windows xp pro oem vs. windows xp pro

[Guest]

i received a pc build by a friend. after i received it i was told i couldn't
download any updates, so i'm pretty sure i need to purchase and install a new
os system.
can i purchase an oem cd or do i have to purchase the full os. what's the
difference?

thanks

 

[Shenan Stanley]

i received a pc build by a friend. after i received it i was told
i couldn't download any updates, so i'm pretty sure i need to
purchase and install a new os system.
can i purchase an oem cd or do i have to purchase the full os.
what's the difference?

If you plan on keeping the Windows XP beyond this computer - buy retail.
If you plan to give the license of Windows XP with the computer - you can
get OEM.

Beyond the licensing, support, etc - there is no TECHNICAL difference
between an OEM and retail version.

Well - one...
An OEM version cannot perform an upgrade installation - only clean installs.
A retail version can perform clean or upgrade installations.

 

[Guest]

Thanks so much for your speedy response. I hope you don't mind me asking a
related question. If I purchase and install the oem cd, will I be able to
download the updates XP Pro?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

i received a pc build by a friend. after i received it i was told
i couldn't download any updates, so i'm pretty sure i need to
purchase and install a new os system.
can i purchase an oem cd or do i have to purchase the full os.
what's the difference?

If you plan on keeping the Windows XP beyond this computer - buy
retail.
If you plan to give the license of Windows XP with the computer -
you can get OEM.

Beyond the licensing, support, etc - there is no TECHNICAL
difference between an OEM and retail version.

Well - one...
An OEM version cannot perform an upgrade installation - only clean
installs. A retail version can perform clean or upgrade
installations.

Thanks so much for your speedy response. I hope you don't mind me
asking a related question. If I purchase and install the oem cd,
will I be able to download the updates XP Pro?

As I said - there is no real technical difference.

If you get a legitimate OEM copy/license of Windows XP - then you will have
no issues getting updates. The support I speak of is if you need assistance
with Windows XP beyond updates. The people who sold it to you and the
person who installed it are your support line - Microsoft does not directly
support OEM versions in the same way they support retail versions. That's
one of the reasons for the lesser price - with the fact you cannot transfer
it being another biggie.

 

[Alias]

i received a pc build by a friend. after i received it i was told i couldn't
download any updates, so i'm pretty sure i need to purchase and install a new
os system.
can i purchase an oem cd or do i have to purchase the full os. what's the
difference?

thanks

XP Pro OEM can only be bought if you buy a CPU, hard drive, motherboard
and RAM at the same time. This is the new price gouge from Microsoft to
go along with the flawed and ineffective "anti piracy" program.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

i received a pc build by a friend. after i received it i was told i couldn't
download any updates, so i'm pretty sure i need to purchase and install a new
os system.
can i purchase an oem cd or do i have to purchase the full os. what's the
difference?

The OEM version can only legally be sold with hardware, although these
days, any piece of hardware, even a power cord, qualifies. Although if
you get a complete generic OEM version, it contains the same software,
it has the following disadvantages as compared with the retail
version:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold,
or given away.

2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.

3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them
with a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your
OEM; that support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or
you can get support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.

It's that first restriction that makes it a bad deal. I recommend the
Retail Upgrade version instead. It usually costs the same, or only
slightly more than an OEM copy.

And contrary to what many people think, the Upgrade version *can* do a
clean installation, as long as you have a CD of a previous qualifying
version to show it when prompted as proof of ownership. Most people
have such a CD, but worst case, if you don't, you can buy a used copy
of Windows 98 very inexpensively.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your help.
--
sandy j

As I said - there is no real technical difference.

If you get a legitimate OEM copy/license of Windows XP - then you will have
no issues getting updates. The support I speak of is if you need assistance
with Windows XP beyond updates. The people who sold it to you and the
person who installed it are your support line - Microsoft does not directly
support OEM versions in the same way they support retail versions. That's
one of the reasons for the lesser price - with the fact you cannot transfer
it being another biggie.

 

[Alias]

As I said - there is no real technical difference.

If you get a legitimate OEM copy/license of Windows XP - then you will have
no issues getting updates. The support I speak of is if you need assistance
with Windows XP beyond updates. The people who sold it to you and the
person who installed it are your support line - Microsoft does not directly
support OEM versions in the same way they support retail versions. That's
one of the reasons for the lesser price - with the fact you cannot transfer
it being another biggie.

Having to buy a CPU, mother board, hard drive and RAM is a biggie too.

From http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116059

"Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the
purchase of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components
can be on multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on
the same receipt as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you
purchased."

 

[Alias]

The OEM version can only legally be sold with hardware, although these
days, any piece of hardware, even a power cord, qualifies.

No, that was a "nowadays" of last year. Now you have to buy, or have
"recently" bought, a CPU, mother board, hard drive and RAM.

See: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116059 and
click on "specifications" and read the Disclaimer.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Having to buy a CPU, mother board, hard drive and RAM is a biggie
too.
From http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116059

"Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the
purchase of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The
components can be on multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one
receipt nor on the same receipt as the qualifying Windows XP/Office
2003 that you purchased."

That is their *disclaimer*...
I don't think (or at least I have not heard of) them (newegg) requiring you
to show *them* this qualifying material.

 

[Alias]

That is their *disclaimer*...
I don't think (or at least I have not heard of) them (newegg) requiring you
to show *them* this qualifying material.

I doubt you can buy it from anyone without this proof. In Spain, you
have to buy an entire computer to buy an OEM copy of XP or Vista. Being
as you're in the States, why don't you call New Egg and ask them to
clarify? Their toll free number is (800) 390-1119. MS, through this crap
and the WPA/WGA program, is trying to milk the OS/Office cow for all
it's worth which is why I've gone Open Source. MS has already gotten
enough of my money.

 

[Peter Foldes]

All you need to buy is a mouse here in Can . That is enough to purchase a OEM of XP

 

[Alias]

All you need to buy is a mouse here in Can . That is enough to purchase a OEM of XP

When was the last time you checked? This is a new policy as far as I can
see.

 

[Dave B.]

Curious, the same requirements haven't been placed on Vista that I can see,
seems there's madness in their method.
MS is going to get everyone on Vista one way or another.

--

 

[Daave]

XP Pro OEM can only be bought if you buy a CPU, hard drive,
motherboard and RAM at the same time. This is the new price
gouge from Microsoft to go along with the flawed and ineffective
"anti piracy" program.

Other than the newegg link you provided in another post, do you have any
other evidence this is so? Especially from Microsoft's Web site?

 

[Daave]

No, that was a "nowadays" of last year. Now you have to buy, or have
"recently" bought, a CPU, mother board, hard drive and RAM.

See: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116059
and click on "specifications" and read the Disclaimer.

<quote>
Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the
purchase of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components
can be on multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on
the same receipt as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you
purchased.
</quote>

You don't *have to* do these things; you could always purchase the disc
elsewhere.

This doesn't seem to be a Microsoft edict. Rather, (AFAIK) this is only
coming from newegg. Maybe they're just trying to get more people to
purchase more hardware, preferably from them. If this is sp, I wonder if
this strategy may backfire.

Now, if this policy *is* coming from Microsoft, I would like to see
something official from them.

 

[Alias]

Other than the newegg link you provided in another post, do you have any
other evidence this is so? Especially from Microsoft's Web site?

How about having personally visited three different computer chains and
having the franchise owner tell me they was told by MS that these are
the new rules? If you can read Spanish, I can give you the URLS.

 

[Ghostrider]

<quote>
Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing the
purchase of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components
can be on multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on
the same receipt as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you
purchased.
</quote>

You don't *have to* do these things; you could always purchase the disc
elsewhere.

This doesn't seem to be a Microsoft edict. Rather, (AFAIK) this is only
coming from newegg. Maybe they're just trying to get more people to
purchase more hardware, preferably from them. If this is sp, I wonder if
this strategy may backfire.

Now, if this policy *is* coming from Microsoft, I would like to see
something official from them.

I believe the language has changed, although subtly, due to the Microsoft
System Builder Pack packaging, or the only way a distributor can release
OEM versions of Microsoft applications. For the current FY07, Item No. 1
is pretty straight-forward in specifying a CPU, motherboard, hard drive,
power supply and case, in the example below:

http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/Public/sblicense/2007_SB_Licenses/FY07_SB_License_English.pdf

The differentiation between assembled and unassembled units also seems to
be gone.

 

[Daave]

I believe the language has changed, although subtly, due to the
Microsoft System Builder Pack packaging, or the only way a
distributor can release OEM versions of Microsoft applications.
For the current FY07, Item No. 1 is pretty straight-forward in
specifying a CPU, motherboard, hard drive, power supply and
case, in the example below:

http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/Public/sblicense/2007_SB_Licenses/FY07_SB_License_English.pdf

The differentiation between assembled and unassembled units also
seems to be gone.

Thanks for posting that.

I guess that explains the language on the newegg.com site and Alias's
experiences.

But I find it curious that this language is only for the Microsoft OEM
system builder license. I don't believe it covers whether or not an
ordinary individual can purchase an OEM disc/license without
accompanying hardware (specifically, a CPU, motherboard, hard drive,
power supply and case!).

If Microsoft were to directly address *this* issue (and I don't believe
they have), it would certainly clear up the confusion.

Or does Microsoft consider the "ordinary person" in this situation a
system builder? If this is so, is there any language on the disc/license
that spells this out?

Again, if Microsoft wants to tie the sale (resale, I suppose) of an OEM
disc/license to the purchase of the specific hardware mentioned above,
it really should spell it out in *that particular* license (and also on
the packaging) -- and not just the license for the Microsoft System
Builder Pack.

 

[Peter Foldes]

Last week when I went and got a OEM Win XP Pro for a replacement for a client. Mouse cost was $7.99 (cheapo)