Re: XP Pro CD - Retail or OEM?

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From: Al Stu (NOYB_at_NOYB.net)
Date: 09/04/04 

Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 13:23:15 -0700

Mike (and others),

What is the differences between the types being referred to as "Full
Version", "Retail", "OEM", "Update", etc.?

I have the following, "Operating System Reinstallation CD, Microsoft®
Windows® XP Home Edition, Including Service Pack 1, DELL P/N 5W623". This
CD came with DELL Inspiron 8600, September 2003.

Which type would this be considered to be?

Thanks,

"Mike Brannigan [MSFT]" <mikebran@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:uQX2NWmkEHA.1356@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

> "Jane Crystal" <utopianseamaid@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:ur%23GypjkEHA.3552@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>>A friend lent me a copy of an XP Pro CD so I could look at some of the
>> files and run the Upgrade Advisor to determine hardware and software
>> compatibility and readiness.
>>
>> He does not know whether it is a retail or OEM CD or whether it is the
>> full
>> version or an upgrade. Is there any way to tell by looking at certain
>> files?
>> This is a CD-R, not an original Microsoft CD.
>>
>> I'm assuming it is the full version. I pretended to install it to see if
>> it
>> gave me a choice. It asked me whether I wanted to do an upgrade (from
>> Windows Me) or a clean install. The upgrade version wouldn't give me that
>> choice, would it? That's why I think it's the full version. But I still
>> can't determine if it's retail or OEM. After that I exited the
>> installation
>> and rebooted.
>>
>> If this indeed is a retail CD, then it might be a good idea for me to
>> retain
>> a copy of it for future repair purposes. I do not intend to install this
>> CD.
>> It belongs to someone else. I will be getting an OEM CD when I upgrade my
>> computer.
>
> You can tell what it is by looking at the disk - if it is an original CD,
> if your friend does not have the original CD, why not ? are they using
> pirated software ?
> .
> They are all clearly marked as Windows XP - if OEM then it states so on
> the disks.
> If it is an upgrade that to is on the disk surface.
>
> Both full and upgrade can be used to do an upgrade.
>
> You should not make a copy of the Retail CD if you are intending to
> purchase an OEM one, since you cannot do a repair install with a retail
> CD to an OEM install and besides you also mention are about to get an OEM
> CD so why do you need someone else's CD ?
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike
> --
> Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights
>
> Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
> newsgroups
>
> "Jane Crystal" <utopianseamaid@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:ur%23GypjkEHA.3552@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>>A friend lent me a copy of an XP Pro CD so I could look at some of the
>> files and run the Upgrade Advisor to determine hardware and software
>> compatibility and readiness.
>>
>> He does not know whether it is a retail or OEM CD or whether it is the
>> full
>> version or an upgrade. Is there any way to tell by looking at certain
>> files?
>> This is a CD-R, not an original Microsoft CD.
>>
>> I'm assuming it is the full version. I pretended to install it to see if
>> it
>> gave me a choice. It asked me whether I wanted to do an upgrade (from
>> Windows Me) or a clean install. The upgrade version wouldn't give me that
>> choice, would it? That's why I think it's the full version. But I still
>> can't determine if it's retail or OEM. After that I exited the
>> installation
>> and rebooted.
>>
>> If this indeed is a retail CD, then it might be a good idea for me to
>> retain
>> a copy of it for future repair purposes. I do not intend to install this
>> CD.
>> It belongs to someone else. I will be getting an OEM CD when I upgrade my
>> computer.
>>
>>
>
>

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