xp home retail or oem ???
- Thread starter nosher
- Start date
roadrulz1964
New member
Windows XP home OEM Professional
In my personal opinion purchase Win XP Professional. I have XP Home, but wish I had purchased PRO. If you have a bad trouble in your computer(which I did), and it has OEM Home version activation code you will end up calling Microsoft after around 8 loads. I was shocked to findout after typing in the key code several times, as I was struggling to fix the sick computer, it did not work. You will be directed to call a phone number at Microsoft, and you will end up trying to convince a person you need an activation number. You (might) be issued a one time only LONG activation number, if you are successful in convincing the MS person you really need it. MS says this practice is necessary to prevent piracy. If you purchase the correct version of XP PRO you will have a multi user license, which means you can load the software as many times as you want.
In my personal opinion purchase Win XP Professional. I have XP Home, but wish I had purchased PRO. If you have a bad trouble in your computer(which I did), and it has OEM Home version activation code you will end up calling Microsoft after around 8 loads. I was shocked to findout after typing in the key code several times, as I was struggling to fix the sick computer, it did not work. You will be directed to call a phone number at Microsoft, and you will end up trying to convince a person you need an activation number. You (might) be issued a one time only LONG activation number, if you are successful in convincing the MS person you really need it. MS says this practice is necessary to prevent piracy. If you purchase the correct version of XP PRO you will have a multi user license, which means you can load the software as many times as you want.
Lister
1
your xp pro must be knocked off since the copy i have still has to get an activation key
if you get multi user version that would be corp version which is for big companys with mass install of systems also the price would be huge
not very good for some one with just one or two pc
also from what ive heard there is not alot of differance between pro and home
if you get multi user version that would be corp version which is for big companys with mass install of systems also the price would be huge
not very good for some one with just one or two pc
also from what ive heard there is not alot of differance between pro and home
Last edited:
Johnny™
1
some interesting points about OEM software, notice OEM discs are only supposed to be sold with hardware, not alone OEM vs RETAIL
From experience and wealth of knowledge i will add that lister pointed out that it should only really be bundled with hardware usually complete shop shelf pre built systems or other similar systems.
Usually specific tailored to that machine as used by many well known pc distribution companys such as DELL ,HP and companys such as TINY and PC WORLD who build systems with pre loaded O.S. and software all contain O.E.M or Original Equipment Manufacturer almost always boxless and sometimes less manuals or proper instructions as they are bought to save money or as part of bundle promotion pc complete sets (pc , printer ,scanner ,digi cam etc) so books/boxes etc are excluded to keep the price down!
Hence more often than not you will get headaches trying to install an O.E.M VERSION on any other machine but the one it came with.
Usually specific tailored to that machine as used by many well known pc distribution companys such as DELL ,HP and companys such as TINY and PC WORLD who build systems with pre loaded O.S. and software all contain O.E.M or Original Equipment Manufacturer almost always boxless and sometimes less manuals or proper instructions as they are bought to save money or as part of bundle promotion pc complete sets (pc , printer ,scanner ,digi cam etc) so books/boxes etc are excluded to keep the price down!
Hence more often than not you will get headaches trying to install an O.E.M VERSION on any other machine but the one it came with.
U got that right bud let the so called Xpert do it
I've seen some enterprising workarounds to the "with hardware" issue, as it apparently doesn't specify that the hardware MUST be a PC - so some that bother complying with the perceived LETTER of OEM rules (if not the spirit of them) will insist that you have at least one item in your order that is not software).
Some require you to state that you are a system builder (YES, I built mine!).
You do have less support, if you take the OEM route.
If you buy a "bundle" version of XP, ensure that you are buying it WITH a valid key - on the auction sites, you see a lot of branded XP versions that are ONLY backups (but full install, not "restore") that do NOT include a key.
NB. Some corrrect OEM/Bundle versions are BIOS locked to their system - they DO require a key, but so long as they are used with their matched system, they do NOT require activation - read it, but not sure if I've ever seen one like that.
The other "cheap" XP is the Retail Upgrade version - you can install clean if you present your upgrade evidence when required (98/98SE/ME).
Some require you to state that you are a system builder (YES, I built mine!).
You do have less support, if you take the OEM route.
If you buy a "bundle" version of XP, ensure that you are buying it WITH a valid key - on the auction sites, you see a lot of branded XP versions that are ONLY backups (but full install, not "restore") that do NOT include a key.
NB. Some corrrect OEM/Bundle versions are BIOS locked to their system - they DO require a key, but so long as they are used with their matched system, they do NOT require activation - read it, but not sure if I've ever seen one like that.
The other "cheap" XP is the Retail Upgrade version - you can install clean if you present your upgrade evidence when required (98/98SE/ME).
nightheart
New member
You guys a little off, well some of you. There is NO difference between an OEM disc and a retail disc, except for the packaging and you get 3 months free tech support from M$ with a retail copy. All LEGAL copies still require the activation key, and can only be installed on one PC. The discs you get from dell/gateway, etc. are OEM system restore discs, and they cannot be used on other PC's, as the software checks to make sure it is actually a dell/gateway PC. An OEM disc bought (and an IDE cable counts as hardware) from like newegg (US) works fine on ANY PC. OEM copies are half the price of retail, and I've used several XP home/pro and 2000 oem discs on PC's I build for people. An OEM disc works fine, same goes with Norton's, nero's, and many other OEM discs.