Re: Building computer - XP OEM vs. Retail questons, and vista upgr


awns729 @ aol. com wrote:
I don't have any previous versions of windows, though, that I can upgrade
from, so I have to do a clean install.. I have one 98 CD, but that (I think)
is installed on another computer.

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

awns729@xxxxxxx wrote:

Okay, so I have all the parts for my new computer picked out on
newegg, and I'm ready to but them. I realized my Dell OEM version of
Windows XP will not work. So I'm not sure whether to buy XP Home/Pro
and Retail/OEM because I might want to upgrade the mobo in the
future, and also upgrade to vista in the future.

With OEM, since I built the computer myself, can I upgrade the mobo
or not?


This question always draws strong opinions on both sides. Rather than answer
it, let me simply suggest that you buy a retail Upgrade CD instead. It costs
hardly any more than an OEM version, doesn't come with the OEM version
restrictions, and, despite what many people think, *can* be used to do a
clean installation by inserting the CD of a previous qualifying version
when prompted to do so.


Say I stick w/ OEM XP for now, then later can I upgrade OEM XP to
Retail Vista? Once I do that, thennn I can upgrade the mobo right?

Also, Pro vs. Home edition of windows? What's the difference?


For almost everyone who has to ask, the rioght answer is "get XP Home." XP
Professional and XP Home are exactly the same in all respects, except that
Professional has a few features (mostly related to networking and security)
missing from Home. For most (but not all) home users, even those with a home
network, these features aren't needed, would never be used, and buying
Professional instead of Home is a waste of money.

For details go to
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Also note one other point not mentioned on any of those sites: Professional
allows ten concurrent network connections, and Home only five.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup




Then you are stuck with either OEM or retail. As others have said with
the retail version you can swap the licence to another machine with the
OEM it is tied to some unspecified and probably unspecifiable
component/s of the machine you build (according to the current EULA).
The question of what componets you can upgrade and weather the EULA
flows over to those components no one seems to be able to get a
definitive answer to, I guess it's a bit like my grandfathers axe, its
had four heads and 12 new handles but it's still the best axe they ever
made.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: XP Pro CD - Retail or OEM?
    ... > me that a retail CD will not work to repair an OEM installation. ... Both OEM and Retail CDs can do a repair but you cannot do one with the other ... (you must use the same sort as you used to install). ... > Is there no way to tell from the copy whether it is retail, oem, upgrade, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)
  • Re: XP Pro CD - Retail or OEM?
    ... the retail CD was better to have for certain repairs and things that the OEM ... At least I was able to use my friend's CD to run the Windows XP Upgrade ... >> Windows Me) or a clean install. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)
  • Re: failed windows validation but office validation okay - what no
    ... The retail package comes in a blue box with a folder inside, OEM is just a piece of cardboard with a pamphlet in shrink wrap. ... If the hard drive isn't showing up, you need to use the F6 option and provide them, but you need a floppy to provide them or create a custom install CD. ... meant once installed I wouldn't be able to upgrade further. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Upgrade or OEM
    ... The retail version is much preferable to the OEM version, ... etc.) from the other computer so you can call it an upgrade ... version can do a clean installation. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Which Version?
    ... > hard drive with no operating system. ... the OEM version makes sense if you are not likely going ... to retire the system or upgrade the MB for a couple years. ... You boot from the CD and do a clean install. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)