XP Pro vs. XP Pro OEM

[Max]

I want to purchase XP Pro, and have found an inexpensive
source.

What is the defference between the two versions?

The full XP Pro edition for $195,
or the OEM XP Pro edition for $129.

Is it worth $65 for the full retail edition?

I would like to make an informed decision.
What are the differences?

Thanks for the help!
Michael

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

OEM versions of Windows XP:

-- cannot upgrade over an existing Windows installation
-- cannot be transferred to a different computer in the future
-- the license cannot be sold or transferred to another user
-- are not eligible for free Microsoft technical support
-- must be purchased with some type of computer hardware
-- any problems whatsoever with the installation CD or Product Key
is not eligible for Microsoft support....you have to deal with the "seller".
-- cost less than "retail versions" due to the above limitations/risks

Should you purchase an OEM license version of XP?
http://www.tek-tips.com/gfaqs.cfm/pid/779/fid/4004

Other than the above noted exceptions, an OEM version of Windows XP
does not operationally differ from a "retail version".

Make sure your "inexpensive source" is a "trusted source" for purchasing
authentic Microsoft software. Many folks have been fooled by websites
offering low prices and did not receive the goods they were promised.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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|I want to purchase XP Pro, and have found an inexpensive
| source.
|
| What is the defference between the two versions?
|
| The full XP Pro edition for $195,
| or the OEM XP Pro edition for $129.
|
| Is it worth $65 for the full retail edition?
|
| I would like to make an informed decision.
| What are the differences?
|
| Thanks for the help!
| Michael

 

[Tim Slattery]

I want to purchase XP Pro, and have found an inexpensive
source.

What is the defference between the two versions?

The full XP Pro edition for $195,
or the OEM XP Pro edition for $129.

The OEM version will be valid only for the first computer it's
installed on. You can never move it to another one, even if the first
one is destroyed.

If you use the OEM version, you will not be able to contact Microsoft
for help (you can post questions here, of course).

The OEM version will not upgrade an existing OS. If you want to
upgrade your system from Win98, or from WinXP Home to WinXP Pro the
OEM disk won't do it for you.

Is it worth $65 for the full retail edition?

Make up your own mind!

 

[george]

have you looked at
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/compare.mspx ?
it might be a good starting point to 'get informed'

goerge

 

[JAX]

Hi Max,

The others have offered sources for answers to your question, but I have to
question the prices you quoted in regard to the legitimacy of the software.
That sounds like pirated software prices to me.

FWIW, JAX

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The $195 may be for Windows XP Pro UPGRADE.
The OP did not state if either or both are full or upgrade.
It is highly unlikely for the OEM to be upgrade.

 

[JAX]

The OP does state, "The full XP Pro edition for $195,"

JAX

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

So my good eye went blind, I am unsure how the blind eye missed that.
Definitely very suspicious at best.
There are numerous reasons to stay far away.

 

[JAX]

Oh, btw, OEM would not be an upgrade, it is clean install only.

JAX

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Almost always yes.
But when Windows XP first came out, apparently some OEMs furnished OEM
Windows XP upgrade to some customers.
I heard this on various newsgroups at that time, but I have never
actually seen one.
That is why I said "highly unlikely" instead of something completely
negative which may have turned out false.

 

[XS11E]

Almost always yes.
But when Windows XP first came out, apparently some OEMs furnished
OEM Windows XP upgrade to some customers.

My XP is an OEM upgrade. It asks for my qualifying CD during install.

 

[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

 

[JAX]

I think we are comparing apples to oranges here. My reference is to the MS
OEM disk, not your computer manufacturer's OEM disk.

JAX

 

[XS11E]

I think we are comparing apples to oranges here. My reference is
to the MS OEM disk, not your computer manufacturer's OEM disk.

I was referring to the MS OEM disk which is what I have, it is an OEM
upgrade version.

BTW, ALL manufacturer's OEM disks are Microsoft OEM disks. AFAIK
nobody else manufactures Windows XP disks.

 

[JAX]

The major "brand name" computer companies provide their own "OEM" disks.
They are modified to suit their own preferences and "burned" under MS's
strict control, but, from what I understand, not burned by MS.

My statement about the "upgrade" OEM was based on my having bought my first
MS OEM disk in Feb. after XP was released in Oct.,( pretty early in the life
of XP). I saw no evidence of and upgrade version then, and have yet to see
any since, except your statement.

Cheers, JAX

 

[JAX]

Hi Jupiter,

That sounds like it would be an upgrade provided by the computer
manufacturer, rather than an MS OEM disk. I don't know here, just
speculating.

I bought XP early in it's production and have never seen anything offered as
an upgrade OEM version for sale.

FWIW, (not much) JAX

 

[XS11E]

The major "brand name" computer companies provide their own "OEM"
disks. They are modified to suit their own preferences and
"burned" under MS's strict control, but, from what I understand,
not burned by MS.

My statement about the "upgrade" OEM was based on my having bought
my first MS OEM disk in Feb. after XP was released in Oct.,(
pretty early in the life of XP). I saw no evidence of and upgrade
version then, and have yet to see any since, except your
statement.

Look on eBay.