OEM?

[Guest]

I will be getting another computer shortly, (w/ NO O.S.)
and want to install XP PRO. I have many questions.

1)What to buy?...I see OEM, full oem, full retail. What
is the pro and cons for using or buying each? Which is
better?

2)Is a "full oem" version the same software as a full
retail?

3)Can I put XP on my new comp and then again on a third
one that I plan to buy a month later?

4)What is all the hype about registering. Can I install
and use the full software without registering w/Microsoft?

5)Can you still do live update without registering?

6)If I'm not allowed to use it on more than one computer,
that's fine, but how will they know? I ask this not so
much to use one copy for a million computers but in
curiosity on HOW Microsoft would KNOW...are they allowed
or have ways where they look into your computer (snoop)
and "verify" things??

7)If I buy a copy from EBAY or somewhere, what happens if
they lied about it not being registered. A friend told me
that it wouldn't matter as long as I just use it without
registering it. Is that true. How can I know if I have a
legal copy without necessarily letting Microsoft know
which copy I have?

8)If I want to also install Office pro 2003 do I need to
buy 3 copies for 3 home computers? That would be $1500
and seems a bit much (to put it nicely) for one poor soul
to put it on all his personal computers.

 

[Tim Slattery]

I will be getting another computer shortly, (w/ NO O.S.)
and want to install XP PRO. I have many questions.

1)What to buy?...I see OEM, full oem, full retail. What
is the pro and cons for using or buying each? Which is
better?

"Full OEM" and OEM would be the same thing. That's a CD that will
install only on a blank disk (will NOT upgrade an existing system.)
Once installed, it's is licensed ONLY for that system, it cannot be
moved to another computer even if the original one is destroyed. And
support for it must come from the OEM (which, in this case, is likely
to be you), Microsoft will not talk to you about an OEM system.

2)Is a "full oem" version the same software as a full
retail?

Definitely not. A retail system can be transferred to another
computer, if it's removed from the original computer or if the
original machine is destroyed. And you can call Microsoft and they
will help you with it (I think there's a limit on that, but I don't
know what it is offhand).

3)Can I put XP on my new comp and then again on a third
one that I plan to buy a month later?

No, in no way shape or form. Each CD comes with ONE license. You need
ONE license for each computer. The Activation process enforces that.

4)What is all the hype about registering. Can I install
and use the full software without registering w/Microsoft?

Without registering, yes. But not without activating.

5)Can you still do live update without registering?

6)If I'm not allowed to use it on more than one computer,
that's fine, but how will they know?

Product activation.

7)If I buy a copy from EBAY or somewhere, what happens if
they lied about it not being registered. A friend told me
that it wouldn't matter as long as I just use it without
registering it. Is that true. How can I know if I have a
legal copy without necessarily letting Microsoft know
which copy I have?

It won't run for very long if you don't activate it.

8)If I want to also install Office pro 2003 do I need to
buy 3 copies for 3 home computers?

Yes, you do. Office has let you install it on one desktop and one
laptop (if they belong to the same person). I'm not sure whether that
still applies with Office 2003.

If you need a cheaper alternative, check www.openoffice.org. They
offer a fully functional office suite for free.