OEM vs Retail

[Kornowski]

So, which version, OEM is a lot cheaper and makes more sense.
I've heard that I couldn't upgrade certain things in my computer with the OEM version, like the CPU is this true?

Which one:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/sear...tMfrID=93&intPage=2&bolShowAll=true&intPage=1

 

[Geoff]

Nope, OEM is the same thing as retail minus the box and packaging. You have the same license agreement with both versions, you may be thinking of retail vs corporate?

I believe you can activate with the same CD Key twice, the first time you install it and then a second time, but you may have to call up Microsoft.

 

[Kornowski]

So I could upgrade my CPU and MOBO and stuff and still be able to use the OEM version?

 

[HumanMage]

I would imagine you could upgrade everything you wanted to because you do have a "genuine" copy of the OS but if you go OEM you might not get all the "books" or something that come with a retail OS, plus you save alot of money.

 

[Jabes]

yea all you have to do is call microsoft you can activate it as many times as you want from my experience and oem doesn't come with any support from ms but retail does I'm pretty sure but y do u need support

 

[Kornowski]

Ok, so I could possibly upgrade the motherboard and stuff, I'd just need to call MS and tell them...

If you uprage the CPU, do you need to install a clean version of the OS again?

Yeah, it's a hell of a lot cheaper, and you don't need the support, like Jabes said!

 

[Jabes]

Ok, so I could possibly upgrade the motherboard and stuff, I'd just need to call MS and tell them...

If you uprage the CPU, do you need to install a clean version of the OS again?

Yeah, it's a hell of a lot cheaper, and you don't need the support, like Jabes said!

usually its safe to just so that u don't have any problems

edit: vista ultimate retail come with a 32bit and a 64 bit disk?

 

[Kornowski]

Yeah, All the retail ones come with 32bit and 64bit DVD's, problem is they cost like twice as much! I'd get one otherwise!

 

[Jabes]

Yeah, All the retail ones come with 32bit and 64bit DVD's, problem is they cost like twice as much! I'd get one otherwise!

yep thats the pain

 

[ThatGuy16]

OEM... Retail just cost so darn much

 

[Kornowski]

Yeah, it's stupid isn't it!

If I get the OEM version, can I call MS and get them to send me a 64bit DVD for a small amount of money?

 

[ThatGuy16]

Probably not... lol

I guess you could call and see?

 

[Kornowski]

I heard there was a thing, where you talk to MS if you have a 32bit version of Vista and they can send you a 64bit version of it, for like £7 or something..

 

[Geoff]

I heard there was a thing, where you talk to MS if you have a 32bit version of Vista and they can send you a 64bit version of it, for like £7 or something..

I've never heard of that, but why would you get 32 bit in the first place?

And to answer your previous question, replacing the CPU wont require you to re-activate. However if you change motherboards then most likely you will need to re-install (and re-activate), Windows, but possibly not if it's the same chipset.

 

[Kornowski]

I've never heard of that, but why would you get 32 bit in the first place?

And to answer your previous question, replacing the CPU wont require you to re-activate. However if you change motherboards then most likely you will need to re-install (and re-activate), Windows, but possibly not if it's the same chipset.

Oh right, maybe it was somebody talking BS then
32 bit, because it's more compatable...
I'm seriously confused now, I don't know, 32bit or 64bit, If I can get a wireless reciever to work, then I'd get 64bit! oh, and all my games work!

I just need to know the answer to this question, then I'm done

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=109708

This Linksys one, is apparently supported.
It uses the RT2500 chipset, so, If I'm right, On this page:

http://www.ralinktech.com/ralink/Home/Support/Windows.html

I'd download the second set of the drivers, the

USB(RT257x/RT2671

ones?

Do you guys think this will work?
If not them I'm really considering getting 32bit...

 

[Geoff]

If a company has drivers out for Vista, most likely they will have one for both versions. If your going to spend the money on Vista, at least get one thats a bit more future proof.

 

[Kornowski]

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...ite=US&pagename=Linksys/Common/VisitorWrapper

They don't have drivers for 64bit apparently, but people have said that these http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...ite=US&pagename=Linksys/Common/VisitorWrapper would work with it, but I'm not too sure.

I don't want to buy it and find out that I don't have the internet...

 

[ThatGuy16]

Most people that have a linksys card use Ralink drivers since Ralink makes most of the linksys cards.

 

[Kornowski]

Yeah, so I guess it may work...