XP OEM

[Chek]

It strikes me that a large number of people (especially those with new PC's)
have OEM
versions of Windows XP Home.
Personally, I am becoming more aware that far from having a truly workable
OS, it is in fact a working OS only until such time as XP goes belly-up (and
it will happen sooner or later judging from experience with previous MS
products). Most of the fixes for problems posted here involve the MS XP cd.
Must-have built in tools and utilities for recovery are unavailable (apart
from a lose-all-your-data type system restore disc) to OEM users.
Surely this is an intolerable system as it stands?
The Microsoft OS is used to sell the manufacturers' sytems to us the
customers, so how hard would it be to ensure a proper product and give us a
cd?
I know rather than shell out around GBP90 (local upgrade cd price) for
another OS when this one dies, I'll be seriously considering reinstalling
Win98.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this, and more pertinently (apart from
buying a voodoo doll with extra large spikes resembling Steve Ballmer)
what's to be done?
Ok ok, you Linux guys can stop laughing quite so hard now.

[Lil' Dave]

Its all in the terminology.

The OEM CD for XP installation has very little difference than the retail
version. What it primarily lacks is free support from MS in the event of
problems. This is sold in tandem with the sale of a PC without an OS, or
sold with motherboard, or sold with a hard drive. Not recommended for
newbies. Functionality of installation is identical, all files are present.

A restore CD is version of the OS installation provided by the manufacturer
of an entire PC. In some cases, may be on a hidden partition on the PC's
hard drive instead of a CD. Support is provided by the manufacturer of the
PC. Compaq and HP are examples of same. These types of PCs were meant for
those just wishing to operate same, not tweak, or reinstall over present
problems, etc. As this type user grows in knowledge of his/her system,
he/she may become dissatisfied with the default restore and want more.

Linux, to my knowledge, is not provided by any major PC manufacturer as an
operating system for that PC. So, I fail to see the analogy.

Dave
"Chek" > wrote in message
...
> It strikes me that a large number of people (especially those with new
PC's)
> have OEM
> versions of Windows XP Home.
> Personally, I am becoming more aware that far from having a truly workable
> OS, it is in fact a working OS only until such time as XP goes belly-up
(and
> it will happen sooner or later judging from experience with previous MS
> products). Most of the fixes for problems posted here involve the MS XP
cd.
> Must-have built in tools and utilities for recovery are unavailable (apart
> from a lose-all-your-data type system restore disc) to OEM users.
> Surely this is an intolerable system as it stands?
> The Microsoft OS is used to sell the manufacturers' sytems to us the
> customers, so how hard would it be to ensure a proper product and give us
a
> cd?
> I know rather than shell out around GBP90 (local upgrade cd price) for
> another OS when this one dies, I'll be seriously considering reinstalling
> Win98.
> Anyone else have any thoughts on this, and more pertinently (apart from
> buying a voodoo doll with extra large spikes resembling Steve Ballmer)
> what's to be done?
> Ok ok, you Linux guys can stop laughing quite so hard now.
>
>

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

The OEM is only responsible for getting the PC back into its original
working order - as it was when purchased - any tweaks, data files, documents
and software installed by the user and/or purchaser is his/her
responsibility to backup and/or restore after the OEM's recovery process has
been used - how that is done is up to you. Some choices is to use the
backup utility with Windows XP (installed by default for XP Pro, a few
extract steps to install for XP Home) or purchase a 3rd party backup package
(personally I use Norton Ghost). If you need to do things using the
"Support Tools" or the "Recovery Console" you will need an actual WinXP CD
(Home or Pro based on your system) which very few OEMs supply (Dell supplies
the CD with its upper end Desktops, Laptops and Workstations) - but if these
things are the stuff you want to do, and the OEM does not supply a CD, then
you'll need to purchase one yourself or go to another OEM before purchasing
a PC - its your choice, not the OEM or Microsoft - they offer the options.
If you do the proper research, like when you buy a house or automobile,
then you'll be all set, but if you forget the homework, when the pop quiz is
given, you'll fail to have the tools and/or knowledge available when you
need it.
"Lil' Dave" > wrote in message
news:HIOWa.3678$qf.184@lakeread06...
> Its all in the terminology.
>
> The OEM CD for XP installation has very little difference than the retail
> version. What it primarily lacks is free support from MS in the event of
> problems. This is sold in tandem with the sale of a PC without an OS, or
> sold with motherboard, or sold with a hard drive. Not recommended for
> newbies. Functionality of installation is identical, all files are
present.
>
> A restore CD is version of the OS installation provided by the
manufacturer
> of an entire PC. In some cases, may be on a hidden partition on the PC's
> hard drive instead of a CD. Support is provided by the manufacturer of
the
> PC. Compaq and HP are examples of same. These types of PCs were meant
for
> those just wishing to operate same, not tweak, or reinstall over present
> problems, etc. As this type user grows in knowledge of his/her system,
> he/she may become dissatisfied with the default restore and want more.
>
> Linux, to my knowledge, is not provided by any major PC manufacturer as an
> operating system for that PC. So, I fail to see the analogy.
>
> Dave
> "Chek" > wrote in message
> ...
> > It strikes me that a large number of people (especially those with new
> PC's)
> > have OEM
> > versions of Windows XP Home.
> > Personally, I am becoming more aware that far from having a truly
workable
> > OS, it is in fact a working OS only until such time as XP goes belly-up
> (and
> > it will happen sooner or later judging from experience with previous MS
> > products). Most of the fixes for problems posted here involve the MS XP
> cd.
> > Must-have built in tools and utilities for recovery are unavailable
(apart
> > from a lose-all-your-data type system restore disc) to OEM users.
> > Surely this is an intolerable system as it stands?
> > The Microsoft OS is used to sell the manufacturers' sytems to us the
> > customers, so how hard would it be to ensure a proper product and give
us
> a
> > cd?
> > I know rather than shell out around GBP90 (local upgrade cd price) for
> > another OS when this one dies, I'll be seriously considering
reinstalling
> > Win98.
> > Anyone else have any thoughts on this, and more pertinently (apart from
> > buying a voodoo doll with extra large spikes resembling Steve Ballmer)
> > what's to be done?
> > Ok ok, you Linux guys can stop laughing quite so hard now.
> >
> >
>
>

[Chek]

Thanks for the considered responses people.
L'il Dave - my Linux reference was referring to the no doubt scurrilous
suggestion going about that MS deliberately with-held CD distribution in
order to limit the numbers of installations from OEM with dual boot options
(to Linux, obviously).
However, having had this new system running for a month more or less
continuously I have to agree that XP is wonderfully stable, and it's happily
crunching
through six SETI units a day as opposed to my previous setup which managed
one a week, though that's probably more hardware than OS related! Also the
OEM build quality is really good.
S.A.Q, or if Q is ok for short, -if you're into that whole short thing - I
should say that I gambled that the Restore system in XP will be as good as
advertised whenever the need arises, but, nevertheless, I still wish that I
had the regular MS CD for when that day comes.
In the meantime there's always Roxio Go Back :)
best regards
Chek



"Star Fleet Admiral Q" > wrote in
message ...
> The OEM is only responsible for getting the PC back into its original
> working order - as it was when purchased - any tweaks, data files,
documents
> and software installed by the user and/or purchaser is his/her
> responsibility to backup and/or restore after the OEM's recovery process
has
> been used - how that is done is up to you. Some choices is to use the
> backup utility with Windows XP (installed by default for XP Pro, a few
> extract steps to install for XP Home) or purchase a 3rd party backup
package
> (personally I use Norton Ghost). If you need to do things using the
> "Support Tools" or the "Recovery Console" you will need an actual WinXP CD
> (Home or Pro based on your system) which very few OEMs supply (Dell
supplies
> the CD with its upper end Desktops, Laptops and Workstations) - but if
these
> things are the stuff you want to do, and the OEM does not supply a CD,
then
> you'll need to purchase one yourself or go to another OEM before
purchasing
> a PC - its your choice, not the OEM or Microsoft - they offer the options.
> If you do the proper research, like when you buy a house or
automobile,
> then you'll be all set, but if you forget the homework, when the pop quiz
is
> given, you'll fail to have the tools and/or knowledge available when you
> need it.
> "Lil' Dave" > wrote in message
> news:HIOWa.3678$qf.184@lakeread06...
> > Its all in the terminology.
> >
> > The OEM CD for XP installation has very little difference than the
retail
> > version. What it primarily lacks is free support from MS in the event
of
> > problems. This is sold in tandem with the sale of a PC without an OS,
or
> > sold with motherboard, or sold with a hard drive. Not recommended for
> > newbies. Functionality of installation is identical, all files are
> present.
> >
> > A restore CD is version of the OS installation provided by the
> manufacturer
> > of an entire PC. In some cases, may be on a hidden partition on the
PC's
> > hard drive instead of a CD. Support is provided by the manufacturer of
> the
> > PC. Compaq and HP are examples of same. These types of PCs were meant
> for
> > those just wishing to operate same, not tweak, or reinstall over present
> > problems, etc. As this type user grows in knowledge of his/her system,
> > he/she may become dissatisfied with the default restore and want more.
> >
> > Linux, to my knowledge, is not provided by any major PC manufacturer as
an
> > operating system for that PC. So, I fail to see the analogy.
> >
> > Dave
> > "Chek" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > It strikes me that a large number of people (especially those with new
> > PC's)
> > > have OEM
> > > versions of Windows XP Home.
> > > Personally, I am becoming more aware that far from having a truly
> workable
> > > OS, it is in fact a working OS only until such time as XP goes
belly-up
> > (and
> > > it will happen sooner or later judging from experience with previous
MS
> > > products). Most of the fixes for problems posted here involve the MS
XP
> > cd.
> > > Must-have built in tools and utilities for recovery are unavailable
> (apart
> > > from a lose-all-your-data type system restore disc) to OEM users.
> > > Surely this is an intolerable system as it stands?
> > > The Microsoft OS is used to sell the manufacturers' sytems to us the
> > > customers, so how hard would it be to ensure a proper product and give
> us
> > a
> > > cd?
> > > I know rather than shell out around GBP90 (local upgrade cd price) for
> > > another OS when this one dies, I'll be seriously considering
> reinstalling
> > > Win98.
> > > Anyone else have any thoughts on this, and more pertinently (apart
from
> > > buying a voodoo doll with extra large spikes resembling Steve Ballmer)
> > > what's to be done?
> > > Ok ok, you Linux guys can stop laughing quite so hard now.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Lil' Dave]

You'll have to check with Bill G. about withholding CD distribution. Have
no idea. Doubt if many readers of this newsgroup do either.

Generally speaking, with a new PC, you're stuck with what you got at time of
purchase including the OS installation. That has been going on with PC
manufacturers for quite some time and not associated with XP specifically.

My personal preference is DriveImage for backup. Copy the entire hard drive
to a identical removable version once a week. Images are kept on another
local drive based on a weekly schedule.

There are few versions of Linux out there, and are relatively inexpensive.
Tried the Redhat version intially, then then much later, the Suse version
once myself.
Dave

"Chek" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for the considered responses people.
> L'il Dave - my Linux reference was referring to the no doubt scurrilous
> suggestion going about that MS deliberately with-held CD distribution in
> order to limit the numbers of installations from OEM with dual boot
options
> (to Linux, obviously).
> However, having had this new system running for a month more or less
> continuously I have to agree that XP is wonderfully stable, and it's
happily
> crunching
> through six SETI units a day as opposed to my previous setup which managed
> one a week, though that's probably more hardware than OS related! Also the
> OEM build quality is really good.
> S.A.Q, or if Q is ok for short, -if you're into that whole short thing - I
> should say that I gambled that the Restore system in XP will be as good as
> advertised whenever the need arises, but, nevertheless, I still wish that
I
> had the regular MS CD for when that day comes.
> In the meantime there's always Roxio Go Back :)
> best regards
> Chek
>
>
>
> "Star Fleet Admiral Q" > wrote in
> message ...
> > The OEM is only responsible for getting the PC back into its
original
> > working order - as it was when purchased - any tweaks, data files,
> documents
> > and software installed by the user and/or purchaser is his/her
> > responsibility to backup and/or restore after the OEM's recovery process
> has
> > been used - how that is done is up to you. Some choices is to use the
> > backup utility with Windows XP (installed by default for XP Pro, a few
> > extract steps to install for XP Home) or purchase a 3rd party backup
> package
> > (personally I use Norton Ghost). If you need to do things using the
> > "Support Tools" or the "Recovery Console" you will need an actual WinXP
CD
> > (Home or Pro based on your system) which very few OEMs supply (Dell
> supplies
> > the CD with its upper end Desktops, Laptops and Workstations) - but if
> these
> > things are the stuff you want to do, and the OEM does not supply a CD,
> then
> > you'll need to purchase one yourself or go to another OEM before
> purchasing
> > a PC - its your choice, not the OEM or Microsoft - they offer the
options.
> > If you do the proper research, like when you buy a house or
> automobile,
> > then you'll be all set, but if you forget the homework, when the pop
quiz
> is
> > given, you'll fail to have the tools and/or knowledge available when you
> > need it.
> > "Lil' Dave" > wrote in message
> > news:HIOWa.3678$qf.184@lakeread06...
> > > Its all in the terminology.
> > >
> > > The OEM CD for XP installation has very little difference than the
> retail
> > > version. What it primarily lacks is free support from MS in the event
> of
> > > problems. This is sold in tandem with the sale of a PC without an OS,
> or
> > > sold with motherboard, or sold with a hard drive. Not recommended for
> > > newbies. Functionality of installation is identical, all files are
> > present.
> > >
> > > A restore CD is version of the OS installation provided by the
> > manufacturer
> > > of an entire PC. In some cases, may be on a hidden partition on the
> PC's
> > > hard drive instead of a CD. Support is provided by the manufacturer
of
> > the
> > > PC. Compaq and HP are examples of same. These types of PCs were
meant
> > for
> > > those just wishing to operate same, not tweak, or reinstall over
present
> > > problems, etc. As this type user grows in knowledge of his/her
system,
> > > he/she may become dissatisfied with the default restore and want more.
> > >
> > > Linux, to my knowledge, is not provided by any major PC manufacturer
as
> an
> > > operating system for that PC. So, I fail to see the analogy.
> > >
> > > Dave
> > > "Chek" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > It strikes me that a large number of people (especially those with
new
> > > PC's)
> > > > have OEM
> > > > versions of Windows XP Home.
> > > > Personally, I am becoming more aware that far from having a truly
> > workable
> > > > OS, it is in fact a working OS only until such time as XP goes
> belly-up
> > > (and
> > > > it will happen sooner or later judging from experience with previous
> MS
> > > > products). Most of the fixes for problems posted here involve the MS
> XP
> > > cd.
> > > > Must-have built in tools and utilities for recovery are unavailable
> > (apart
> > > > from a lose-all-your-data type system restore disc) to OEM users.
> > > > Surely this is an intolerable system as it stands?
> > > > The Microsoft OS is used to sell the manufacturers' sytems to us the
> > > > customers, so how hard would it be to ensure a proper product and
give
> > us
> > > a
> > > > cd?
> > > > I know rather than shell out around GBP90 (local upgrade cd price)
for
> > > > another OS when this one dies, I'll be seriously considering
> > reinstalling
> > > > Win98.
> > > > Anyone else have any thoughts on this, and more pertinently (apart
> from
> > > > buying a voodoo doll with extra large spikes resembling Steve
Ballmer)
> > > > what's to be done?
> > > > Ok ok, you Linux guys can stop laughing quite so hard now.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Sweet Andy Licious]

Lil' Dave wrote:
> You'll have to check with Bill G. about withholding CD distribution.
> Have no idea. Doubt if many readers of this newsgroup do either.
>
> Generally speaking, with a new PC, you're stuck with what you got at
> time of purchase including the OS installation. That has been going
> on with PC manufacturers for quite some time and not associated with
> XP specifically.
>
> My personal preference is DriveImage for backup. Copy the entire
> hard drive to a identical removable version once a week. Images are
> kept on another local drive based on a weekly schedule.
>
> There are few versions of Linux out there, and are relatively
> inexpensive. Tried the Redhat version intially, then then much later,
> the Suse version once myself.
> Dave
>
> "Chek" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Thanks for the considered responses people.
>> L'il Dave - my Linux reference was referring to the no doubt
>> scurrilous suggestion going about that MS deliberately with-held CD
>> distribution in order to limit the numbers of installations from OEM
>> with dual boot options (to Linux, obviously).
>> However, having had this new system running for a month more or less
>> continuously I have to agree that XP is wonderfully stable, and it's
>> happily crunching
>> through six SETI units a day as opposed to my previous setup which
>> managed one a week, though that's probably more hardware than OS
>> related! Also the OEM build quality is really good.
>> S.A.Q, or if Q is ok for short, -if you're into that whole short
>> thing - I should say that I gambled that the Restore system in XP
>> will be as good as advertised whenever the need arises, but,
>> nevertheless, I still wish that I had the regular MS CD for when
>> that day comes.
>> In the meantime there's always Roxio Go Back :)
>> best regards
>> Chek
>>
>>
>>
>> "Star Fleet Admiral Q" >
>> wrote in message ...
>>> The OEM is only responsible for getting the PC back into its
>>> original working order - as it was when purchased - any tweaks,
>>> data files, documents and software installed by the user and/or
>>> purchaser is his/her responsibility to backup and/or restore after
>>> the OEM's recovery process has been used - how that is done is up
>>> to you. Some choices is to use the backup utility with Windows XP
>>> (installed by default for XP Pro, a few extract steps to install
>>> for XP Home) or purchase a 3rd party backup package (personally I
>>> use Norton Ghost). If you need to do things using the "Support
>>> Tools" or the "Recovery Console" you will need an actual WinXP CD
>>> (Home or Pro based on your system) which very few OEMs supply (Dell
>>> supplies the CD with its upper end Desktops, Laptops and
>>> Workstations) - but if these things are the stuff you want to do,
>>> and the OEM does not supply a CD, then you'll need to purchase one
>>> yourself or go to another OEM before purchasing a PC - its your
>>> choice, not the OEM or Microsoft - they offer the options. If you
>>> do the proper research, like when you buy a house or automobile,
>>> then you'll be all set, but if you forget the homework, when the
>>> pop quiz is given, you'll fail to have the tools and/or knowledge
>>> available when you need it. "Lil' Dave" > wrote
>>> in message news:HIOWa.3678$qf.184@lakeread06...
>>>> Its all in the terminology.
>>>>
>>>> The OEM CD for XP installation has very little difference than the
>>>> retail version. What it primarily lacks is free support from MS
>>>> in the event of problems. This is sold in tandem with the sale of
>>>> a PC without an OS, or sold with motherboard, or sold with a hard
>>>> drive. Not recommended for newbies. Functionality of
>>>> installation is identical, all files are present.
>>>>
>>>> A restore CD is version of the OS installation provided by the
>>>> manufacturer of an entire PC. In some cases, may be on a hidden
>>>> partition on the PC's hard drive instead of a CD. Support is
>>>> provided by the manufacturer of the PC. Compaq and HP are
>>>> examples of same. These types of PCs were meant for those just
>>>> wishing to operate same, not tweak, or reinstall over present
>>>> problems, etc. As this type user grows in knowledge of his/her
>>>> system, he/she may become dissatisfied with the default restore
>>>> and want more.
>>>>
>>>> Linux, to my knowledge, is not provided by any major PC
>>>> manufacturer as an operating system for that PC. So, I fail to
>>>> see the analogy.
>>>>
>>>> Dave
>>>> "Chek" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> It strikes me that a large number of people (especially those
>>>>> with new PC's) have OEM
>>>>> versions of Windows XP Home.
>>>>> Personally, I am becoming more aware that far from having a truly
>>>>> workable OS, it is in fact a working OS only until such time as
>>>>> XP goes belly-up (and it will happen sooner or later judging from
>>>>> experience with previous MS products). Most of the fixes for
>>>>> problems posted here involve the MS XP cd. Must-have built in
>>>>> tools and utilities for recovery are unavailable (apart from a
>>>>> lose-all-your-data type system restore disc) to OEM users. Surely
>>>>> this is an intolerable system as it stands?
>>>>> The Microsoft OS is used to sell the manufacturers' sytems to us
>>>>> the customers, so how hard would it be to ensure a proper product
>>>>> and
> give
>>> us
>>>> a
>>>>> cd?
>>>>> I know rather than shell out around GBP90 (local upgrade cd
>>>>> price) for another OS when this one dies, I'll be seriously
>>>>> considering reinstalling Win98.
>>>>> Anyone else have any thoughts on this, and more pertinently
>>>>> (apart from buying a voodoo doll with extra large spikes
>>>>> resembling Steve Ballmer) what's to be done?
>>>>> Ok ok, you Linux guys can stop laughing quite so hard now.

Wellllllllll.......
My PC is a Dell and came with Win98 built in, but, I got a comple Windows 98
CD install disk, (not a Dell copy like Gateway), but the original OS; I
needed it, I had to install Windows 98 about 25 times in the 4 years it ran.
Then I went and bought Windows XP and of course I have the CD and the
product key, etc. Only installed it once so far. I have to agree....XP is
the most stable; I've used Win2000 Pro and Win NT at work and they are
stable too. I understand XP comes from that side of the family. Anyway, my
..02. ;)
--
Andy


email: sweetandylicious at eml dot cc