Re: OEM system builder license
- From: "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:58:34 -0700
On Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:42:02 -0800, BMC858
<BMC858@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello,
I don't mean to ask a stupid question. I just want to do the right thing.
I built my home system a few years back. I bought Windows XP Pro (OEM system
builders) and installed it.
The MB just is dead.
I was given a Dell laptop with an OEM license of W2K Pro. The HD had been
wiped.
Can I install my WinXP on this laptop?
No. The biggest disadvantage of an OEM copy of Windows is that the
license ties it permanently to the first computer it's installed on,
and it may never be moved to another. It's the reason I almost always
recommend against buying OEM copies.
If not, am I eligible to buy for Windows XP Pro (OEM system builders)
version for it.
Yes, but I recommend against it, for the above reason. Here's my
standard message on this subject:
I strongly recommend the Retail Upgrade, not the Retail Full, and not
the OEM version. Although if you get a complete generic OEM version,
it contains the same software, its license ties it permanently to the
first computer it's installed on. It can never legally be moved to
another computer, sold, or given away (except with the original
computer). That means that if the computer dies, your Windows license
dies too.
The reason I recommend the Retail Upgrade over the Full is that it's
much cheaper and the requirement to use an upgrade version is to *own*
a previous qualifying version's installation CD, not to have it
installed. When setup doesn't find a previous qualifying version
installed, it will prompt you to insert its CD as proof of ownership.
Just insert the previous version's CD, and follow the prompts.
Everything proceeds quite normally and quite legitimately.
Most people already own a previous qualifying version, but worst case
if you don't, you can inexpensively buy a copy of Windows 98 someplace
like eBay.
I will need to also replace the HD, RAM on it.
Please don't tell me I have to buy a $299.00 retail version.
Btw, I have called Dell, asking for the original OEM disk and
That's for a Full copy. See the above, where I recommend the retail
Upgrade, not the Full copy.
And by the way, why do you want XP Professional rather than XP Home,
which is cheaper? 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. In general, unless you need to join a
domain, you probably don't need Professional.
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 Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
.
- References:
- OEM system builder license
- From: BMC858
- OEM system builder license
- Prev by Date: Re: file association failure - at wits end
- Next by Date: Refreshing folder automatically
- Previous by thread: Re: OEM system builder license
- Next by thread: RE: OEM system builder license
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
Loading
