If buying Vista, is it best to buy the Retail Box release?

Sylver123

Sylver123

Sylver123

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Hello!

If buying Vista, is it best to buy the Retail Box release if you don`t want the trouble of having to reactivate the os every time you change hardware in your system? and is this release below definitely Retail and not OEM, and also includes both 32-Bit and 64-Bit versions of Vista in the box?

Thank you for responding.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...indows Vista Ultimate SP1 - Retail (66R-02266)
 
You may still need to activate if certain hardware is changed, but it does allow you to change the motherboard without any restrictions belongs your only running one instance.
OEM is tied to the motherboard you origianly activated on, you can change any other component bar the motherboard.

Edit: The version in your link is Retail and I believe Ultimate comes with both 32 & 64bit discs, Premium & Basic you need to send off for the 64bit disc.
 
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The Retail release is a lot of money for an os :eek:, but it would be best suited for my needs because it has both 32 & 64bit versions and I don`t fancy having to reactivate after hardware change.
 
Retail - Its yours no matter how many pc's ou install it on (As long as its only 1 pc at a time!) you may still have to reactivate after a hardware change. It just means that its double checking its not on 2 seperate systems at once. OEM is tied to the one PC. (PC being defined as motherboard). If you intend to keep Vista for more than 2 systems (3 really . . . ) then go retail.
 
I think it depends on what type of upgrader you are.

I upgrade every 3/4 years, so I don't plan to change my motherboard for ages, and by the time I do, a new OS will (should ;p) be out
 
Well I got one 2nd hand for £102, that's £20 more than the oem, for the retail license that £20 is more than worth it. On top of that it came with 32 and 64bit disks.
 
I bought the retail ultimate several months ago on offer (must be about 1/2 a year or so now). Cost £60 more than OEM at £175, but has been worth it as I've changed motherboard and when a new Windows comes out, I need only buy the upgrade version which retains the 'retail status' of your original license. Basically, if you perform an upgrade of Vista OEM to Windows 7, it remains OEM and tied to the motherboard. If you have a retail Vista, it makes the Windows 7 also retail (this is my understanding, someone please correct me if I'm wrong). So I'm pretty much set for a long while now - as well as benefitting from an x64 OS etc.
 
smids said:
I bought the retail ultimate several months ago on offer (must be about 1/2 a year or so now). Cost £60 more than OEM at £175, but has been worth it as I've changed motherboard and when a new Windows comes out, I need only buy the upgrade version which retains the 'retail status' of your original license. Basically, if you perform an upgrade of Vista OEM to Windows 7, it remains OEM and tied to the motherboard. If you have a retail Vista, it makes the Windows 7 also retail (this is my understanding, someone please correct me if I'm wrong). So I'm pretty much set for a long while now - as well as benefitting from an x64 OS etc.
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Yep spot on and is an important consideration. Seeing as windows 7 looks to be much better than vista and only around the corner.
 
AcidHell2 said:
But oem and upgrade are usually the same price...
and you can easily get retail for £20 more than oem 2nd hand.. It makes perfect sense.
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True-guess it depends if/when the OP is planning on upgrading his hardware, and also when he plans on switching to Windows 7
 
I've not long changed to using Vista x64 and if i new then what i know now i would have waited for Windows 7, Aslo I don't think Vista's that great.
 
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