Windows XP Pro OEM?

[Ajax]

I am thinking of upgrading one of my computers to XP Pro; it is
currently running W2K. The upgrade version of XP Pro is around $200.
The same vendors are selling full OEM versions of XP, not upgrades,
for $139.00.

I don't get it. What is the difference between buying the upgrade
version of XP Pro and buying a the full OEM version of XP? Does the
OEM version suffer from reduced functionality?

TIA

 

[David Candy]

The OEM can't upgrade, is a lease for the life on the computer it is sold with only (retails are forever), and must be sold with a computer or motherboard (else the vendor isn't allowed to sell). All support is from the vendor.

 

[Unknown]

'All support is from the vendor' is very misleading. Updates are available
from Microsoft.
The OEM can't upgrade, is a lease for the life on the computer it is sold with
only (retails are forever), and must be sold with a computer or motherboard
(else the vendor isn't allowed to sell). All support is from the vendor.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Depends on the definition of 'support'.

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


| 'All support is from the vendor' is very misleading. Updates are
available
| from Microsoft.
| | The OEM can't upgrade, is a lease for the life on the computer it is sold
with
| only (retails are forever), and must be sold with a computer or
motherboard
| (else the vendor isn't allowed to sell). All support is from the vendor.
|
| --
| ----------------------------------------------------------
| http://www.counterpunch.org/bageant06132004.html
| | > I am thinking of upgrading one of my computers to XP Pro; it is
| > currently running W2K. The upgrade version of XP Pro is around $200.
| > The same vendors are selling full OEM versions of XP, not upgrades,
| > for $139.00.
| >
| > I don't get it. What is the difference between buying the upgrade
| > version of XP Pro and buying a the full OEM version of XP? Does the
| > OEM version suffer from reduced functionality?
| >
| > TIA
| >
| >
|

 

[Jim Macklin]

The OEM version will not do an upgrade, only a clean install
on a newly formatted drive. Further the OEM version cannot
be transferred to your next computer when you upgrade your
hardware. And MS does not provide tech support for OEM
versions.

Retail versions can do upgrades, in fact an upgrade CD can
do a full clean install if you have a previous version CD to
prove it is really an upgrade. Retail versions can be
uninstalled and moved to new hardware and MS will answer you
questions if you have a retail product ID.

But they function exactly the same.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


| I am thinking of upgrading one of my computers to XP Pro;
it is
| currently running W2K. The upgrade version of XP Pro is
around $200.
| The same vendors are selling full OEM versions of XP, not
upgrades,
| for $139.00.
|
| I don't get it. What is the difference between buying the
upgrade
| version of XP Pro and buying a the full OEM version of XP?
Does the
| OEM version suffer from reduced functionality?
|
| TIA
|
|

 

[David Candy]

But there is no requirement (except not wanting angry customers) for MS to supply them. The only relationship is vendor - user. MS isn't in the picture. The vendor licenses the user not MS.

 

[Unknown]

That's cutting a fine line. I have an OEM and have it registered with
Microsoft. I also get modem driver and other driver updates such as video,
from MS, besides XP updates. Nevertheless, stating all support is from the
vender leaves a false impression on someone wishing to buy one.

 

[Ajax]

The OEM can't upgrade, is a lease for the life on the computer it is sold with only (retails are forever), and must be sold with a computer or motherboard (else the vendor isn't allowed to sell). All support is from the vendor.

Are you saying that when Microsoft releases its next version of
Windows that if I am using an OEM version of XP that I won't be able
to upgrade it?

Pete

 

[David Candy]

No. I'm saying you can only use it on the computer it's sold with.

 

[Jim Macklin]

You can upgrade to the next version, an OEM CD will not
upgrade over the previously installed version. It will only
install on a clean drive (or partition).


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


| On Sun, 27 Jun 2004 02:07:53 +1000, "David Candy"
<[email protected]>
| wrote:
|
| >The OEM can't upgrade, is a lease for the life on the
computer it is sold with only (retails are forever), and
must be sold with a computer or motherboard (else the vendor
isn't allowed to sell). All support is from the vendor.
|
| Are you saying that when Microsoft releases its next
version of
| Windows that if I am using an OEM version of XP that I
won't be able
| to upgrade it?
|
| Pete

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I am thinking of upgrading one of my computers to XP Pro; it is
currently running W2K.

First of all, why are you considering this? Are you aware that,
despite its new name, XP (Windows NT 5.1) is basically a minor
upgrade to 2000 (Windows NT 5.0)?

Is there some new feature in XP that you need or yearn for? Does
your job require you have skills in XP? Are you a computer
hobbyist who enjoys playing with whatever is newest?

If the answer to one or more of those questions is yes, then you
should get XP. Otherwise most people should probably stick with
2000.

The upgrade version of XP Pro is around $200.
The same vendors are selling full OEM versions of XP, not upgrades,
for $139.00.

I don't get it. What is the difference between buying the upgrade
version of XP Pro and buying a the full OEM version of XP? Does the
OEM version suffer from reduced functionality?

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.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

There are some very important reasons that an OEM license costs so
much less than a retail license. OEM licenses are very limited:

1) OEM versions must be sold with a piece of hardware (normally
a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC, although Microsoft
has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP) and are
_permanently_ bound to the first PC on which they are installed. An
OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another
computer under any circumstances. This is the main reason some people
avoid OEM versions; if the PC dies or is otherwise disposed of (even
stolen), you cannot re-use your OEM license on a new PC. The only
legitimate way to transfer the ownership of an OEM license is to
transfer ownership of the entire PC.

2) Microsoft provides no free support for OEM versions. If you
have any problems that require outside assistance, your only recourse
is to contact the manufacturer/builder of the PC or the vendor of the
OEM license. This would include such issues as lost a Product Key or
replacing damaged installation media. (Microsoft does make allowances
for those instances when you can prove that the OEM has gone out of
business.) This doesn't mean that you can't download patches and
service packs from Microsoft -- just no free telephone or email
support for problems with the OS.

3) An OEM CD cannot be used to perform an upgrade of an earlier
OS, as it was designed to be installed _only_ upon an empty hard
drive. It can still be used to perform a repair installation (a.k.a.
an in-place upgrade) of an existing WinXP installation.

4) If the OEM CD was designed by a specific manufacturer, such as
eMachines, Sony, Dell, Gateway, etc., it will most likely only install
on the same brand of PC, as an additional anti-piracy feature.
Further, such CDs are severely customized to contain only the minimum
of device drivers, and a lot of extra nonsense, that the manufacturer
feels necessary for the specific model of PC for which the CD was
designed. (To be honest, such CDs should _not_ be available on the
open market; but, if you're shopping someplace like eBay, swap meets,
or computer fairs, there's often no telling what you're buying until
it's too late.) The "generic" OEM CDs, such as are manufactured by
Microsoft and sold to small systems builders, don't have this
particular problem, though, and are pretty much the same as their
retail counterparts, apart from the licensing, support, and upgrading
restrictions.


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH

 

[Ron Martell]

I am thinking of upgrading one of my computers to XP Pro; it is
currently running W2K. The upgrade version of XP Pro is around $200.
The same vendors are selling full OEM versions of XP, not upgrades,
for $139.00.

I don't get it. What is the difference between buying the upgrade
version of XP Pro and buying a the full OEM version of XP? Does the
OEM version suffer from reduced functionality?

TIA

See http://onlinehelp.bc.ca/oem_software.htm for detailed info

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Ajax]

Thanks to everyone for all the good information. My primary interest
in XP over my existing 2K installation was that XP supports
Hyperthreading and 2000 doesn't.

My CAD system claims to be able to take advantage of this feature. If
I decide to change to XP Pro, I'm going to buy the upgrade retail disk
instead of the OEM package.

My new laptop will arrive with an OEM version of XP Pro (Dell
Inspiron 9100) and that is fine for a laptop, but for my other
computers, I don't want the OS to be tied to the first machine that it
is installed on.

My current version of W2K has been installed on a succession of four
computer since I bought it. OEM under such circumstances would be a
real waste of money.

Thanks again.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

Thanks to everyone for all the good information. My primary interest
in XP over my existing 2K installation was that XP supports
Hyperthreading and 2000 doesn't.

My CAD system claims to be able to take advantage of this feature. If
I decide to change to XP Pro, I'm going to buy the upgrade retail disk
instead of the OEM package.

It sounds to me like your choice of an upgrade rather than an OEM
version is a good one.