Retail? OEM?

[Hype]

Looking to buy windows vista and i was wondering whether i should get the OEM version or Retail? I have an idea what the differences are but a brief explanation would be nice.

 

[bomberboysk]

OEM edition is cheaper, but tied to the original motherboard you install it on. If you want to upgrade to a new mobo you would either have to call microsoft and beg, and they may reactivate it one time for you, or thye might not. Retail can be uninstalled off one computer and put onto another as many times as you like, as long as its not installed on two computers at once.

 

[Bodaggit23]

Also, OEM versions come with either 32bit OR 64bit versions of the OS.

Not both, like retail versions.

 

[2048Megabytes]

I think if you wiped your old hard drive and then did a reinstall of an original equipment manufacturer version of Windows with a new motherboard Microsoft is not going to say anything to you and the Windows will work.