Vista RC2; upgrade query

dagwoood · 23 May 2007 at 10:39

I took part in the Vista Customer Preview Program and can now migrate to the final version by buying an upgrade pack. My query is, will this upgrade be classed as an OEM or full retail version of Vista?

I ask as I'm an habitual tinkerer (who isn't on here

) and if my upgraded version of Vista is classed as an OEM, I'm stuffed with regards to making any major hardware changes, i.e.the motherboard.

TIA, dagwoood.

masslac · 23 May 2007 at 10:47

OEM in most cases. They tend to be pretty slack on the re-activation side of things, though, so you shouldn't have any problems.

dagwoood · 23 May 2007 at 21:21

Thanks for that masslac.

It used to be the case with an OEM version of XP that you could make major changes without re-activating, but that's not the case with Vista. Under the new licensing agreement for OEM Vista, if you change your motherboard then you have to buy a new license; hence my query about buying an upgrade disc for a pre-RTM version and whether your version is then classed as OEM or retail.

tripitaka · 24 May 2007 at 09:51

What makes you say it is classed as OEM?

AFAIK the Release Candidates were not bound by an OEM license, and so there is no reason why they would be when you upgrade to the final version.

bluebox · 24 May 2007 at 11:17

If you buy the online upgrade from MS then its the full upgrade so no worries on the hardware upgrade front.

dagwoood · 24 May 2007 at 21:18

tripitaka said:
What makes you say it is classed as OEM?

AFAIK the Release Candidates were not bound by an OEM license, and so there is no reason why they would be when you upgrade to the final version.

I wasn't sure either way if it's classed as OEM or retail tripitaka, hence the reason for starting this thread. I'll have to see if I can find a copy of the RC EULA.

bluebox said:
If you buy the online upgrade from MS then its the full upgrade so no worries on the hardware upgrade front.

I didn't know that either

I came across the online upgrades, and because of the value of the pound against dollars, the upgrade is relatively cheap and that's what got me to thinking what type of license you'd end up with.

Thanks for the input guys; appreciated :cool:

Burnsy2023 · 25 May 2007 at 00:43

From my understanding, you cannot use an RC version to upgrade to the full product. You must buy either a full retail or OEM license.

Burnsy

Ronaldo · 25 May 2007 at 01:09

burnsy2023 said:
From my understanding, you cannot use an RC version to upgrade to the full product. You must buy either a full retail or OEM license.

Burnsy

if the option is on your RC vista then use it lol

dagwoood · 25 May 2007 at 01:35

burnsy2023 said:
From my understanding, you cannot use an RC version to upgrade to the full product. You must buy either a full retail or OEM license.

Burnsy

No, you can buy the upgrade as per http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/preview.mspx , second paragraph down, and as per the table.

digitalis · 26 May 2007 at 15:29

I've just upgraded from the Vista Beta RC2 to Vista Home Premium using a Home Premium Upgrade disc - a clean install from within Vista Beta - can't see anything about OEM in either System/Windows Edition or System Information.
Is there anywhere else that will tell me if it's an OEM license or not ??
Cheers.

S.