OEM Question?

[itzhobbes]

Okay, so OEM versions you can only install on 1 computer, I get that. Does that mean once you install the OEM OS on a computer you can't install it on another one or does it just mean your not "suppose" too install it?

 

[El Spic]

if you speak of vista. you can't install on any other computer

 

[itzhobbes]

Ahhh ok. I've run across some OEM CD's that were XP and you were able too. Then again some just wouldn't either. I've always been curious as to how the disc/software knows that its been installed on another machine and then refuses to install itself again. Always boggled my mind.

 

[Demon10000]

It's the activation that won't work for you. You should be able to install a vista oem copy on any number of computers. The problem will show up when you try to activate. It's the product key, not the CD.

 

[Mithent]

Some OEM discs can be tied to a certain BIOS, I believe. However, this isn't the issue we're dealing with here - as Demon10000 says, you have to activate Windows, and if any key has been activated on one machine, it'll fail activation if you use it again on another. You're allowed to move a retail key from one machine to another, and if you have a good reason to move your OEM key (like broken hardware) then Microsoft might let you, but I doubt anyone's going to get away with using any key on multiple machines simultaneously due to activation (it's why it's there).

 

[DeaconFrost]

activation (it's why it's there).

Exactly, which is why this shouldn't have been that mind boggling. The activation measures were put in the handle this. If it was the disc, how would it have been possible to install XP on a computer that either didn't have a network connection, or didn't have drivers for the NIC built in to XP? It would have had no way to phone home and verify if the installation could continue.