Looking to buy windows, need some tips.

Rostam

Rostam

Rostam

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Greetings guys,

I was looking into purchasing a Vista for a new pc i'm going to build soon and wanted some curiosities answered, looked around on the net but found contradicting information.
Firstly i wanted to know the difference between OEM and Retail versions of Vista. Curious to know if i can install the oem version more then once on a mac address if so how many times (is there a limit?) is there any difference in the service provided by microsoft depeding on what version you have? can vista be used on 2 different pcs at the same time depending on the version?

secondly excuse if this is a noob question but should have hold off on buying vista till windows 7 hits retail?

Thanks in advance for the help guys.
 
From here:
What are the differences between OEM and Retail editions?
With an OEM edition of Windows there are certain restrictions in the EULA which differentiate it from the full retail version. Firstly, the OEM license is said to be ‘non-transferable’. This means that once the license has been attached to a particular PC, it cannot be moved to another, even if the OS has completely been removed from the first computer. The full retail version is slightly different. With the retail edition you are granted one concurrent license. This means that you can move the OS from one machine to another as long as you remove it from the first machine. It also means that you can change the hardware within the computer without it affecting the license validity. Also, with the retail license you are entitled to free technical support from Microsoft. The OEM edition has support provided by the OEM itself and support may not be complete or free.
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Regarding Windows 7, I would also be interested in finding out more because wanted to purchase a copy of Vista x64 Retail.
 
Basically don't buy XP/Vista. Wait until you can get either Vista with upgrade licence to Windows 7 coming in a few months - or help MS out by getting onto their testing of beta Windows 7 which runs out next Feb. The latest Builds are all better than anything currently on offer ( Windows 7 Build 7077 in 32/64 bit). Windows 7 is a big leap forward the best MS have ever produced.
 
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OEM is tied to the board it was originaly installed on, you can ugrade any part of the pc except the motherboard without breaking the License, You can re-install in theory as many times you like but you may need to use the telephone service to activate.

Retail allows any upgrades including motherboard change, you can only install on one pc at any time.

Hope the above helps :)
 
get a 2nd hand copy of vista home premium retail. Just make suure it's a full retail and not upgrade retail.

there's even some buy it now for the same price as the oem versions.
 
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Hi Rostam-
My name is Jeff and I work with the Windows Outreach Team. Here are some differences between OEM and retail versions that should help you make this decision. A complete OEM version and a retail version have the same software, however with the OEM version, its license is tied to the first computer it is installed on. Secondly, OEM versions can only to a clean installation, not an upgrade. And lastly, Microsoft does not support OEM versions, you have to get help from the OEM.
Cheers,
Jeff
Windows Outreach Team
 
No-one but an MS partner system builder can use OEM software. Loads of duff info floating about these forums about using it. You may as well pirate it as you will not be licensed.

I am the system builder and desktop support for my company and because we have not paid to be a partner we can not use OEM software unless already bundled with a prebuilt machine. I have to use retail versions.
 
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howiepoohs said:
No-one but an MS partner system builder can use OEM software. Loads of duff info floating about these forums about using it. You may as well pirate it as you will not be licensed.

I am the system builder and desktop support for my company and because we have not paid to be a partner we can not use OEM software unless already bundled with a prebuilt machine. I have to use retail versions.
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Oh dear. Firstly you do not need to be a registered OEM partner to use OEM software, merely a system builder. Secondly registering as an OEM partner is free. But you are right, you do need retail versions as you're not distributing the machine.
 
I'd say download the Windows 7 beta (Release Candidate is out soon also) and use that until Windows 7 is released. Saves money. If you really have to buy Vista though, Vista Home Premium Retail. Also, send off for a 64 bit disc from Microsoft as well. Main advice though? Just get Windows 7.
 
"andy" said:
problem with him downloading the beta is that they closed it ages ago so he wont have a key will he ?
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"windows 7 serial" did you mean?
I have just been watching Jeeves and Wooster and was wondering who played Spode so I chucked the info into Google - born 1932 et al
 
Whoop said:
Just grabbed myself a key off there (thanks for that :) )

Is there a recommended build I should look for elsewhere or just the highest number?


Whoop
Click to expand...

Windows 7 Build 7077
google will provde everything you need - except this weeks lottery numbers!

keznews is a good source of info
 
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You can install and activate vista twice before you need to phone microsoft and explain why you are installing and activating on so many different machines / builds of the same machine.
 
I'm glad this exact same question gets posted daily. Just incase I forgot the answer from the thread started the day before, I just look at the new one!!

Saves effort clicking the search button or reading the useful info in this section of the forum.
 
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