Difference of winxp

[Bryan]

What is the difference between the microsoft windows xp
pro "OEM" and microsoft windows xp pro "boxed"? Which one
is better. Is there any link that I can read?

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

They are the same core system files - the difference is mainly in the
licensing.

A retail version can be removed from one machine and installed on another.
It is also eligible for direct support from Microsoft (first 2 incidents are
free). An OEM cannot do either of these, support must come from the vendor,
and it is permanently tied (in most cases) to the machine upon which it is
initially installed.

There are also some OEM versions that may be altered by the vendor. While
the core system files will be the same, they may also include or exclude
drivers to support hardware they are sold with. OEM versions may also not
contain all "value-add" components (for example the backup program). This is
usually the case with the larger vendors.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Bryan" > wrote in message
...
> What is the difference between the microsoft windows xp
> pro "OEM" and microsoft windows xp pro "boxed"? Which one
> is better. Is there any link that I can read?

[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. The only legitimate way to transfer
the ownership of an OEM license is to transfer ownership of the entire
PC. This is the best reason to 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.

2) Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. If you have
any problems that require outside assistance, your only recourse is to
contact 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 live or email support for problems with the OS.

3) An OEM CD cannot perform an upgrade, as it was designed to be
installed _only_ upon an empty hard drive.

4) If the OEM CD was designed by a specific manufacturer, such as
eMachines, Sony, HP, Compaq, 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 sold to small systems
builders, don't have this particular problem, though, and are pretty
much the same as their retail counterparts.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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


"Bryan" > wrote in message
...
> What is the difference between the microsoft windows xp
> pro "OEM" and microsoft windows xp pro "boxed"? Which one
> is better. Is there any link that I can read?

[Ken Blake]

In ,
Bryan > typed:

> What is the difference between the microsoft windows xp
> pro "OEM" and microsoft windows xp pro "boxed"? Which one
> is better. Is there any link that I can read?


The OEM version has the following disadvantages:

1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed =
on. It can never 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 have to get any =
needed support from your OEM, and that may range anywhere between good =
and non-existent.


--=20
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

[Bryan]

Thanks for a wonderful answer to my question. I now
understand the difference. Just an addition, How can I
know if that installer is an OEM or not if that one is
just a give from a friend far away and I don't have
any way of contacting him. Is there any indication that
the package that I have is OEM or not? If that is boxed
(btw why is it called "boxed"?) how will I know how many
PCs can I use with this installer, meaning how many
license can I use?

Thank you Sir in advance.

>-----Original Message-----
>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. The only legitimate
way to transfer
>the ownership of an OEM license is to transfer ownership
of the entire
>PC. This is the best reason to 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.
>
> 2) Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions.
If you have
>any problems that require outside assistance, your only
recourse is to
>contact 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 live or email support for problems with the OS.
>
> 3) An OEM CD cannot perform an upgrade, as it was
designed to be
>installed _only_ upon an empty hard drive.
>
> 4) If the OEM CD was designed by a specific
manufacturer, such as
>eMachines, Sony, HP, Compaq, 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 sold to small
systems
>builders, don't have this particular problem, though, and
are pretty
>much the same as their retail counterparts.
>
>
>Bruce Chambers
>
>--
>Help us help you:
>http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever
count on
>having both at once. -- RAH
>
>
>"Bryan" > wrote in message
...
>> What is the difference between the microsoft windows xp
>> pro "OEM" and microsoft windows xp pro "boxed"? Which
one
>> is better. Is there any link that I can read?
>
>
>.
>

[Frank]

Bryan wrote:
| What is the difference between the microsoft windows xp
| pro "OEM" and microsoft windows xp pro "boxed"? Which one
| is better. Is there any link that I can read?

What is White Box/OEM vs. Retail?
The retail and OEM versions usually will have the same exact product,
however the retail version usually will come with bundled software,
retail packaging, and more bells and whistles so to speak. OEM (Original
Equipment Manufacturer), White Box, Brown Box versions will come with
the actual product and usually the drivers, no special packaging or
software. Occasionally the retail version will accompany a longer
warranty.

Support calls cost companies a ton of money.


--
Tampa Bay

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

You're welcome.

OEM CDS will come in very plain packaging, as opposed to a
fancier, colorful, shrink-wrapped retail box, and the CD will be
marked "For distribution with a new PC only. For product support,
contact the manufacturer of your PC."

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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


"Bryan" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for a wonderful answer to my question. I now
> understand the difference. Just an addition, How can I
> know if that installer is an OEM or not if that one is
> just a give from a friend far away and I don't have
> any way of contacting him. Is there any indication that
> the package that I have is OEM or not? If that is boxed
> (btw why is it called "boxed"?) how will I know how many
> PCs can I use with this installer, meaning how many
> license can I use?
>
> Thank you Sir in advance.
>