Differences between OEM and Retail - Page 2

eyeCpc · 12-10-2008, 06:43 PM

It's the same with anything bought OEM. If you buy a hard drive OEM all you see is the drive itself in a plastic antistatic wrap and a plain box. When buying one retail the cable and installation guide will come with it in a fancy dressed up retail box with a cardboard insert on the inside holding the drive.

artguy10 · 04-14-2009, 09:16 PM

If I'm a system builder with a Vista OEM license, how can I upgrade hardware and reactivate my license? Is there a way to DEactivate it or something? Because the full copy is way too expensive for me to use to build a computer and a one-activation limit isn't good for me because I'll probably change hardware at one point or another (video card, ram, idk).

carnageX · 04-14-2009, 09:21 PM

The only time you will have to reactivate is on a CPU or Motherboard change. GPU/RAM/etc don't matter.

Even then, you'd just have to try to reactivate over the internet. If it doesn't go through, then you'll just have to call the toll-free # the activation window gives you, and activate over the phone. Easy-peasy.

Hampton · 04-14-2009, 09:44 PM

Umm.. so MS has changed their policy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mak213

Windows XP OEM

This can be used to activate on 3 machines.

Years ago when I was on the Phone with MS trying to activate an XP Home OEM that was only on one machine prior, this is what they said.

Quote:

Microsoft
"It is OEM so you can't use it on any other machine even if the original machine is dead. so is the license."

So either they changed their policy or the above is misinformation ...

carnageX · 04-14-2009, 09:46 PM

No, its not misinformation. It's 3 activations, for 1 machine. Meaning if you have to reinstall, etc. You can activate it up to 3 times before you have to call to reactivate.

Mak213 · 04-14-2009, 10:16 PM

No it is not mis-information. Lets see a call center person from India who is just reading a transcript or someone who has been awarded by Microsoft for their knowledge of Windows for 3 years....

Tough choice on who to believe.

It is for activation of the serial on 3 different Machines. XP OEM serials would allow for this. If the serial was used more than that it would give you problems. It would also force you to call if you used a Different OEM Version than the serial was for.

Meaning if you used a Gateway OEM Disc with a Dell OEM Serial.

I know this is fact. I have proven it before by doing it myself and not reading from a transcript. I know what i am talking about and i know exactly what i typed and i know for a fact that it is true.

If you dont wish to believe me sorry. But i know that it is NOT mis-information.

Hampton · 04-14-2009, 11:24 PM

Gotcha.. I have had experience with calling support on different things and each time I would get a different answer.. so I see what you mean, the phone conversation I am referring to was about roughly 9 years ago before they outsourced to India but even in domestic situations it can be the same.

I believe you Mak, your knowledge is far greater than my own on these things.. it would be nice to see a quote from the documents to support their exact policy even if they might bend it here and there.

Where you may take this as an attack to your credentials, it is not. it is good to discuss what exact policy's are especially in such gray areas.

forrestcupp · 04-15-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hampton

Gotcha.. I have had experience with calling support on different things and each time I would get a different answer..

It's also possible to call support and have them activate your OEM Vista on a 2nd machine, if you choose your wording carefully. That doesn't mean it's right, though.

It's best to know what your rights are and be very careful with your wording when talking to these guys. They're not afraid to screw you over if you say the wrong thing.

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