agreement. As to the pre-installation environment
thing... I haven't seen the OEM package, but, no, just boot from the DVD and
install. (And... FYI... the Vista DVD actually uses the pre-installation
environment to boot and install Vista to the hard drive. It's called Win PE
for short.)

If you haven't opened the OEM package, you can return it to the store from
which it was purchased. If you have opened the package, then you're SOL on
returning it.

Lang