OEM version of XP professional

[Shawn]

I am building a computer and want to use Windows XP
professional for the operating system. Shopping around I
find an OEM version of the program and a regular version.
Besides price what are the differences.

 

[Brian F-H]

OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer.
you probably cannot buy the oem version because it is
licenced to pc companies like ABS, Dell, Falcon
Northwest, and other "OEMs"
Even if u could for some strange reason get an oem
version, chances are it wont install on ur computer and
you wont have support services anyway.

Just get a standard version and you'll be fine.

 

[Guest]

Price, Price, Price OEM requires a clean install,NO
support from MS ( as if you'll get any ) non-transferable
( unless you want to )

 

[Mark]

If he purchases an OEM Windows XP version from a computer store that is an
OEM and the computer uses third-party hardware (not a Dell, Gateway, etc.),
the OEM Windows XP version will work like a retail version. I build
computers and install and purchase OEM Windows XP versions without any
problems. The downfall is that Microsoft does not provide support OEM
Windows XP versions; better yet, any OEM product version.

Its probably best to purchase a retail version of Windows XP unless you (or
the OEM computer store) wants to provide all support.

 

[Mike Kolitz]

OEM versions of XP must be sold with some sort of hardware - usually a new
computer, but it can be something as small as a hard drive, mouse, or
network card (I think...).

OEM versions are non-transferable from the PC on which they are first
activated, and are not supported by Microsoft. The company / store from
which you originally purchased the software is who you must get support
from. OEM versions also cannot upgrade a previous OS - they can only be
installed cleanly.

--
Mike Kolitz MCSE 2000
MS-MVP - Windows Setup and Deployment

Remember to check Windows Update often,
and apply the patches marked as Critical!
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

There are some very important reasons that an OEM license
costs so much less than a retail license. OEM licenses are very
limited:

1) OEM versions must be sold with a piece of hardware (normally
a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC, although Microsoft
has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP) and are
_permanently_ bound to the first PC on which they are installed. An
OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another
computer under any circumstances. This is the best reason to avoid
OEM versions; if the PC dies or is otherwise disposed of (even
stolen), you cannot re-use your OEM license on a new PC. The only
legitimate way to transfer the ownership of an OEM license is to
transfer ownership of the entire PC.

2) Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. If you have
any problems that require outside assistance, your only recourse is to
contact the manufacturer/builder of the PC or the vendor of the OEM
license. This would include such issues as lost a Product Key or
replacing damaged installation media. (Microsoft does make allowances
for those instances when you can prove that the OEM has gone out of
business.) This doesn't mean that you can't download patches and
service packs from Microsoft -- just no free telephone or email
support for problems with the OS.

3) An OEM CD cannot be used to perform an upgrade of an earlier
OS, as it was designed to be installed _only_ upon an empty hard
drive. It can still be used to perform a repair installation (a.k.a.
an in-place upgrade) of an existing WinXP installation.

4) If the OEM CD was designed by a specific manufacturer, such as
eMachines, Sony, Dell, Gateway, etc., it will most likely only install
on the same brand of PC, as an additional anti-piracy feature.
Further, such CDs are severely customized to contain only the minimum
of device drivers, and a lot of extra nonsense, that the manufacturer
feels necessary for the specific model of PC for which the CD was
designed. (To be honest, such CDs should not be available on the open
market; but, if you're shopping someplace like eBay, swap meets, or
computer fairs, there's often no telling what you're buying until it's
too late.) The "generic" OEM CDs, such as are manufactured by
Microsoft and sold to small systems builders, don't have this
particular problem, though, and are pretty much the same as their
retail counterparts, apart from the licensing, support, and upgrading
restrictions.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

That's not true in all cases. Microsoft does actually manufacture
"generic" OEM installation CDs that are then sold to small,
independent "mom & pop" system builders. These CDs are not
BIOS-locked or limited to specific hardware platforms.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Mike]

The difference is that Microsoft will not support the
product for free if it is the OEM version, so I just found
out.

 

[Donald McDaniel]

I am building a computer and want to use Windows XP
professional for the operating system. Shopping around I
find an OEM version of the program and a regular version.
Besides price what are the differences.

In any case, you will be unable to use an OEM version to
upgrade a previous operating system, since OEMs must be installed
"clean", on a freshly-formatted HD. This means that you will
lose all your currently-installed software and settings, unless
they are backed up on an external HD or CDs.

"Full OEM" versions usually have everything a normal "Retail"
CD has, except, of course, code which allows for upgrades. I did
find a variance between my XP Home Edition "Full OEM" CD and my
XP Professional "Full OEM" CD -- while the Home Edition CD had
a folder containing Backup on it, Professional did not.

If you don't mind installing your OS "clean" each time, and
don't need Microsoft support, "Full OEM" versions can be a
tremendous value, since they are usually up to $165 less than
a Full Retail version.

However, if you can afford it, purchase an Upgrade version,
if you have a previous version of Windows. It is the better
value, since it can do either an upgrade or a clean install,
for $100 less than a Full Retail version, which can also do
either an upgrade or a clean install.

 

[Shawn]

A lot of retailers on the web sell an OEM version of XP
Pro. I would by mine from Newegg. With an OEM version
would I still be able to get critical updates from
Microsoft? I am building a totally new computer so a
clean install should not be a problem.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am building a computer and want to use Windows XP
professional for the operating system. Shopping around I
find an OEM version of the program and a regular version.
Besides price what are the differences.

An OEM one has to be sold with an item of hardware.

It carries no support from Microsoft (phoning then will be referred to
the vendor - decide how much this will be worth)

It can only do a 'clean' install, not an upgrade
It is licensed solely to the first machine it is installed on, and may
not be transferred to a replacement

 

[Gary Tait]

I am building a computer and want to use Windows XP
professional for the operating system. Shopping around I
find an OEM version of the program and a regular version.
Besides price what are the differences.

No support from MS.
Can only be installed on the first PC it's installed on.
Has little to no paper documentation.