OEM vs Retail / Full version vs Upgrade

  • Thread starter Thread starter nikki
  • Start date Start date
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nikki

Hi.
I purchased a Dell cpu sometime ago, and when I did so, I
was given the option of purchasing Win XP Home Edition
Upgrade, which I did. Hence it is an OEM version. Well
about 2 weeks I acquired a non-Dell cpu, running Windows
98SE. I want to put XP Home on it, but due to the fact
that my XP upgrade is an OEM, I was told I cannot purchase
an additional license. Here come the questions: a) Do I
buy just an Upgrade or do I buy Full version of Win XP
Home? b) Do I buy OEM or Retail version? (As an added
note, I may want to buy an additional license sometime in
the future, and am not sure if that needs to be taken into
account into deciding which version to purchase.) Can
someone explain to me what the advantages/disadvantages of
going one way or another with these 4 different versions
is? I need to purchase this ASAP as my XP activation on
that non-Dell cpu is running out. Thank you.
 
You'll need to purchase a "full retail version" of
Windows XP Home Edition, then perform a "repair
install" using the new CD and Product Key.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

To purchase an additional Windows XP "retail" license, visit:

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp

Additional licenses for Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp

Should you purchase an OEM license version of XP?
http://www.tek-tips.com/gfaqs.cfm/pid/779/fid/4004

OEM versions of Windows XP:

-- cannot upgrade over an existing Windows installation
-- cannot be transferred to a different computer in the future
-- the license cannot be sold or transferred to another user
-- are not eligible for free Microsoft technical support
-- must be purchased with some type of computer hardware
-- cost less than "retail versions" due to the above limitations


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hi.
| I purchased a Dell cpu sometime ago, and when I did so, I
| was given the option of purchasing Win XP Home Edition
| Upgrade, which I did. Hence it is an OEM version. Well
| about 2 weeks I acquired a non-Dell cpu, running Windows
| 98SE. I want to put XP Home on it, but due to the fact
| that my XP upgrade is an OEM, I was told I cannot purchase
| an additional license. Here come the questions: a) Do I
| buy just an Upgrade or do I buy Full version of Win XP
| Home? b) Do I buy OEM or Retail version? (As an added
| note, I may want to buy an additional license sometime in
| the future, and am not sure if that needs to be taken into
| account into deciding which version to purchase.) Can
| someone explain to me what the advantages/disadvantages of
| going one way or another with these 4 different versions
| is? I need to purchase this ASAP as my XP activation on
| that non-Dell cpu is running out. Thank you.
 
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