OEM vs full retail

[Cap 'n' Crunch]

is the OEM version of xp home a time limited version that only lasts a month
or so and then stops working? I installed some hardware (webcam, printer)
and it seemed like it only worked for a period of time then stopped
altogether. friend said I have OEM version of xp and it only lets you become
familiar with the OS then is disabled, and then have to buy a full retail
version to get full functionality back. my compaq came with dvd decoder
software and dvd's play fine in WMP but in intervideo windvd it says its not
the 'full retail version' and asks if I want to upgrade, directs me to site
where lists full versions and they're price, is dvd decoder a time trial and
I have to buy it to use it? I uninstalled windvd so I don't get in trouble
for using it but now I need to buy retail version of xp home as well?

 

[John John]

No. Your friend is full of potatoes. You need not buy another license
or version, the copy you have will last as long as the computer, and you
can reactivate it as often as you want providing that it stays on the
same computer. OEM license cannot be installed on a different machine,
they're tied to the machine, other than that you just activate it and
use it. If you do not activate it it will stop working in a certain
number of days.

John

 

[Echy]

is the OEM version of xp home a time limited version that only lasts a month
or so and then stops working? I installed some hardware (webcam, printer)
and it seemed like it only worked for a period of time then stopped
altogether. friend said I have OEM version of xp and it only lets you become
familiar with the OS then is disabled, and then have to buy a full retail
version to get full functionality back. my compaq came with dvd decoder
software and dvd's play fine in WMP but in intervideo windvd it says its not
the 'full retail version' and asks if I want to upgrade, directs me to site
where lists full versions and they're price, is dvd decoder a time trial and
I have to buy it to use it? I uninstalled windvd so I don't get in trouble
for using it but now I need to buy retail version of xp home as well?

Hello

The OEM version of XP - Home or Pro - is not time restricted except
that you do have to activate it it in 30 days but this should not
cause you a problem assuming it is a legitimate copy.

If you don't activate it in 30 days Windows will not start but will
give you a prompt to register it after which it starts up.

Regards
Echy
Melbourne, Australia

 

[Sharon F]

is the OEM version of xp home a time limited version that only lasts a month
or so and then stops working? I installed some hardware (webcam, printer)
and it seemed like it only worked for a period of time then stopped
altogether. friend said I have OEM version of xp and it only lets you become
familiar with the OS then is disabled, and then have to buy a full retail
version to get full functionality back. my compaq came with dvd decoder
software and dvd's play fine in WMP but in intervideo windvd it says its not
the 'full retail version' and asks if I want to upgrade, directs me to site
where lists full versions and they're price, is dvd decoder a time trial and
I have to buy it to use it? I uninstalled windvd so I don't get in trouble
for using it but now I need to buy retail version of xp home as well?

Your friend is describing trial versions not OEM versions. Others have
already explained Windows XP to you so will address the other part of your
question...

The OEM version of Intervideo's WinDVD is a "light version." It is yours to
use "as is." I think it's rather rude of them to include a nag about the
full version but unless you want the full version, it's perfectly fine to
continue using the light OEM version already provided with your computer.

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

The OEM label attached to software more often than not signifies that it is
a 'lite' version.. you may not get all of the features that you would have
if the software was purchased as a retail product.. the software authors
will try to get you to buy the full version for obvious reasons.. it is more
money for them, hence the popups.. you are under no obligation to buy full
versions unless the software reports that it is time limited..

The above DOES NOT APPLY to OEM Windows.. OEM Windows has all that the full
retail product has.. the restriction is that it remains with the machine
upon which it was first installed, and support is given by the vendor of the
computer upon which OEM Windows is installed..

 

[Bruce Chambers]

is the OEM version of xp home a time limited version that only lasts a month
or so and then stops working?

No, of course not. In the case of retail versions, you do have to
activate within 30 days, or you won't be able to do anything besides
boot into Safe Mode. Factory-installed OEM operating systems are
typically either pre-activated at the factory or are BIOS-locked and do
not require activation so long as they're installed on the computer with
which they're sold.

I installed some hardware (webcam, printer)
and it seemed like it only worked for a period of time then stopped
altogether.

What, specifically, worked for a short time and then stopped? "It" is
awfully vague.

friend said I have OEM version of xp and it only lets you become
familiar with the OS then is disabled, and then have to buy a full retail
version to get full functionality back.

That is absolute rubbish. Never ask that friend anything about
computers, ever again.

my compaq came with dvd decoder
software and dvd's play fine in WMP but in intervideo windvd it says its not
the 'full retail version' and asks if I want to upgrade, directs me to site
where lists full versions and they're price, is dvd decoder a time trial and
I have to buy it to use it?

WinDVD is a 3rd party application and *not* a component or feature of
WinXP. It's not unusual for OEMs to bundle trial versions of various
3rd party applications with their product, but this has absolutely
nothing to do with WinXP, itself. Just out of curiosity, is there any
particular reason you haven't contacted the vendor from whom you
purchased the computer, or Compaq? Either company would be able to give
you specific answers to questions regarding 3rd party applications
bundled with the computer.

I uninstalled windvd so I don't get in trouble
for using it but now I need to buy retail version of xp home as well?

No, of course not.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Cap 'n' Crunch]

thanks for all your responses it helped alot, also I noticed that I can
uninstall windvd from my system as long as I don't remove any shared
files/components (dvd decoder) and I still have dvd playing functionality in
WMP or any other player that supports playing dvd's, and yes, this windows
is authentic as it has the sticker on the machine and is validated on
windows update. just one more thing, if I want to upgrade to pro, do I need
the full retail version or can I use an upgrade version to upgrade my OEM
xp?

 

[Larry Samuels]

You can use the upgrade.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

 

[Glen]

But you should be aware that you probably don't need the pro version. The
differences are mostly network related. Even if you run a small home network
you should find the oem version is enough. Have a look here for comparisons.

Compare Windows XP versions
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/compare.mspx

Remember OEM home is the same as home retail. The difference between those
is licensing.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

thanks for all your responses it helped alot, also I noticed that I
can uninstall windvd from my system as long as I don't remove any
shared files/components (dvd decoder) and I still have dvd playing
functionality in WMP or any other player that supports playing dvd's,
and yes, this windows is authentic as it has the sticker on the
machine and is validated on windows update. just one more thing, if I
want to upgrade to pro, do I need the full retail version or can I
use an upgrade version to upgrade my OEM xp?

You can use either--just not an OEM version, which only does clean
installations.

Are you sure you want to upgrade to Professional? XP Professional and XP
Home are exactly the same in all respects, except that Professional has a
few features (mostly related to networking and security) missing from Home.
For most (but not all) home users, even those with a home network, these
features aren't needed, would never be used, and buying Professional instead
of Home is a waste of money.

For details go to
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Also note one other point not mentioned on any of those sites: Professional
allows ten concurrent network connections, and Home only five.