Whats the difference between these two?

Besides cost and the large paperback book on Vista that comes in the retail carton the licensing is slightly different there. You can take the retail version with you for the next system or custom build while OEM is limited to the current machine. OEM recovery disks that come with HP, Dell, Gateway, and other prebuilds are tied to the machine there.
 
Also i think with the retail version you can choose whether to install 32bit or 64bit versions of vista, with oem you have to buy one or the other.
 
So in other words, could i install the OEM one in my computer? its a brand-name (Compaq Presario SR1910NX) computer... It so, i could only install it on this computer right? Just format my HD and install right?
 
meanman said:
Also i think with the retail version you can choose whether to install 32bit or 64bit versions of vista, with oem you have to buy one or the other.
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The retail copy of any edition is for that one only. If you buy a 32bit edition that's what you will see. For changing to 64bit you then buy a copy of that. Besides the paperback and fancy carton the difference between retail and OEM is mainly the licensing.

ramodkk said:
So in other words, could i install the OEM one in my computer? its a brand-name (Compaq Presario SR1910NX) computer... It so, i could only install it on this computer right? Just format my HD and install right?
Click to expand...

Vista will generally upgrade itself over XP compressing the XP installation that is Windows, DocumentsandSettings, and Program Files directories into one large Windows.old folder for file retrieval unlike how XP would simply delete everything. That leaves any other user created folders outside of those untouched. Both XP and Vista alike run on the same NTFS 5.0 type partition where you can leave that one intact or reformat the drive to wipe it clean.
 
Thank you very much! So after all, i can buy the OEM and install it say over the XP without having to format? is that what you were explaining? :rolleyes:
 
On a custom case Vista will take the lead as the newer version of Windows there by default. Being you are running a preinstalled OS there that could pose a slight problem if there is anything proprietary to block the upgrade. Then you would have to reformat the drive to get past that. But it still would be a good idea to back things up either way. If you decide to go back to XP later(like many have) you would then have to reformat it.
 
I've been thinking and I want to format, I want to start say "fresh". Then there shouldn't be any problem with that should there? Format my HD and start all over installing the OEM Vista...
 
Just format, insert disk, restart. Vista is very quick to install, about 20 minutes it took me.

I hated it, and got XP Pro now :)
 
It was a Sempron 3300+ 1GB Ram FX5500 Build, Very old lol. I still wouldn't run it on my computer. It run's XP Pro and so do all of the computers that I have to reformat (I have a XP Pro VLK)
 
Vista runs without problems here with 2gb of memory installed. The actual need for 4gb plus the 3gb barrier seen with 32bit OSs is far from any need for that much unless you are planning to run CAD or other large graphics design or engineering programs. With any new version of Windows there will be some programs and even some games that won't even install. That's why many dual boot XP along with Vista.
 
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