XP OEM & Box

Meaning OEM and Retail? From Newegg or the like?

OEM is a CD, CoA, nothing more, and tends to be a few $ cheaper. Retail is a CD, CoA, booklet, and box. Either should be fine.
 
OEM means you get less in the package, like cables for the drives etc.
Retail as in a cpu usually means it comes with a heatsink and fan, also has longer warranty.
 
OEM copies of an OS are tied to the PC that it's activated on. It cannot be removed from the original PC and transfered to a new PC.
Retail upgrades or full copies of an OS can be removed from the original PC and transfered to a new PC.
There are ways to get around the OEM limitation but they are not legal so we won't discuss them here.
 
Quick69GTO said:
OEM copies of an OS are tied to the PC that it's activated on. It cannot be removed from the original PC and transfered to a new PC.
Retail upgrades or full copies of an OS can be removed from the original PC and transfered to a new PC.
There are ways to get around the OEM limitation but they are not legal so we won't discuss them here.
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So calling Microsoft and saying "Hey I got a new motherboard/hard drive" is illegal?
 
mep916 said:
Nope, and it works everytime.



Calling Microsoft and requesting activation is not illegal. Nothing discussed in this thread violates the forum rules.
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I need this, Thanks Mike! My motherboard is on it's way out, so I'll be getting a new one! I just ring them and tell them, eh?
 
Kornowski said:
I need this, Thanks Mike! My motherboard is on it's way out, so I'll be getting a new one! I just ring them and tell them, eh?
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That's right. You'll be given a 25 digit Activation ID. Call Microsoft and provide them with the ID. You'll be all good.
 
mep916 said:
That's right. You'll be given a 25 digit Activation ID. Call Microsoft and provide them with the ID. You'll be all good.
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I give them the ID that came with my OEM and they'll give me a new one? I thought that OEM was cheaper because you could only use it on one MOBO and that was it?

Thanks, Mike!
 
Not quite - after the Install, Windows will prompt you to Activate. When you attempt it, it will fail and give you a list of options. Select the Telephone MS one and your system will generate a new ID. When you call MS, you need to input that key, and it will either be accepted and you'll be given a confirmation ID to type in, or you'll be transferred to Customer Support, who will validate the newly-generated ID and give you a new confirmation ID.
 
Kornowski said:
I give them the ID that came with my OEM and they'll give me a new one? I thought that OEM was cheaper because you could only use it on one MOBO and that was it?

Thanks, Mike!
Click to expand...

Before the installation, you'll enter the product key. After the installation, you'll receive an "Active Windows" message. Do not activate online - select the "Call Microsoft" option. After that, you'll be given the 25 digit Activation ID. You'll need to enter that key during the phone call, and you may even speak to a rep. The Activation ID and product key are not the same...

EDIT: Didn't see your post, Jay. :o
 
Ah right, Thanks for clearing that up, Jay and Mike (Doesn't that sound like super heros :P Who'd be the side kick though? Ooooh)

Sounds easy enough! I may or may not have to speak to somebody did you mean? Also, One last question, Will it give me the numbers to call, for the UK and such?

Thanks, Dudes! ;)
 
First, you'll enter the Activation ID manually over the phone. They'll either accept it, or transfer you to a rep. Yes, they'll provide you with a number for the UK.
 
I said from the original PC to a new PC.
I said nothing about dying, failed, or upgraded hardware on the original PC.
OEM activation allows for that.

It doesn't, however, allow you to retire that old 939 based PC, remove the OEM copy of XP or Vista from it, and transfer it to a shiny new quad core rig.
If you cannibalized one single piece of hardware from the old rig (i.e. hard drive, DVD-RW) and put it in the new rig, then you've just found the loop hole.
You can activate an OEM copy on a new rig (which it really isn't because of the older hardware in it).
 
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