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Author Topic: Vista OEM or Retail?  (Read 1444 times)

  • Offline ERU

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Vista OEM or Retail?
on: March 29, 2008, 11:09:04 AM
Ive been looking at buying Windows Vista on eBay (cheapest place I can see) and see a lot of OEM versions sell for cheaper. Im aware that OEM is only for system builders and effectively means you build the machine, activate and cant change components. How true is this?

Can I buy/use a Vista OEM install and still change parts of my computer about? will I be able to use it on a new/different machine if I sell this one?
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  • Offline neXus

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Re:Vista OEM or Retial?
Reply #1 on: March 29, 2008, 11:10:35 AM
Not sure about vista but xp had similar in regard to limit in changing components and tbh I have changed loads, if it needs ringing up you just ring up say your mobo died you replaced it and they give you a new code and it resets your counter as well ^^
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  • Offline zpyder

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Re:Vista OEM or Retail?
Reply #2 on: March 29, 2008, 11:41:23 AM
Im probably totally wrong but I think OEM is tied to one mobo, whilst normal can have up to 3 or something? But as neXus said, you could just call them up and say things died/were upgraded?

One thing to note though is if you get the Home Premium OEM, and later want to upgrade to Ultimate, it costs MORE to upgrade via the windows anytime upgrade than it does to just go out and Buy the OEM Ultimate DVD!
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Re:Vista OEM or Retail?
Reply #3 on: March 29, 2008, 11:49:13 AM
the big difference between oem & retail is the system builder supports the os in oem & MS in retail
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  • Offline ERU

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Vista OEM or Retail?
Reply #4 on: March 29, 2008, 12:35:15 PM
Well I got an old NF4 mobo (+Opty 146) and was thinking of going for something with DDR2 sometime over the summer. This will probably mean a complete upgrade of most of my components but if anyone can confirm I can telephone for a new key, I might go for it. The only other option would be a downloaded backup copy but I suspect there would quickly be issues future updates.
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Vista OEM or Retail?
Reply #5 on: March 29, 2008, 12:54:26 PM
Quote from: ERU
Well I got an old NF4 mobo (+Opty 146) and was thinking of going for something with DDR2 sometime over the summer. This will probably mean a complete upgrade of most of my components but if anyone can confirm I can telephone for a new key, I might go for it. The only other option would be a downloaded backup copy but I suspect there would quickly be issues future updates.


And there are ways to fix said issues.   -)
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  • Offline ERU

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Vista OEM or Retail?
Reply #6 on: March 29, 2008, 13:47:56 PM
and my uni have blocked P2P stuff, so I guess I dont have that option :)
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  • Offline Beaker

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Re:Vista OEM or Retail?
Reply #7 on: March 29, 2008, 14:08:04 PM
According to MS the licence is tied to the motherboard.  Therefore as long as its only running on one machine you should be fine.  Just ring them and say you have done a major upgrade of the RAM, CPU and Hard disks.  Say the motherboard is the original one, and they will just give you an activation code.  Also if you have more than 12 months between activations it lets you do it without ringing up.
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  • Offline ERU

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Vista OEM or Retail?
Reply #8 on: March 29, 2008, 14:29:48 PM
Are these phones calls expensive?
 
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Re:Vista OEM or Retail?
Reply #9 on: March 29, 2008, 14:34:51 PM
ive rang ms to activate xp in the past, was free iirc. very good system imo.
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