Using OEM versions of Vista

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I can't disagree with that opinion, but on the occasions I have had to call
for re-activation, I tell them the HDD failed and was replaced, Windows
reinstalled, and since I had it down, I added RAM and a video adapter...
they haven't argued with the reactivation yet...

OK, I'm glad to hear that. But, as I pointed out, some people have had
less satisfactory experiences than you have.

 

[Gerry]

£££££££ In the US or the UK Ken?


--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry]

DP

The Law of Diminishing Returns! Stopping the sources of multiple pirated
copies
is easier to prove and far more remunerative for Microsoft!

My original point applies equally to refurbishing a computer. The
manufacturer is
giving a wholesaler (OEM) a discount to sell on the manufacturer's
operating
system.

When you buy an OEM you may lose the value of tech support in some
respects
but you will still possess the right to claim against the vendor of the
OEM copy if
it is not of merchantable quality at the time of . These rights will
vary according
to the law of the country where purchase was made.

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

£££££££ In the US or the UK Ken?

In the US. I don't know anything about UK prices.

 

[DP]

One more link I just discovered:
http://windowssecrets.com/comp/070524/#known0
If it doesn't bring you to the spot, go to the item headlined "Microsoft
licenses OEM software for single users."

I think this is the most explicit statement yet of my original point.
However, it is still not from Microsoft directly.
The problem is the Microsoft statement is on pages you have to register to
use.

 

[Gerry]

DP

An interesting link and more recent than the flurry of Articles
appearing at the
time of the launchof Vista. BTW I heard recently that a Kit is needed to
install
an OEM version of Office 2007. It could come to this with Vista.

The Articles all concentrate on the description of the activities an OEM
undertakes. However, the term incorporates the word "manufacturer"
implies
that the installer is a business having an intention to make a profit.
This attribute
is not present if the installer is building a computer for their own
use.

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Brian W]

That rule is long gone. It changed so you could buy it with *any*
component, major or not, and then, I believe, so you could even buy it
by itself.

That certainly applies in the UK/Europe, where MS OEM software (Windows and
Office) can be purchased with no qualifying components at all. Which then of
course makes the EULA ambiguous at best, as it states the licence can only
be transferred with the hardware it was purchased with.

 

[Brian W]

You can use the OEM DVD to do a clean install at any time. I have the
Home Premium OEM version and had no problems whatsoever doing a clean
install.

A key from a generic OEM DVD can also do an Upgrade from XP (I have tested
this and it works).

 

[Gerry]

But then Brian they charge more in Europe for the same product! May be
they can
afford to be be generous <G>!


--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

That certainly applies in the UK/Europe, where MS OEM software (Windows and
Office) can be purchased with no qualifying components at all. Which then of
course makes the EULA ambiguous at best, as it states the licence can only
be transferred with the hardware it was purchased with.

No, that's *not* what the EULA says. The EULA says it can be
transferred only with the computer it's installed on.

 

[huwyngr]

The EULA says it can be
transferred only with the computer it's installed on.

Maybe it does -- I don't have an OEM VISTA but the Activations FAQs
make it quite clear that that only applies to a pre-installed OEM not
not to one that anyone can buy, with MS approval, without any hardware.