windows xp versions

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talldude123

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i have a windows xp multi-dvd and it has:

Windows XP Home Retail, OEM, Upgrade

Windows XP Pro Retail, OEM, Upgrade, Corporate

Windows Media Center



What are the differences between Retail, OEM, and Upgrade?
 
Simplest terms:

OEM cannot be transferred (according to the agreement) to another PC once installed on one. Even if that machine dies and you buy a new Dell or soemthing.. You have to purchase a new copy of the OS.

OEM can only be used for CLEAN installs, not upgrades.

OEM copies are not supported directly by Microsoft - only the people you purchased from.

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 must be sold with a piece of hardware (normally
a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC, although Microsoft has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP) 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 ransfer 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 WinXP 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 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.
 
well this was downloaded from torrent, so everything works. Im just wondering which version of windows xp on the dvd would work best?
 
DLaird said:


1) OEM versions must be sold with a piece of hardware (normally
a motherboard or hard drive, if not an entire PC, although Microsoft has greatly relaxed the hardware criteria for WinXP) 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 ransfer 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 WinXP 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 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.

you are right about a lot of things. however

1.my store bought oem xp cd is on it's 4th machine. you can tranfer it. you just have to tell the right lie.
2.you can upgrade it an os with it too.
3. some oem disk are made to put on any computer

retail xp just give you a nice paper sleeve and support. you don't need support. you got us
 
You very correct, however, I only stated the legal side of the queston. Didnt want Microsoft sending me hate mail!
As long as you have the CD and the correct serial, you can dp what you want to do! Dont go to MS site and expect any help!
Like you stated, thats what this forum is for!;)
 
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