Retail and OEM Operating Systems???

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mgcook

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What's the difference? besides the price obviously


I'm wanting to switch to Vista Home Premium (since my girlfriends gonna buy it for me)


I keep seeing the OEM versions on newegg...wtf is the difference?
 
Retail has the box and papers. It allows for more activations, before you call. OEM is just th disc and license, no package so it's cheaper.
 
OEM Products
CNET Shopper - OEM vs Retail Box
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/234554-44-retail-vista

When it comes ti Vista know this. If you plan on buying a new PC anytime soon or getting a new mother board for your PC you will want the retail version.

OEM Vista only allows for 1 Activation.
Retail Vista allows for 3 Activations.

This means a OEM copy can only be installed on 1 machine. while Retail you can upgrade your machine twice before your serial will expire.

I'm sure you call Microsoft for more than one activation.
 
ahh i see..i dont plan on getting a new board anytime soon...looks like i'll just grab an OEM version...no need in wasting the extra money.
 
Just buy OEM. Supposedly you can only use an OEM version once. But its not that hard to get an activation key again.
 
My OEM copy of mediacenter is on it's 3rd PC and I haven't had to call M$ once.
 
That is because XP OEM Licensing is Different than Vista OEM Licensing.

XP OEM had 3 Activations compared to Vista OEM's 1 Activation.
 
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