What is an OEM and which is better to buy?

[Robert Dias]

Is it better to buy a OEM copy of windows XP professional
full version or a regular one that is not OEM.

[Jim Macklin]

If you intend to keep the computer and not move from
computer to computer, a Microsoft OEM disk is the same as a
retail disk with two exceptions. It will NOT do an upgrade
and it cannot be moved to another computer, the only way you
can sell it is with the computer.


"Robert Dias" > wrote in message
...
| Is it better to buy a OEM copy of windows XP professional
| full version or a regular one that is not OEM.

[Dr. Harvie Wahl-Banghor]

Some time, on or about: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 22:15:34 -0700, "Robert Dias"
> was criminally insane in my professional
opinion when they claimed the following balderdash:

>Is it better to buy a OEM copy of windows XP professional
>full version or a regular one that is not OEM.

There isn't much difference in the actual software. OEM software is
meant to be only sold with a new PC. You *can* buy a copy as long as
you buy a new hard drive or a new motherboard. Gray market vendors may
or may not require this of you. Another difference is that you
probably won't receive any tech support from MS if you purchase an OEM
copy, especially if the OEM copies were specifically sold to a leading
vendor like Dell. Sometimes a company may buy a bunch of PCs but own a
sight license for Windows 2000. They'll re-image the machines with
Windows 2000 and dump their copies of XP on the market. This is
getting to be pretty rare anymore since most PCs come with a recovery
disk and not an OEM copy of XP.

[Ken Blake]

In , Robert Dias wrote:

> Is it better to buy a OEM copy of windows XP professional
> full version or a regular one that is not OEM.


Assuming that you're asking about a full OEM version, not a
machine-specific one, these are the following three differences,
other than price:

1. The OEM version can only do a clean installation, not an
upgrade over a previous version.

2. Microsoft doesn't support the OEM version. You have to get
support from your OEM or provide it yourself.

3. The OEM version is tied to the first computer it's installed
on, and can not be transferred to another computer.

Whether those differences warrant the much higher price of the
retail version, you'll have to decide for yourself.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

[Amethyst]

Jim Macklin wrote:
> If you intend to keep the computer and not move from
> computer to computer, a Microsoft OEM disk is the same as a
> retail disk with two exceptions. It will NOT do an upgrade
> and it cannot be moved to another computer, the only way you
> can sell it is with the computer.

Actually, Jim, there are four restrictions

1) Licence tied to first system it's installed on
2) Licence is non-transferable unless system is also transferred
3) Clean installation only
4) No MS support

Cass

[ejh3]

Ken,
Exactly what does 3. below mean?

I assume if you replace the Hard Drive with a bigger one it is still ok to
re-install the OEM version.

If you replace the Motherboard with a new one it's still the same computer
but is it still legal to re-install the OEM version?

Thanks,
Ed

"Ken Blake" > wrote in message
...
> In , Robert Dias wrote:
>
> > Is it better to buy a OEM copy of windows XP professional
> > full version or a regular one that is not OEM.
>
>
> Assuming that you're asking about a full OEM version, not a
> machine-specific one, these are the following three differences,
> other than price:
>
> 1. The OEM version can only do a clean installation, not an
> upgrade over a previous version.
>
> 2. Microsoft doesn't support the OEM version. You have to get
> support from your OEM or provide it yourself.
>
> 3. The OEM version is tied to the first computer it's installed
> on, and can not be transferred to another computer.
>
> Whether those differences warrant the much higher price of the
> retail version, you'll have to decide for yourself.
>
> --
> Ken Blake
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>
>

[Jim Macklin]

Yes to the hard drive, just a repair install is required for
a mobo replacement.


"ejh3" > wrote in message
...
| Ken,
| Exactly what does 3. below mean?
|
| I assume if you replace the Hard Drive with a bigger one
it is still ok to
| re-install the OEM version.
|
| If you replace the Motherboard with a new one it's still
the same computer
| but is it still legal to re-install the OEM version?
|
| Thanks,
| Ed
|
| "Ken Blake" > wrote
in message
| ...
| > In , Robert Dias
wrote:
| >
| > > Is it better to buy a OEM copy of windows XP
professional
| > > full version or a regular one that is not OEM.
| >
| >
| > Assuming that you're asking about a full OEM version,
not a
| > machine-specific one, these are the following three
differences,
| > other than price:
| >
| > 1. The OEM version can only do a clean installation, not
an
| > upgrade over a previous version.
| >
| > 2. Microsoft doesn't support the OEM version. You have
to get
| > support from your OEM or provide it yourself.
| >
| > 3. The OEM version is tied to the first computer it's
installed
| > on, and can not be transferred to another computer.
| >
| > Whether those differences warrant the much higher price
of the
| > retail version, you'll have to decide for yourself.
| >
| > --
| > Ken Blake
| > Please reply to the newsgroup
| >
| >
|
|

[Ken Blake]

In , ejh3 wrote:

> Ken,
> Exactly what does 3. below mean?
>
> I assume if you replace the Hard Drive with a bigger one it is
still
> ok to re-install the OEM version.
>
> If you replace the Motherboard with a new one it's still the
same
> computer but is it still legal to re-install the OEM version?


That's a very interesting question, but I have no answer for you.
There's probably little question that changing the hard drive
leaves it the same computer, but the motherboard?

Microsoft requires the OEM Product Key sticker to be attached to
the *case*. One might argue that therefore it's the same computer
as long as the case remains the same.

I don't know what Microsoft considers the same computer (my guess
is that they might not even have an official answer that everyone
in the company agrees on). And as far as I know this has never
been tested in court.

But there are a lot of things like that. You register your car
and get a license plate for it. What in the car, and how much,
could you change and still have it be the same car? If you had a
bad-enough accident, you might need to replace all its body
parts, the engine, transmission, etc. Is your registration still
valid?

My guess (just a guess) is that from a practical standpoint, for
both the computer and the car, the answer is that it's considered
the same no matter what and how much you replace, as long as you
do it by replacing *components* rather than the entire thing.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup


> "Ken Blake" > wrote in
message
> ...
>> In , Robert Dias wrote:
>>
>>> Is it better to buy a OEM copy of windows XP professional
>>> full version or a regular one that is not OEM.
>>
>>
>> Assuming that you're asking about a full OEM version, not a
>> machine-specific one, these are the following three
differences,
>> other than price:
>>
>> 1. The OEM version can only do a clean installation, not an
>> upgrade over a previous version.
>>
>> 2. Microsoft doesn't support the OEM version. You have to get
>> support from your OEM or provide it yourself.
>>
>> 3. The OEM version is tied to the first computer it's
installed
>> on, and can not be transferred to another computer.
>>
>> Whether those differences warrant the much higher price of the
>> retail version, you'll have to decide for yourself.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake
>> Please reply to the newsgroup

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The closest I've seen any Microsoft rep come to defining when an
incrementally upgraded PC ceases to be the original PC (for OEM
licensing purposes) was to say that the "breaking point" occurs when
the _OEM_ decides that it's no longer the same PC. In other words,
when the changes are to such an extant that the OEM will not longer
provide support or warranty coverage. Presumably, this means that
people who build their own PCs and use a generic OEM license can keep
upgrading their PCs forever. Or until a better OS comes along,
anyway.

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


"Ken Blake" > wrote in message
...
> In , ejh3 wrote:
>
> > Ken,
> > Exactly what does 3. below mean?
> >
> > I assume if you replace the Hard Drive with a bigger one it is
> still
> > ok to re-install the OEM version.
> >
> > If you replace the Motherboard with a new one it's still the
> same
> > computer but is it still legal to re-install the OEM version?
>
>
> That's a very interesting question, but I have no answer for you.
> There's probably little question that changing the hard drive
> leaves it the same computer, but the motherboard?
>
> Microsoft requires the OEM Product Key sticker to be attached to
> the *case*. One might argue that therefore it's the same computer
> as long as the case remains the same.
>
> I don't know what Microsoft considers the same computer (my guess
> is that they might not even have an official answer that everyone
> in the company agrees on). And as far as I know this has never
> been tested in court.
>
> But there are a lot of things like that. You register your car
> and get a license plate for it. What in the car, and how much,
> could you change and still have it be the same car? If you had a
> bad-enough accident, you might need to replace all its body
> parts, the engine, transmission, etc. Is your registration still
> valid?
>
> My guess (just a guess) is that from a practical standpoint, for
> both the computer and the car, the answer is that it's considered
> the same no matter what and how much you replace, as long as you
> do it by replacing *components* rather than the entire thing.
>
> --
> Ken Blake
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>
>

[Amethyst]

Bruce Chambers wrote:
> Greetings --
>
> The closest I've seen any Microsoft rep come to defining when an
> incrementally upgraded PC ceases to be the original PC (for OEM
> licensing purposes) was to say that the "breaking point" occurs when
> the _OEM_ decides that it's no longer the same PC. In other words,
> when the changes are to such an extant that the OEM will not longer
> provide support or warranty coverage. Presumably, this means that
> people who build their own PCs and use a generic OEM license can keep
> upgrading their PCs forever. Or until a better OS comes along,
> anyway.
>
> 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


Bruce,

Let me answer this - sort of. I built a system for a family member some
while ago running OEM Pro. Now, he's the kind of guy who will change his car
just because the newer model had better seat fabric! So when, six months
later, he asked me to upgrade his system, I wondered whether the licence
would still activate. I upgraded everything, as the processor he wanted
required a better motherboard (the old one was second hand - I bought it at
a computer fair and the BIOS couldn't be flashed any futher). I changed the
lot, and called to activate - it worked.

So, I can tell you that, in the case of a generic OEM at least, that you can
change just about everything and the licence still holds good. I could have
been mean and charged him for a new licence - but he's family. Slightly
bonkers, but family all the same.

Cass

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Technically, the activation of a generic OEM CD will still work
even is one were to install it onto a _completely_ different PC,
assuming it's been more than 120 days since that Product Keys last
activation. Doing so, however, is a violation of the OEM EULA. The
question under discussion is, as far as the EULA pertains, when does
an incrementally upgraded PC cease to be the original PC, to which
that OEM license was permanently bound.

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


"Amethyst" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Bruce,
>
> Let me answer this - sort of. I built a system for a family member
some
> while ago running OEM Pro. Now, he's the kind of guy who will change
his car
> just because the newer model had better seat fabric! So when, six
months
> later, he asked me to upgrade his system, I wondered whether the
licence
> would still activate. I upgraded everything, as the processor he
wanted
> required a better motherboard (the old one was second hand - I
bought it at
> a computer fair and the BIOS couldn't be flashed any futher). I
changed the
> lot, and called to activate - it worked.
>
> So, I can tell you that, in the case of a generic OEM at least, that
you can
> change just about everything and the licence still holds good. I
could have
> been mean and charged him for a new licence - but he's family.
Slightly
> bonkers, but family all the same.
>
> Cass
>
>
>
>

[Siilly You]

"Bruce Chambers" > wrote in message =
...
> Greetings --
>=20
> Technically, the activation of a generic OEM CD will still work
> even is one were to install it onto a _completely_ different PC,
> assuming it's been more than 120 days since that Product Keys last
> activation. Doing so, however, is a violation of the OEM EULA. The
> question under discussion is, as far as the EULA pertains, when does
> an incrementally upgraded PC cease to be the original PC, to which
> that OEM license was permanently bound.
>=20

You ever read the **** you post? You state that (this) situation *is* a =
violation of the OEM EULA. Yet, you go on to state that it is, "question =
under discussion is, as far as the EULA pertains, when does an =
incrementally upgraded PC cease to be the original PC, to which that OEM =
license was permanently bound."

Then how in the hell is it a violation, if it is questionable? Me thinks =
you don't smell the **** that you shovel! You should, at the very least =
with this admission, change the specious wording of your own ad nauseam =
"copy-n-paste" terms, that you post regarding the MS EULA.

[Jim Macklin]

That's three times, bye bye silly
"Siilly You" <æVæ+s> wrote in message
news:c6c02bae4f9f7fc8978aaa51e3174acd@TeraNews...

"Bruce Chambers" > wrote in
message ...
> Greetings --
>
> Technically, the activation of a generic OEM CD will
still work
> even is one were to install it onto a _completely_
different PC,
> assuming it's been more than 120 days since that Product
Keys last
> activation. Doing so, however, is a violation of the OEM
EULA. The
> question under discussion is, as far as the EULA pertains,
when does
> an incrementally upgraded PC cease to be the original PC,
to which
> that OEM license was permanently bound.
>

You ever read the **** you post? You state that (this)
situation *is* a violation of the OEM EULA. Yet, you go on
to state that it is, "question under discussion is, as far
as the EULA pertains, when does an incrementally upgraded PC
cease to be the original PC, to which that OEM license was
permanently bound."

Then how in the hell is it a violation, if it is
questionable? Me thinks you don't smell the **** that you
shovel! You should, at the very least with this admission,
change the specious wording of your own ad nauseam
"copy-n-paste" terms, that you post regarding the MS EULA.

[Sillly You]

"Jim Macklin" > wrote in message =
...
> That's three times, bye bye silly

You stop by to say goodbye (again) to lil'ol me? You moron, you say to =
others to ignore me, yet you continue to killfile me while replying =
that you do so!!! You have the logic of a dysfunctional abacus! Oh, by =
the way, I'll now say hello to your next goodbye!