What's the Difference Between a Full Retail Windows CD and an OEM CD?

[trowand]

What's the difference between a retail Windows CD and an OEM CD? All I know is that the OEM disc is cheaper and I think I heard that you're limited in how many times you can install it or something. So what's the diff?

[Statica]

There are roughly 3 broad categories of these CDs :
The full retail CD is the boxed version, is usually the most expensive version of the OS that you can buy;
then there is the generic OEM CD, which cannot be bought legally unless you buy qualifying hardware. For some retailers like newegg, it could be a cable or something like that, which will satisfy the necessary requirements of what qualifying hardware is.

Finally, there is the OEM CD that is provided by name brand computer manufacturers (Dell, Toshiba etc etc etc) when you buy their computers. This CD may or may not be locked to the BIOS - which means that you cannot install a Dell OEM XP CD to a non-Dell computer because it is going to look for some information in the BIOS. Even if, the mfger OEM CD is not locked to the BIOS, you still cannot legally use it on another computer (doesnt matter if you toss the Dell computer out), it is still meant to be used only for the computer that it shipped with.

You should be careful of buying OEM CDs, from dealers of questionable repute.

Other than these differences in licenses, there is no functional difference between these versions.

HTH

[suitcase]

And with the boxed version you get some help from Microsoft that you don't get with the OEM version. But..... with XP you ain't gonna need alot of help 'cause it works so good. as compared to previous OSes. for me anyway. whatever.

[Marke522]

I think I heard that you're limited in how many times you can install it

That is a good question that I also would like to have answered.

So if someone cannot legally use the name brand manufacturer on another computer, how many times may a person use the OEM or the Retail version. Only once per key? For each pc that he builds? If I build a pc, and allready have a retail or OEM do I need to buy another copy of windows?

[diver203_98]

Yes, you must buy another copy of the OS. Once it is installed on a machine, it can not be used on any other computer. SO, for each computer you build, you MUST buy another copy of Windows. That is according to the EULA. It can only legally be used on ONE machine, and no more.

[Confused]

Originally Posted by diver203_98 Yes, you must buy another copy of the OS. Once it is installed on a machine, it can not be used on any other computer. SO, for each computer you build, you MUST buy another copy of Windows. That is according to the EULA. It can only legally be used on ONE machine, and no more.

True it can only be on one PC at a time. However I can update the PC I have and keep using my OEM copy of XP.

Sometimes that update might include a new case, mobo, HD, video card, ect.
Charlie

[glc]

Originally Posted by Confused True it can only be on one PC at a time. However I can update the PC I have and keep using my OEM copy of XP. Sometimes that update might include a new case, mobo, HD, video card, ect. Charlie

This is true with a generic OEM copy. However, uninstalling it and reinstalling on a totally different computer is getting into a gray area. With an OEM shipped with a name brand PC, I believe you can upgrade everything but the motherboard legally.