Windows 64 bit Home premium OEM or retail? - Overclock.net

KingAlkaiser · 06-16-08

Hello I am extremely confused on this matter and was hoping to get some better understanding on it. First of all I have a copy of some random OEM ( think its dell ) windows xp pro 32 bit i bought 4 years ago because i didn't felt like spending money on retail and i had no idea what OEM meant anyways. So now I finally am going to upgrade and decided on getting windows vista 64 bit and finding out OEM versions of windows vista cant buy upgrade cd or be used on a different computer. How does windows even know you change pc? because i have changed a lot of my parts in my tower before specially the motherboard like some people say it is and only thing that happened was i wasn't able to activate windows, but I just have to always call windows to activate it which is annoying but it still works. If i purchase a OEM windows vista and in the future decide to change motherboards will i see similar problem or anything new? It sucks if it does i mean I am still only using windows vista on 1 pc why they going overboard on this matter? does this mean that once i buy a OEM its a one time use of windows vista and any time i reformat i have to buy new copy?

P.S- if its allowed in site anyone know any good sites to buy cheap copy of windows vista?

thank you all who reply and help i appreciate it.

Danbeme32 · 06-16-08

You can format as many times as you want. You can change any parts except the mb. That is why I like to buy retail so that if I change mb I have no problems.
Now you you want to talk about using OEM on different boards. You can't here because it's against TOS.

KingAlkaiser · 06-16-08

"talk about using OEM on different boards" against TOS i didn't know i apologize

even so only thing that happens when you switch mobo is call Microsoft for activation hopefully this applies to all the time.

Also what happens in situations like " you buy new pc completely and mobo came damaged but you activate vista on it, and you get mobo replaced? this will suck big time you waste 100+ dollars on parts that can come damaged.

Danbeme32 · 06-16-08

I thing if it is the same board then it's not a problem. Someone correct me if am wrong.

noldevin · 06-16-08

Microsoft considers a new motherboard as a new PC. That's just how they do their licensing and there is no legal way around it except to buy retail.

TheCh3F · 06-16-08

You can always just tell M$ what happened and they might play nice and help you out.

**ENTERPRISE** · 06-16-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by noldevin

Microsoft considers a new motherboard as a new PC. That's just how they do their licensing and there is no legal way around it except to buy retail.

No they will allow you to reactivate. If you explain to them that a motherboard became faulty and it needed replacing then usually they are more than happy to sort things out for you. I did before and they were very helpful.

KingAlkaiser · 06-16-08

"No they will allow you to reactivate. If you explain to them that a motherboard became faulty and it needed replacing then usually they are more than happy to sort things out for you. I did before and they were very helpful."

that is good to hear because it would be shameful and will suck if they don't allow activation if your board gets damaged anhd gets replaced. thank you for the information.

**ENTERPRISE** · 06-17-08

Anytime.

I have had OEM windows before a few times and if you tell automated answere machine that you are using a different motherboard they will usually turn you away. However if you hold you get through to a Customer REP and if you explain to them your motherboard become damaged or had to be replaced they are usually fine with registering the new hardware with your CD KEY.

sLowEnd · 06-17-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENTERPRISE

Anytime.

I have had OEM windows before a few times and if you tell automated answere machine that you are using a different motherboard they will usually turn you away. However if you hold you get through to a Customer REP and if you explain to them your motherboard become damaged or had to be replaced they are usually fine with registering the new hardware with your CD KEY.

Won't they say something like

"If your motherboard was damaged, you could've easily replaced it with another motherboard of the same model"

or something like that

06-16-08	#1 (permalink)
KingAlkaiser New to Overclock.net Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York Posts: 144 Rep: 5 Unique Rep: 4 Trader Rating: 0	Windows 64 bit Home premium OEM or retail? Hello I am extremely confused on this matter and was hoping to get some better understanding on it. First of all I have a copy of some random OEM ( think its dell ) windows xp pro 32 bit i bought 4 years ago because i didn't felt like spending money on retail and i had no idea what OEM meant anyways. So now I finally am going to upgrade and decided on getting windows vista 64 bit and finding out OEM versions of windows vista cant buy upgrade cd or be used on a different computer. How does windows even know you change pc? because i have changed a lot of my parts in my tower before specially the motherboard like some people say it is and only thing that happened was i wasn't able to activate windows, but I just have to always call windows to activate it which is annoying but it still works. If i purchase a OEM windows vista and in the future decide to change motherboards will i see similar problem or anything new? It sucks if it does i mean I am still only using windows vista on 1 pc why they going overboard on this matter? does this mean that once i buy a OEM its a one time use of windows vista and any time i reformat i have to buy new copy? P.S- if its allowed in site anyone know any good sites to buy cheap copy of windows vista? thank you all who reply and help i appreciate it.

		Overclock.net - Overclocking.net > Software, Programming and Coding > Operating Systems > Windows
Windows 64 bit Home premium OEM or retail?

06-16-08	#3 (permalink)
KingAlkaiser New to Overclock.net Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York Posts: 144 Rep: 5 Unique Rep: 4 Trader Rating: 0	"talk about using OEM on different boards" against TOS i didn't know i apologize even so only thing that happens when you switch mobo is call Microsoft for activation hopefully this applies to all the time. Also what happens in situations like " you buy new pc completely and mobo came damaged but you activate vista on it, and you get mobo replaced? this will suck big time you waste 100+ dollars on parts that can come damaged.

06-16-08	#8 (permalink)
KingAlkaiser New to Overclock.net Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York Posts: 144 Rep: 5 Unique Rep: 4 Trader Rating: 0	"No they will allow you to reactivate. If you explain to them that a motherboard became faulty and it needed replacing then usually they are more than happy to sort things out for you. I did before and they were very helpful." that is good to hear because it would be shameful and will suck if they don't allow activation if your board gets damaged anhd gets replaced. thank you for the information.

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