Windows, Full or OEM?

[Jeremiah]

Windows, Full or OEM?

I have an old computer for home use that came from a
manufacturer and originally had Win 95. I was
considering formatting and installing WinXP. New
hardware has been added and I was wondering if I need
Windows XP full, or if OEM will work. Also, if OEM
wouldn't work, what are the requirements for using OEM
software? Thanks for your time.

Jeremiah

[Will Denny]

Hi Jeremiah

You may like to have a look at the following article to see if your PC =
can run XP:

"System Requirements for Windows XP Operating Systems"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=3Dkb;en-us;314865

There are two other links on the page that may be of help to you as =
well.

Will

"Jeremiah" > wrote in message =
...
> Windows, Full or OEM?
>=20
> I have an old computer for home use that came from a=20
> manufacturer and originally had Win 95. I was=20
> considering formatting and installing WinXP. New=20
> hardware has been added and I was wondering if I need=20
> Windows XP full, or if OEM will work. Also, if OEM=20
> wouldn't work, what are the requirements for using OEM=20
> software? Thanks for your time.
>=20
> Jeremiah
>=20


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[Joe727]

OEM is a Full install.

Joe

"Jeremiah" > wrote in message =
...
> Windows, Full or OEM?
>=20
> I have an old computer for home use that came from a=20
> manufacturer and originally had Win 95. I was=20
> considering formatting and installing WinXP. New=20
> hardware has been added and I was wondering if I need=20
> Windows XP full, or if OEM will work. Also, if OEM=20
> wouldn't work, what are the requirements for using OEM=20
> software? Thanks for your time.
>=20
> Jeremiah
>

[Ken Blake]

"Jeremiah" > wrote in message
...

> Windows, Full or OEM?
>
> I have an old computer for home use that came from a
> manufacturer and originally had Win 95. I was
> considering formatting and installing WinXP. New
> hardware has been added and I was wondering if I need
> Windows XP full, or if OEM will work. Also, if OEM
> wouldn't work, what are the requirements for using OEM
> software? Thanks for your time.


First of all, depending on what hardware changes you've made,
your old computer may or may not be able to run XP. To be sure,
go to
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp

You can buy a complete OEM version of XP that is identical to the
Full version, but it requires that you buy some hardware along
with it. If the Full CD works, the OEM one will too.

Also note that if you own a CD of a previous version of Windows,
you can buy and use an Upgrade version, which might well be best
for you. And yes, despite what many people think, you *can* use
an Upgrade CD to do a clean installation.

The actual software the three versions contain is identical. The
differences between them are as follows:

1. The Full version can be used for a clean installation or an
upgrade over the top of a previous version, without restrictions.

2. The Upgrade version can be used for a clean installation or an
upgrade over the top of a previous version, but to use it for an
upgrade, you have to insert a previous version's CD when prompted
to do so, as proof of ownership.

3. The OEM version can be used for a clean installation only.
It will not upgrade a previous operating system.

The OEM license binds it permanently to the first computer
it's installed on. You can never move it to another computer.

Microsoft doesn't support OEM versions; you have to contact
your OEM supplier for any help you may need.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

[Alex Nichol]

Jeremiah wrote:

>I have an old computer for home use that came from a=20
>manufacturer and originally had Win 95. I was=20
>considering formatting and installing WinXP. New=20
>hardware has been added and I was wondering if I need=20
>Windows XP full, or if OEM will work. Also, if OEM=20
>wouldn't work, what are the requirements for using OEM=20
>software?

An OEM disk, sold with hardware, has restrictions:
It will not do an upgrade - only a 'clean' install (A Full or Upgrade
disk will do either; an Upgrade one will need evidence of entitlement to
Upgrade)

It carries no right to support from Microsoft - that is the
responsibility of the OEM supplier

It carries no rights to transfer it to any other machine after initial
installation.

It may miss out some extra items

But most important - a machine that has been running Win95 is probably
quite drastically inadequate for XP - a practical minimum for that would
be about a 350 MHz CPU; 192 MB RAM and 5 GB free on the hard disk.


--=20
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K.

[Donald Link]

That practical is just nearly unworkable, especially the cpu. Might be okay
if simple applications are installed.



"Alex Nichol" > wrote in message
...
Jeremiah wrote:

>I have an old computer for home use that came from a
>manufacturer and originally had Win 95. I was
>considering formatting and installing WinXP. New
>hardware has been added and I was wondering if I need
>Windows XP full, or if OEM will work. Also, if OEM
>wouldn't work, what are the requirements for using OEM
>software?

An OEM disk, sold with hardware, has restrictions:
It will not do an upgrade - only a 'clean' install (A Full or Upgrade
disk will do either; an Upgrade one will need evidence of entitlement to
Upgrade)

It carries no right to support from Microsoft - that is the
responsibility of the OEM supplier

It carries no rights to transfer it to any other machine after initial
installation.

It may miss out some extra items

But most important - a machine that has been running Win95 is probably
quite drastically inadequate for XP - a practical minimum for that would
be about a 350 MHz CPU; 192 MB RAM and 5 GB free on the hard disk.


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K.

[Michael Stevens]

Jeremiah wrote:
> Windows, Full or OEM?
>
> I have an old computer for home use that came from a
> manufacturer and originally had Win 95. I was
> considering formatting and installing WinXP. New
> hardware has been added and I was wondering if I need
> Windows XP full, or if OEM will work. Also, if OEM
> wouldn't work, what are the requirements for using OEM
> software? Thanks for your time.
>
> Jeremiah

The upgrade is the best choice, as 95 qualifies for clean installing XP and
is your only option anyway as you cannot upgrade from 95, only clean
install.
The OEM version would be the last choice for use on older hardware. One the
OEM version is installed, it can't be moved to another computer, and
upgrading the motherboard will usually get denied from the phone call
activation.
The correct choice is don't upgrade a system that originally shipped with
95, you will spend as much upgrading your software and hardware as it would
cost to purchase a much better system with XP pre-installed.
Click on or copy and paste the link below into your web browser address box.
OEM clarification.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/oemeula.htm
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP

http://michaelstevenstech.com
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