OEM Question

swinnie · 25 Jul 2007 at 11:35

Just a quick question.

I am looking at buying a copy of Windows XP Home Edition from Overclockers and last time I looked it said it was an OEM Version. What does this mean?

I have been told it means you can install it on an unlimited amount of computers, but this doesn't make sense to me as it is Microsoft!

Brian Stuart · 25 Jul 2007 at 11:43

OEM means it is tied to the first motherboard that it is activated on. It cannot be transfered to another PC.
There are many threads on this topic if you would care to search.

iCraig · 25 Jul 2007 at 11:53

swinnie said:
I am looking at buying a copy of Windows XP Home Edition from Overclockers and last time I looked it said it was an OEM Version. What does this mean?

OEM allows you to install it on one machine only. You can reinstall it as many times as you like on that machine, however it is tied to that machine. If you get a new PC afterwards or change your existing PC significantly (new motherboard) you can't use your OEM copy on it without breaking the license agreement.

Retail allows you to install on one machine only at any one time, but it isn't tied to one PC. You can install it on your new PC for example, as long as it's taken off the old one.

swinnie said:
I have been told it means you can install it on an unlimited amount of computers, but this doesn't make sense to me as it is Microsoft!

You can technically, but you'll be breaking the license agreement and will be lying to Microsoft each time you have the copy activated on a new machine.

musicman53 · 25 Jul 2007 at 12:03

iCraig said:
OEM allows you to install it on one machine only. You can reinstall it as many times as you like on that machine, however it is tied to that machine. If you get a new PC afterwards or change your existing PC significantly (new motherboard) you can't use your OEM copy on it without breaking the license agreement.

Retail allows you to install on one machine only at any one time, but it isn't tied to one PC. You can install it on your new PC for example, as long as it's taken off the old one.

You can technically, but you'll be breaking the license agreement and will be lying to Microsoft each time you have the copy activated on a new machine.

I have always used OEM versions of XP and now XP Pro on my computers.
I have rebuilt the one PC 5 times and have changed motherboards at least 3 times and have had no problems with being able to re use the same XP Pro.

iCraig · 25 Jul 2007 at 12:04

musicman53 said:
I have always used OEM versions of XP and now XP Pro on my computers.
I have rebuilt the one PC 5 times and have changed motherboards at least 3 times and have had no problems with being able to re use the same XP Pro.

I didn't say you can't do it, just that you're breaking the license agreement of an OEM copy.

swinnie · 25 Jul 2007 at 14:29

Thanks guys!

Burnsy2023 · 25 Jul 2007 at 14:43

iCraig said:
I didn't say you can't do it, just that you're breaking the license agreement of an OEM copy.

In which case it's basically piracy. There's loads of info in the sticky.

Burnsy