OEM vs. Retail? Help!

[altec_tech]

I really don't want to pay $200 for Windows XP, but I want Windows XP! So I found the OEM XP for $100 less. BUT, I heard that with OEM XP, that you can't do windows update and download / install new updates that retail people get. I also heard it doesn't have a warranty or something.

Is this true? What is the disadvantage of having OEM instead of retail?! Thanks for your help!

[lomn75]

OEM:
Is locked to the mobo it first installs to
Has a shorter phone support cycle
Is identical to retail in every other regard

[altec_tech]

So what does that mean? Locked to the motherboard it installs to?

Shorter phone support cycle? Does that mean you get less phone support or just not as wide-ranged in the day... i.e. 24/7 support supposed to 12/5 support?

So I should just go with the OEM. I plan on OC'ing. Does that matter?

[lomn75]

You can search for the recent thread detailing the exact EULA differences in OEM and Retail (I think SJConsultant posted it), but in a nutshell:

You install Windows (any flavor) OEM. That software can never legally run on any other motherboard except a replacement motherboard of the same exact model.

Phone support: you get 30 days instead of 1 year or something. Never used it, don't know details.

I expect all of this is documented at MS's XP site as well.

[Phoenix86]

So what does that mean? Locked to the motherboard it installs to?

Shorter phone support cycle? Does that mean you get less phone support or just not as wide-ranged in the day... i.e. 24/7 support supposed to 12/5 support?

So I should just go with the OEM. I plan on OC'ing. Does that matter?
Locked to the mobo = The license is legally tied to the mobo, you cannot move the install to a new PC.

Shorter support=less days to call MS, not sure the exact days, but I have never called MS on a "standard" issue. I always used technet.

OS version does not affect OCing.

http://www.mentallyretired.com/h3/index.cfm/u_45754 (http://www.mentallyretired.com/h3/index.cfm?a=doMyStats&u_id=45754)

[SJConsultant]

You can search for the recent thread detailing the exact EULA differences in OEM and Retail (I think SJConsultant posted it)..

Here ya go. (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=885079)

[altec_tech]

Okay, thanks!

I don't understand though that non-peripheral essential piece of hardware thing. Why does the OEM OS have to be bundled with an essential piece of hardware?

[jbog91]

So it can be legal. I bought a oem copy of outlook 2003 for $30. It came with a cheapo power cable. That was just so it would be legal.

[lomn75]

I don't understand though that non-peripheral essential piece of hardware thing. Why does the OEM OS have to be bundled with an essential piece of hardware?
Because it's sold to system builders. All this is the tradeoff for getting it cheaper than Retail.

Also, the power cable is probably not an "essential piece of hardware." I know the Y-splitter Newegg packages certainly isn't.

[GoodOmens]

Because it's sold to system builders. All this is the tradeoff for getting it cheaper than Retail.

Also, the power cable is probably not an "essential piece of hardware." I know the Y-splitter Newegg packages certainly isn't.


Last time I checked you can't run a computer without a power cable :D

Sounds esential to me lol.

[lomn75]

Last time I checked you can't run a computer without a power cable
While we could argue semantics all day, here's MS's view:
A non-peripheral hardware component is a hardware component that is considered to be essential to running a computer system, and includes components such as memory, internal devices and drives, mice, keyboards, and power supplies. Examples of components that are not considered essential are external modems, networking devices, cameras, printers, and scanners.Based on the examples, a power cable isn't in the same class as actual hardware.

All that said -- it's doubtful anybody would care that you bought XP with a power cable. It's loosely possible they'd care that the merchant was selling XP that way.

[ameoba]

If anyone really cared, they'd probably just switch over to sub-$1 mice or something.