Buying winxp OEMs

[Jates]

We save like $30 when buying Winxp OEMs made for Dell and Compaq PCs and i was wondering if there is a difference between the actual content of the cd and not just the packaging. I'd don't care much for packaging and would rather just receive a cd if it saves me a chunk of change.

[spyder003]

Nope, it's the same OS whether it's OEM or retail. I prefer OEM, I believe all of the OEM's (at least my OEM copy) don't have to be activated. I have a retail copy that has to be actived after every reformat... pain.

[colecifer]

Originally Posted by spyder003 Nope, it's the same OS whether it's OEM or retail. I prefer OEM, I believe all of the OEM's (at least my OEM copy) don't have to be activated. I have a retail copy that has to be actived after every reformat... pain.

All versions of xp need to be activated, the OEM ones might not for a reformat i'm not sure. However iniatially it nees to be activated. Also i've heard that some OEM copies from vendors like dell, compaq, etc check the bios of the motherboard. I'd say just buy the OEM version of XP w/ SP2 of newegg.

[spyder003]

Originally Posted by colecifer All versions of xp need to be activated, the OEM ones might not for a reformat i'm not sure.

Nope, I have an OEM version that requires no activation whatsoever.

[netnamakan]

only difference is the packaging, and I dont think that the oem comes with phone support not sure though.

yes it is definitly worth it to save your money by getting oem

spyder: I thought all copies of windows had be activated, except the corperate edition. my oem needed activation.


namakan

[colecifer]

It almost sounds like you got a pirated copy of XP, where did you buy it?

[spyder003]

It's legal. I got it through a M$ goverment employee discount program at work. It's XP Pro, don't know if that makes a difference...

[rightcoast]

You have a copy of XP pro corp if it doesn't need activation.

Only one of 3 options is possible here.

1. You activated once (or someone did), and forgot/didn't know
and you don't need to reactivate every time, because it is an OEM and haven't made any hardware changes (Major ones anyway, Like a new mobo).

2. Somehow a major mistake was made and you were sold a legitimate corp copy of Windows.

3. It's pirated

[Jates]

This place is offering downloads of win xp pro + Microsoft Office 2003 + Adobe Photoshop all for only $150! Anyone know the catch? Do they not come with a license or what? I couldn't find any contact information so I'm very skeptical of the websites legitamacy but who knows?

http://www.fast-store.net/discounts.html

[glc]

Software comes in as a single ISO image (.iso), or WinZIP/WinRAR archive.

Uh huh. It probably comes with stolen keys.

We save like $30 when buying Winxp OEMs made for Dell and Compaq PCs

And if you install it on a PC that's not a Dell or a Compaq, you are doing so illegally.

[Confused]

Originally Posted by spyder003 Nope, I have an OEM version that requires no activation whatsoever.

I have loaded 4 OEM copies of XP (2 home and 2 Pro) and all four required activation. My copy, XP Pro OEM required reactivation when I updated my PC and required a call to MS a month later when I had some problems and decided to reload.

Could you be confusing "activation" with "registration"? None have to be registered.
Chas

[doubledragon5]

Not true my oldest daughter has a dell, and I have had to reload it on a few occasions. Not one time did I have to put in the product id or have it activated... Now if you try to install it on a none oem machine it will require you to activate... I have tried it once to see what would happen on my spare drive and that is what it required activation....... Dell buys large quantities of licienes and don't need the have them activated..... I learned this from a tec who use to work for dell.

[Markman385]

with the dell oem versions you don't have to reactivate it if you reinstall it on a dell machine however if you try to install it on another machine then it will require activation which i'm assuming it won't let you do.

[doubledragon5]

I'm talking frresh install that is wipping the drive clean and start all over, not install on top of one.... And if I tried to activate it on another machine you bet it would work.....

[rightcoast]

That is because that "install id" you see, is tied to that dell model's hardware config DD. That may not even install on a different PC altogether and it definitely won't activate, not that you should try.

[glc]

A Dell CD can legally only be installed on the Dell that it came with. Any other use is illegal. End of discussion, refer to the forum rules.