Advise on which edition of Windows Vista to use

Nickg said:
im tempted to buy win xp home for as cheap as chips. then buy the upgrade version of vista - it works out cheaper than buying retail vista:)

But wouldn't you then have to buy a retail copy of XP home edition for you to be able to keep on using the Vista upgrade on different builds? As far as I can see XP home retail is about £80 in itself.

As far as I'm aware if you buy the OEM copy of XP home then you are still limited to using it once even if you have a retail copy of the upgrade aren't you?

If you then add the two together it then works out more expensive than buying a proper retail copy of Vista in the first place.
 
What you get from ultimate anyway to justify the extra money? anti theft protection? Why care for the disk if anyone stealing from you will take the whole PC. As for media center, we are talking PCs not TV boxes.
 
Nickg said:
i dont know. i am not sure how vista could possible determine whether xp home is oem or retail before you install it and after that it wouldnt matter right?
It isn't the key which determines OEM or retail (though it confirms it) - it's the content of the CD.
 
If I get a retail version of Vista, will I be able to install it on both my computers? It's a lot of money to buy 2 copies!
 
jim5000 said:
If I get a retail version of Vista, will I be able to install it on both my computers? It's a lot of money to buy 2 copies!

Nope - you might be better off getting two OEM disks instead :)
 
jim5000 said:
If I get a retail version of Vista, will I be able to install it on both my computers? It's a lot of money to buy 2 copies!

Every single version of Vista that OCUK sells entitles you to install on one computer alone. If you want to install on more than one computer, you'll have to buy more than one copy.
 
Hi there,

I'm quite interested in what constitutes a "significant hardware change"?

I'm quite happy with my system at the moment.
I have a C2D in an Asus P5b, 2GB RAM and a 7900GTO.

I can understand that if you use the OEM version of Vista, and you change the motherboard, then the OS could interpret this as a change of system, and not work any more.

I can't see me changing my mobo for a while, however I do intend purchasing an extra 2GB ram at some point for Vista, and when the prices are lower, a DX10 card too.

I would hope that the OEM version of Vista wouldn't consider these enough to stop it working?

I've also read that my mobo will support quadcore, and although I'm not interested in doing so at the moment, maybe in a year or two I'd consider it... again, if I keep the same mobo, I wonder if Vista OEM would stop working?

I'm not sure if anybody on here knows for sure?
It's just something I'm thinking about, seeing as the OEM versions are so much cheaper :)

If I know I can upgrade my graphics card and ram, without problems, then great, it's OEM for me. Even if after a few years I change my mobo, it would still be cheaper to buy another OEM at that time, than it would've been to buy retail. The retail may have dropped in price quite a bit by then anyway.

I would be interested in other peoples thoughts on this?
Many thanks,
V1N.
 
Hi

Perhaps it's what will cause Windows XP to ask for re-activation?

Extra ram didn't on mine - the CPU probably won't if it's the same (single core->single core or dual core->dual core). Not sure if you change from single to dual core though for example

The graphics card shouldn't affect it either as that'll just need new drivers. Perhaps there's a comprehensive list on the Microsoft site or something? As you say, 'significant change' doesn't really say much!
 
Nickg said:
i dont know. i am not sure how vista could possible determine whether xp home is oem or retail before you install it and after that it wouldnt matter right?

When you do an upgrade it'll ask you to insert a disc with your qualifying product. from that it'll be able to tell if it's OEM or retail.

Burnsy
 
mrochester said:
Only the motherboard can't be changed without purchasing a new OEM license. You can change everything else.

The way i have understood things is that in your not meant to be able to reactivate automatically with changing a mobo.
But if you were to phone up and speak to someone and explain that youve only changed your mobo ie down to a fault
The operator has the power and quite often does to override and register your windows again.
I may be wrong im only a lickle fish in these waters!
 
Blackhorse said:
The way i have understood things is that in your not meant to be able to reactivate automatically with changing a mobo.
But if you were to phone up and speak to someone and explain that youve only changed your mobo ie down to a fault
The operator has the power and quite often does to override and register your windows again.
I may be wrong im only a lickle fish in these waters!

Your basically right, for more info, look at the licencing thread.

Burnsy
 
Blackhorse said:
The way i have understood things is that in your not meant to be able to reactivate automatically with changing a mobo.
But if you were to phone up and speak to someone and explain that youve only changed your mobo ie down to a fault
The operator has the power and quite often does to override and register your windows again.
I may be wrong im only a lickle fish in these waters!


That sounds promising.

I was personally considering either the Home Premium edition, or the Ultimate OEM. Having just read on another forum that the Home Premium edition doesn't have Remote Desktop, then I guess it's Ultimate for me.

I personally find Remote Desktop invaluable, just over my home LAN, so am quite surprised that's not in Home Premium. Saying that, I rarely use Remote Desktop to connect TO my main rig, on which I would be installing Vista... so I wonder if Home Premium could be used to connect to a Windows 2003 machines remote desktop, even if no machines could connect back to it (Vista). (which is handy sometimes when I'm feeling lazy, and use the laptop to wirelessly remote desktop connect to the main rig) ;)

Anyway, after reading your posts, I think it's the 64bit Vista Ultimate OEM for me, thanks. Just gunna wait now for a driver for my Topfield PVR, and my Epson scanner... or possibly ghost my current system to another partition, for fallback mode.

V1N.
 
I personally find Remote Desktop invaluable, just over my home LAN, so am quite surprised that's not in Home Premium. Saying that, I rarely use Remote Desktop to connect TO my main rig, on which I would be installing Vista... so I wonder if Home Premium could be used to connect to a Windows 2003 machines remote desktop, even if no machines could connect back to it (Vista). (which is handy sometimes when I'm feeling lazy, and use the laptop to wirelessly remote desktop connect to the main rig)

You can use Home Premium to remotely connect to another PC, but not the other way around. I.E, it supports outgoing connections, but not incoming.
 
V1N said:
That sounds promising.

I was personally considering either the Home Premium edition, or the Ultimate OEM. Having just read on another forum that the Home Premium edition doesn't have Remote Desktop, then I guess it's Ultimate for me.

I personally find Remote Desktop invaluable, just over my home LAN, so am quite surprised that's not in Home Premium. Saying that, I rarely use Remote Desktop to connect TO my main rig, on which I would be installing Vista... so I wonder if Home Premium could be used to connect to a Windows 2003 machines remote desktop, even if no machines could connect back to it (Vista). (which is handy sometimes when I'm feeling lazy, and use the laptop to wirelessly remote desktop connect to the main rig) ;)

Anyway, after reading your posts, I think it's the 64bit Vista Ultimate OEM for me, thanks. Just gunna wait now for a driver for my Topfield PVR, and my Epson scanner... or possibly ghost my current system to another partition, for fallback mode.

V1N.

Have you considered Vista Business? This comes with Remote Desktop and it's about the same price as Home Premium. It doesn't have Media Centre edition though
 
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