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Windows XP: OEM vs. Retail versions?

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
Aug 31, 2001
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I just bought an OEM version of Windows XP Home. I understand that it can only be installed on a single system/motherboard.

So what is the difference with the retail version, other than cost? I believe the retail version can be installed on multiple computers but is there a limit? What would stop having 10 copies running on 10 different computers?
 

joebear

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Aug 31, 2003
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Home does not support hyper threading or dual core cpus but Pro does. Pro has superior networking capabilities and hence makes a better home theater PC rather than using Media Center Edition XP.
 

Anynym

Just a bit to the right
Dec 28, 2005
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From what I understand, there is no operational difference between the OEM and Retail versions. You should get prettier packaging with the retail versions, and pay less for the OEM versions (but have to buy at least "enough" hardware to qualify it as a significant system upgrade or a new system).
 

Cassini

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Jan 17, 2004
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The Retail Version is better if you rebuild your system

Anynym said:
From what I understand, there is no operational difference between the OEM and Retail versions. You should get prettier packaging with the retail versions, and pay less for the OEM versions (but have to buy at least "enough" hardware to qualify it as a significant system upgrade or a new system).
That is the way it used to be. They are now actively enforcing an obscure provision of the OEM license agreement that limits you to one motherboard. Theoretically, if your motherboard fries and you have the OEM version, you need to purchase a new copy of Windows XP OEM.

If you have the retail version, you can happily rebuild your computer as many times as you like.

There are many stories of unhappy customers being inadvertently caught with this licensing change.
 

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
Aug 31, 2001
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Ahh, so the retail version lets you install multiple times on different motherboards - just so long as you're not installing on multiple motherboards at the same time?
 

Cassini

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Jan 17, 2004
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Keebler Elf said:
Ahh, so the retail version lets you install multiple times on different motherboards - just so long as you're not installing on multiple motherboards at the same time?
Yes.
 

SilentLeviathan

I am better than you.
Oct 30, 2002
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joebear said:
Home does not support hyper threading or dual core cpus but Pro does. Pro has superior networking capabilities and hence makes a better home theater PC rather than using Media Center Edition XP.
Home supports Hyper-Threading and dual cores, just not dual processors.
 

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
Aug 31, 2001
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A warning about unofficial Microsoft Office products...

I installed an unofficial copy of Microsoft Office today and within a couple hours my system had automatically downloaded the updates for it and was asking me to install them. Wisely I selected custom install and realized what the updates were (more Genuine Advantage bullshit). Had I installed them, I wouldn't be at all surprised if my Office programs had been immobilized.

Me thinks I'll be doing my automatic updates manually from now on. ;)
 

monkeychan

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Sep 6, 2004
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My friend accidentally installed the WGA on my machine the other day. Does this mean in 30 days my entire system will be toast? Currently everything seems to be a-okay (no, I'm not using legit XP on this particular PC although for my 3 other PCs I use legitimate XP Pro)
 

Keebler Elf

The Original Elf
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monkeychan said:
My friend accidentally installed the WGA on my machine the other day. Does this mean in 30 days my entire system will be toast? Currently everything seems to be a-okay (no, I'm not using legit XP on this particular PC although for my 3 other PCs I use legitimate XP Pro)
I don't think so. If you try to download updates, however, you may be unable to. You might want to consider turning off automatic updates, just to be safe.
 

monkeychan

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Sep 6, 2004
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not really. It basically says that machines without WGA installed will be killed in 30 days. But the WGA itself is NOT a kill-switch. At least that's my understanding from this quote:

"in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the 30 days is up and WGA isn't installed"
I can't find it anywhere stating that after installing WGA and should your machine doesn't comply to WGA it'll be killed.
 

Keebler Elf

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The writer asked Microsoft to confirm/deny and they would do neither. Take that for what you will.
 

monkeychan

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Regardless, all I can say about this is FUCK MICROSOFT! Too bad some of proprietary programs I use for work is only available for Windows.

It's one thing to not give updates etc for illegitimate copies of XP, but it's a completely different ball game when the WGA also messed up legitimate machine. Besides, even if I want to buy legitimate XP-PRO for my 4th PC (the first 3 are legitimate), do they think I'd cough up $200 now and cough up another God-knows how much $$ when Vista is launched in the beginning of next year?
 

newbler

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Mar 21, 2006
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Remo said:
The Retail version also gets better tech support.
more like, the retail version at least gets some tech support, oem gets none, i phoned microsoft and for my legitimate retail version of xp pro, i only get two help calls to microsoft, for the one i wasted, they didn't even fix the problem i was having, stupid fuckers
 
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