Vista Retail vs OEM

[Guest]

Is there any difference in the setup of the OEM and retail versions of Vista,
i.e., customize and setting up a dual boot configuration? Also, does the OEM
version allow reinstall on the same computer in the event of system recovery
and/or other problems? Thanks.
RickC

 

[Tie Various]

You cannot perform an UPGRADE using OEM.
Only a clean install....

You can reinstall an OEM version infinite times as long as its on the same
PC

 

[Man-wai Chang ToDie]

Is there any difference in the setup of the OEM and retail versions of Vista,
i.e., customize and setting up a dual boot configuration? Also, does the OEM
version allow reinstall on the same computer in the event of system recovery
and/or other problems? Thanks.

1. OEM is separated into two versions: 32-bit or 64-bit.
You can't have both, per Retail version.
(not sure about Home Basic)

2. OEM must come with a *BOOTABLE PC*. You are not supposed to
buy it alone, via maybe Amazon (the so-called System Builders
version).

3. You need an invoice to prove this so as to make the OEM
license effective. The invoice must list the version and grade
of the Vi$ta, and the components of the bootable PC

4. Above are information I collected from Micro$oft Hong KOng.
Your country may be different.

Good luck!

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.1
^ ^ 19:34:01 up 5 days 1 min 0 users load average: 0.06 0.04 0.01
news://news.3home.net news://news.hkpcug.org news://news.newsgroup.com.hk

 

[Man-wai Chang ToDie]

1. OEM is separated into two versions: 32-bit or 64-bit.
You can't have both, per Retail version.
(not sure about Home Basic)

2. OEM must come with a *BOOTABLE PC*. You are not supposed to
buy it alone, via maybe Amazon (the so-called System Builders
version).

3. You need an invoice to prove this so as to make the OEM
license effective. The invoice must list the version and grade
of the Vi$ta, and the components of the bootable PC

4. Above are information I collected from Micro$oft Hong KOng.
Your country may be different.

Good luck!

5. The OEM license expires when the PC that bundled it dies,
unlike the Retail version.

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.1
^ ^ 19:44:01 up 5 days 11 min 0 users load average: 0.00 0.05 0.01
news://news.3home.net news://news.hkpcug.org news://news.newsgroup.com.hk

 

[Man-wai Chang ToDie]

5. The OEM license expires when the PC that bundled it dies,
unlike the Retail version.

6. When (5) happens, everything that's based on the OEM license
would collapse like cascading delete. If you bought an Window$
Upgrade for that OEM license, the Upgrade would no longer
usable until it find a new root.

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.1
^ ^ 19:56:01 up 5 days 23 min 0 users load average: 0.13 0.03 0.01
news://news.3home.net news://news.hkpcug.org news://news.newsgroup.com.hk

 

[Man-wai Chang ToDie]

It is possible to use the same OEM media on different hardware and to

re-activate windows with the same product key, but you'll need to be a
system builder like me to do that.

How does Micro$oft define "System Builder"?

A valid company name in the US government?

What about other countries?

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.1
^ ^ 20:06:01 up 5 days 33 min 0 users load average: 0.00 0.00 0.00
news://news.3home.net news://news.hkpcug.org news://news.newsgroup.com.hk

 

[mayayana]

2. OEM must come with a *BOOTABLE PC*. You are not supposed to
buy it alone, via maybe Amazon (the so-called System Builders
version).

That's not true. At least not in the US. The
details are here:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070130-8730.html

It's perfectly OK to buy OEM Windows in the US.
The difference is that it's licensed to a PC rather than
a person, so it's can't be transfered later to a second
PC.
Of course, it may not be legally binding to
restrict a license for intellectual property to an inanimate
piece of metal that hasn't been demonstrated to have human
consciousness, but Product Activation will enforce the
license whether it's legal or not.

 

[Man-wai Chang ToDie]

Of course, it may not be legally binding to

restrict a license for intellectual property to an inanimate
piece of metal that hasn't been demonstrated to have human
consciousness, but Product Activation will enforce the
license whether it's legal or not.

But you are *NOT* supposed to buy the OEM Vi$ta for a dead PC and put it
in another living one. That Vi$ta must go with the PC listed in the
invoice (aka Honesty, Your Honor).

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.1
^ ^ 20:22:01 up 5 days 49 min 0 users load average: 0.00 0.01 0.00
news://news.3home.net news://news.hkpcug.org news://news.newsgroup.com.hk

 

[Guest]

Many thanks to all for the info and links; very helpful. A great day to all!
RickC

 

[Tim Slattery]

Is there any difference in the setup of the OEM and retail versions of Vista,
i.e., customize and setting up a dual boot configuration?

No. The OS is exactly the same, whether you installed from an OEM or
retail disk. The differences are in support (MS doesn't support OEM
versions, the OEM is supposed to do that), and licensing.

Also, does the OEM version allow reinstall on the same computer in the
event of system recovery and/or other problems?

On the same machine, yes, of course. An OEM disk will not upgrade an
existing system, it has to be installed on an empty disk (or at least
on a disk that doesn't already have an OS installed on it). And an OEM
license is good only for the first machine that it's installed on. It
cannot be installed on another machine, even if the first one ceases
to exist. But reinstalling on the same machine wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Man-wai Chang ToDie]

How does Micro$oft define "System Builder"?

A valid company name in the US government?

What about other countries?

Or must it be one that's a Certiified Partner of Micro$oft?

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.1
^ ^ 21:37:01 up 5 days 2:04 0 users load average: 0.02 0.05 0.02
news://news.3home.net news://news.hkpcug.org news://news.newsgroup.com.hk

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

It depends, but the OEM Windows Vista setup is generally identical to the
retail versions. If your computer came without recovery disk, you might have
to use the OEMs custom method of installing the OS such as booting from your
BIOS.

 

[Man-wai Chang ToDie]

Many thanks to all for the info and links; very helpful. A great day to all!
RickC

IN the end, OEM is 50% cheaper for some reasons (you may call them
bobby-traps).

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.1
^ ^ 22:17:01 up 5 days 2:44 0 users load average: 0.04 0.03 0.00
news://news.3home.net news://news.hkpcug.org news://news.newsgroup.com.hk

 

[norm]

No. The OS is exactly the same, whether you installed from an OEM or
retail disk. The differences are in support (MS doesn't support OEM
versions, the OEM is supposed to do that), and licensing.


On the same machine, yes, of course. An OEM disk will not upgrade an
existing system, it has to be installed on an empty disk (or at least
on a disk that doesn't already have an OS installed on it). And an OEM
license is good only for the first machine that it's installed on. It
cannot be installed on another machine, even if the first one ceases
to exist. But reinstalling on the same machine wouldn't be a problem.

Regarding the comment about having to install on an empty disk, or a
disk without an os installed on it, I installed vista oem on a computer
that still had the vista final release candidate on it. When all was
said and done, the new image was in place, and the rc was gone. However,
I did have the windows.old info available. I was surprised to see that
data, give the caveat above. Is that just the nature of the beast, no
matter what the install circumstances should be? Thanks.

 

[Tim Slattery]

IN the end, OEM is 50% cheaper for some reasons (you may call them
bobby-traps).

It is much cheaper, for the reasons I talked about in my other post.
It won't upgrade an existing system, but only install from scratch.
And you get no support from MS. The OEM is supposed to supply the
support. If you bought the CD from eBay or something like that, you
have no support. Other than this group, of course.

 

[Saucy]

Is there any difference in the setup of the OEM and retail versions of
Vista,
i.e., customize and setting up a dual boot configuration? Also, does the
OEM
version allow reinstall on the same computer in the event of system
recovery
and/or other problems? Thanks.
RickC

Onto a blank harddrive, the OEM and full Retail versions will install, to
all intents and purposes identically. An upgrade Retail version will install
clean as well, but it will register that it was clean installed. Therefore
it will not activate online until you do an in-place upgrade - Vista over
Vista - and then it will activate online fine, all else being A-OK.

The OEM disc has the recovery tools AFAIK , but since various manufacturers
do weird and wonderful things vis a vis recovery and recovery discs, you'd
have to check with the particular manufacturer about how their disc works if
it is anything but generic Microsoft.

Saucy

 

[Paul Randall]

Search MSDN for system builder:
http://search.msdn.microsoft.com/search/Default.aspx?brand=msdn&query="system builder"

Paste the following into groups.google.com search box to find more info on
the system builder program - I remember posting some better links:
"system builder" "paul randall" group:microsoft

-Paul Randall

 

[Brian W]

You cannot perform an UPGRADE using OEM.
Only a clean install....

Wrong! A generic OEM DVD will perform an in-place upgrade from qualifying
version (ie XP/Win2000)

 

[Brian W]

An OEM disk will not upgrade an
existing system, it has to be installed on an empty disk (or at least
on a disk that doesn't already have an OS installed on it).

An OEM DVD will upgrade from a qualifying version of Windows, I've done it
myself more than once