I went to the store to buy a copy of Vista Ultimate for a new computer for
our company. They offered the regular Retail version or the OEM version for
much less money. I bought the OEM version.
Besides the packaging and the Product Key sticker for the computer, what's
the differences between the Retail & OEM versions?
OscarVogel wrote:
> I went to the store to buy a copy of Vista Ultimate for a new computer
> for our company. They offered the regular Retail version or the OEM
> version for much less money. I bought the OEM version.
>
> Besides the packaging and the Product Key sticker for the computer,
> what's the differences between the Retail & OEM versions?
>
> Thanks.
>
OEM is only for one computer and may not be transferred to another and
can't do an upgrade.
And no support from Microsoft. You will have to provide your own support.
"Alias" <alias@maskedandanonymous.info> wrote in message news:evoemf$mof$1@aioe.org...
> OscarVogel wrote:
>> I went to the store to buy a copy of Vista Ultimate for a new computer
>> for our company. They offered the regular Retail version or the OEM
>> version for much less money. I bought the OEM version.
>>
>> Besides the packaging and the Product Key sticker for the computer,
>> what's the differences between the Retail & OEM versions?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>
> OEM is only for one computer and may not be transferred to another and
> can't do an upgrade.
>
> Alias
One obvious one is no Microsoft support! OEM copies are usually installed on
new computers by the computer manufacturer, therefore, if you need support
for your OEM copy of Windows Vista you contact the manufacturers' technical
support team.
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User
The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
"OscarVogel" <RTK@divecochran.com> wrote in message
news:e$frlDffHHA.3928@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I went to the store to buy a copy of Vista Ultimate for a new computer for
>our company. They offered the regular Retail version or the OEM version
>for much less money. I bought the OEM version.
>
> Besides the packaging and the Product Key sticker for the computer, what's
> the differences between the Retail & OEM versions?
>
> Thanks.
>
OscarVogel wrote:
> I went to the store to buy a copy of Vista Ultimate for a new
> computer for our company. They offered the regular Retail version
> or the OEM version for much less money. I bought the OEM version.
>
> Besides the packaging and the Product Key sticker for the computer,
> what's the differences between the Retail & OEM versions?
The licensing...
In installing/using the OEM - you have (in your agreement with the EULA by
your use) 'locked' that copy of Windows Vista to whatever machine it was
first installed upon. If that machine is stolen, is destroyed, etc - even
if the DVD and License Key are safely tucked away - in strict accordance
with the agreement you have been agreeing to with your use/installation -
the DVD/license is dead/worthless... You will have to buy a new one. Even
if nothing happens to the machine you first installed it upon and you just
buy a new machine and want Vista on it instead... In accordance with the
EULA - you cannot transfer that OEM license to any other machine under any
circumstances.
The installation options...
With a Retail copy/license - you can perform a clean install or upgrade with
the full version (not an 'upgrade' version - although there are
work-arounds) of the DVD. With the OEM version - clean install only - no
upgrade option.
I always found the non-transferrable thing to be the big one...
The annoyance of 'clean install only' not a deal-breaker.
"OscarVogel" <RTK@divecochran.com> wrote in message
news:e$frlDffHHA.3928@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I went to the store to buy a copy of Vista Ultimate for a new computer for
>our company. They offered the regular Retail version or the OEM version
>for much less money. I bought the OEM version.
>
> Besides the packaging and the Product Key sticker for the computer, what's
> the differences between the Retail & OEM versions?
>
> Thanks.
>
There are some very important reasons that an OEM license costs so much
less than a retail license. OEM licenses are very limited:
1) OEM versions are supposed to be sold with a piece of non-peripheral
hardware (normally a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC,
although Microsoft has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP and
Vista) and are _permanently_ bound to the first PC on which they are
installed. An OEM license, once installed, is not legally transferable to
another computer under any circumstances. This is the main reason some
people avoid OEM versions; if the PC dies or is otherwise disposed of (even
stolen), you cannot re-use your OEM license on a new PC. The only
legitimate way to transfer the ownership of an OEM license is to transfer
ownership of the entire PC.
2) Microsoft provides no free support for OEM versions. If you have
any problems that require outside assistance, your only recourse is to
contact the manufacturer/builder of the PC or the vendor of the OEM license.
This would include such issues as lost a Product Key or replacing damaged
installation media. (Microsoft does make allowances for those instances when
you can prove that the OEM has gone out of business.) This doesn't mean
that you can't download patches and service packs from Microsoft -- just no
free telephone or email support for problems with the OS.
3) An OEM CD cannot be used to perform an upgrade of an earlier OS, as
it was designed to be installed _only_ upon an empty hard drive. It can
still be used to perform a repair installation (a.k.a. an in-place upgrade)
of an existing Windows (same version/edition) installation.
4) If the OEM CD was designed by a specific manufacturer, such as
eMachines, Sony, Dell, Gateway, etc., it will most likely only install on
the same brand of PC, as an additional anti-piracy feature. Further, such
CDs are severely customized to contain only the minimum of device drivers,
and a lot of extra nonsense, that the manufacturer feels necessary for the
specific model of PC for which the CD was designed. To be honest, such CDs
should _not_ be available on the open market; but, if you're shopping
someplace on-line like eBay, swap meets, or computer fairs, there's often no
telling what you're buying until it's too late. The "generic" OEM CDs, such
as are manufactured by Microsoft and sold to small systems builders, don't
have this particular problem, though, and are pretty much the same as their
retail counterparts, apart from the licensing, support, and upgrading
restrictions.
Licensing terms differ, between the different versions, as others have
noted.
Licensing terms are tied to the installation key. I believe the physical
DVD is identical across (32-bit) versions. "Ultimate" retail packaging, I'm
told, includes both a 32-bit and 64-bit DVD; Microsoft will provide the
64-bit media for the other versions, if you ask for it.
Did you get both 32-bit and 64-bit media?
"OscarVogel" <RTK@divecochran.com> wrote in message
news:e$frlDffHHA.3928@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I went to the store to buy a copy of Vista Ultimate for a new computer for
>our company. They offered the regular Retail version or the OEM version
>for much less money. I bought the OEM version.
>
> Besides the packaging and the Product Key sticker for the computer, what's
> the differences between the Retail & OEM versions?
>
> Thanks.
>
"Brian Wilder" <BrianWild7@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message
news:7D639700-1DD7-4478-BDCC-A1229077B321@microsoft.com...
> Licensing terms differ, between the different versions, as others have
> noted.
>
> Licensing terms are tied to the installation key. I believe the physical
> DVD is identical across (32-bit) versions. "Ultimate" retail packaging,
> I'm told, includes both a 32-bit and 64-bit DVD; Microsoft will provide
> the 64-bit media for the other versions, if you ask for it.
>
> Did you get both 32-bit and 64-bit media?
>
> "OscarVogel" <RTK@divecochran.com> wrote in message
> news:e$frlDffHHA.3928@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>I went to the store to buy a copy of Vista Ultimate for a new computer for
>>our company. They offered the regular Retail version or the OEM version
>>for much less money. I bought the OEM version.
>>
>> Besides the packaging and the Product Key sticker for the computer,
>> what's the differences between the Retail & OEM versions?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>
Only one (32-bit) DVD was included in the packaging.
I purchased a motherboard, hard drive, & other components at the same time
that I purchased Vista.
Thanks for the clarifications. I didn't know that there was such big
differences between Retail & OEM.
"Brian Wilder" <BrianWild7@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message
news:7D639700-1DD7-4478-BDCC-A1229077B321@microsoft.com...
> Licensing terms differ, between the different versions, as others have
> noted.
>
> Licensing terms are tied to the installation key. I believe the physical
> DVD is identical across (32-bit) versions. "Ultimate" retail packaging,
> I'm told, includes both a 32-bit and 64-bit DVD; Microsoft will provide
> the 64-bit media for the other versions, if you ask for it.
>
> Did you get both 32-bit and 64-bit media?
>
> "OscarVogel" <RTK@divecochran.com> wrote in message
> news:e$frlDffHHA.3928@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>I went to the store to buy a copy of Vista Ultimate for a new computer for
>>our company. They offered the regular Retail version or the OEM version
>>for much less money. I bought the OEM version.
>>
>> Besides the packaging and the Product Key sticker for the computer,
>> what's the differences between the Retail & OEM versions?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>
Actually you can transfer OEM copies to another PC if you bought them
through a retail outlet.
Check the facts on licensing
"Alias" <alias@maskedandanonymous.info> wrote in message
news:evoemf$mof$1@aioe.org...
> OscarVogel wrote:
>> I went to the store to buy a copy of Vista Ultimate for a new computer
>> for our company. They offered the regular Retail version or the OEM
>> version for much less money. I bought the OEM version.
>>
>> Besides the packaging and the Product Key sticker for the computer,
>> what's the differences between the Retail & OEM versions?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>
> OEM is only for one computer and may not be transferred to another and
> can't do an upgrade.
>
> Alias
Retail vs OEM version 
Linear Mode
