What is the difference between windows XP OEM and retail?

Scorpionic · 01-May-05, 07:22 PM

Obviously the price makes the OEM version much more attractive than paying 200+ bucks for retail. But I've heard that you might not be able to upgrade with an OEM version and you will not get any support. Can anyone clarify this? Will I be able to get service packs and patches with an OEM version?

I would like to upgrade to windows XP, but I'm REAL hesitant about shelling out $200+.

Some of these OEM deals appear to be scams or at the very least shady.

DuckWarrior · 01-May-05, 07:46 PM

There isnt any difference. As long as you get the disk and the certificate. its legal.
As a matter of fact, you can buy just the certificate as long as it hasnt been registered.

Rob · 01-May-05, 07:46 PM

The only difference that I know of is that with OEM, you don't get the tech support. Both are the same and yes, you can upgrade an OEM.

Rob

Scorpionic · 01-May-05, 09:46 PM

This sucks, there's just no such thing as a good deal on win XP. In stores like office depot its an absolutely ridiculous 300 dollars. Online its 200-300. OEM just looks too sketchy from the lower priced 'stores' and some of the prices are so high, you might as well go buy the full retail from a reputable vendor. Looking at eBay too and keep getting sniped at the last minute. Grrrr!

Outbid with 9 seconds left on a retail copy for 146 bucks, that sucks. Why can't the god damn thing be affordable?

Rob · 02-May-05, 12:02 AM

Uh, there's nothing shady about an OEM copy of WinXP. You just don't get the tech support, that's all. The extra $100 or $200 or however much more you'd pay just isn't worth it. Everytime I've called, I've gotten nothing but stuff read off of the Windows Support website anyway.

Follow this link to a store called "NewEgg". It's a Pimp's and Hoe's best friend.

LINK

Rob

EDIT: It's $91.95 plus the $.99 shipping.

LwrS10 · 02-May-05, 12:16 AM

or you could find a friend with a cor..................nevermind....dont want to get in trouble....lol

Enko · 02-May-05, 01:11 AM

i got my copy for about 145 OEM. just watch for sales. they pop up occasionally.

G Money · 02-May-05, 01:39 AM

If you know anything about comptuers or have any clue how to maintain them periodically, always buy OEM. You'll save alot of money, but if you buy a new copy it is required to be purchased with hardware. Newegg gets around this by shipping your a Y-cable splitter for free to make it legit. I bought XP Media Center 2005, which can only be bought as an OEM product. It is completely legal as long as you get a Microsoft CD and the certificate.

aaronrkelly · 02-May-05, 03:26 AM

I have a few XP Pro COAs laying around - PM me if your interested.......I can also provide an installation disc. I think I can anywho......

nev_payne · 02-May-05, 03:44 AM

I was under the impression that the retail version could also be re-activated, where as the OEM is a once off installation? I guess thats the same as Tech Support.

PS- Thanks go out to WordBiker for waking me up at 7am this morning....

FunkyFresh · 02-May-05, 09:10 AM

I've used XP Pro OEM on several different machines, through multiple upgrades. My guess is nearly everyone here does.

Yes, I've had to reactivate it after hardware upgrades; always with no problems
Windows Update works flawlessly with it. If by "upgrade" you mean move to a future OS from it, well then it usually works better to wipe the HD and get the full version of the new OS anyway.
Newegg treats you better than most any local store.

For me, this has been the extent of the difference between retail and OEM: I didn't pay an extra $160 for a cardboard box.

SexyPants · 02-May-05, 10:01 AM

My college computer store sells OEM XP pro for a whopping 15 bucks. Looks like you guys are paying for what I don't

droeblek9 · 02-May-05, 01:52 PM

i purchased mine from newegg for about $120ish. No problems at all.

Enko · 02-May-05, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Sexy_Pants_


	My college computer store sells OEM XP pro for a whopping 15 bucks. Looks like you guys are paying for what I don't

heh, you want to help some fellow pimps out and sell us a few copies?

LwrS10 · 02-May-05, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Sexy_Pants_


	My college computer store sells OEM XP pro for a whopping 15 bucks. Looks like you guys are paying for what I don't

umm yea-----hook us up.......

4rm4g3dd0n · 02-May-05, 02:13 PM

lol at my college its a grand total of 5 bux. office 2003 professional is 15...

G Money · 02-May-05, 02:30 PM

It is possible to have to call an activation support person if you install the program too many times. I installed a copy of XP Pro OEM 2x on a machine, then installed MCE 2005 over it (fresh), then reinstalled XP Pro (fresh again) on it. I had to call activation and get an activation number to match my hardware ID. They just asked how many times it has been installed on that machine and didn't give me any problems when I told them I was trying to build a dual boot system.

Of course, my mistake that all Media Center 2005 is an application built into Windows XP Pro SP 2 so I'm just putting all my games on one drive, and using the other drive for recording.

droeblek9 · 02-May-05, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G Money


	It is possible to have to call an activation support person if you install the program too many times. I installed a copy of XP Pro OEM 2x on a machine, then installed MCE 2005 over it (fresh), then reinstalled XP Pro (fresh again) on it. I had to call activation and get an activation number to match my hardware ID. They just asked how many times it has been installed on that machine and didn't give me any problems when I told them I was trying to build a dual boot system. Of course, my mistake that all Media Center 2005 is an application built into Windows XP Pro SP 2 so I'm just putting all my games on one drive, and using the other drive for recording.

Ditto that: I've had to call support twice to get another activation code (both times when i switched mobo's). Again, it only took a couple of minutes and went off without a hitch

01-May-05, 07:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scorpionic Recycl-Hoe-tron Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 543	What is the difference between windows XP OEM and retail? Obviously the price makes the OEM version much more attractive than paying 200+ bucks for retail. But I've heard that you might not be able to upgrade with an OEM version and you will not get any support. Can anyone clarify this? Will I be able to get service packs and patches with an OEM version? I would like to upgrade to windows XP, but I'm REAL hesitant about shelling out $200+. Some of these OEM deals appear to be scams or at the very least shady.

01-May-05, 07:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
DuckWarrior Retired Admin In Charge of Death and Destruction to All those Who Oppose My World known as PimpRig Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Behind the Lens & in front of Models...it's home Posts: 4,157	There isnt any difference. As long as you get the disk and the certificate. its legal. As a matter of fact, you can buy just the certificate as long as it hasnt been registered. __________________

01-May-05, 07:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Home of the world's greatest race... Posts: 6,669	The only difference that I know of is that with OEM, you don't get the tech support. Both are the same and yes, you can upgrade an OEM. Rob __________________

01-May-05, 09:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Scorpionic Recycl-Hoe-tron Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 543	This sucks, there's just no such thing as a good deal on win XP. In stores like office depot its an absolutely ridiculous 300 dollars. Online its 200-300. OEM just looks too sketchy from the lower priced 'stores' and some of the prices are so high, you might as well go buy the full retail from a reputable vendor. Looking at eBay too and keep getting sniped at the last minute. Grrrr! Outbid with 9 seconds left on a retail copy for 146 bucks, that sucks. Why can't the god damn thing be affordable? Last edited by Scorpionic; 01-May-05 at 09:56 PM.

02-May-05, 12:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Home of the world's greatest race... Posts: 6,669	Uh, there's nothing shady about an OEM copy of WinXP. You just don't get the tech support, that's all. The extra $100 or $200 or however much more you'd pay just isn't worth it. Everytime I've called, I've gotten nothing but stuff read off of the Windows Support website anyway. Follow this link to a store called "NewEgg". It's a Pimp's and Hoe's best friend. LINK Rob EDIT: It's $91.95 plus the $.99 shipping. __________________

02-May-05, 12:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
LwrS10 C-hoe-bra Joe Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Osan Posts: 1,410	or you could find a friend with a cor..................nevermind....dont want to get in trouble....lol __________________

02-May-05, 01:11 AM	#7 (permalink)
Enko Apex Tech God Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,263	i got my copy for about 145 OEM. just watch for sales. they pop up occasionally. __________________

02-May-05, 01:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
G Money Fuel Hoe-lio Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Boom Pod Posts: 885	If you know anything about comptuers or have any clue how to maintain them periodically, always buy OEM. You'll save alot of money, but if you buy a new copy it is required to be purchased with hardware. Newegg gets around this by shipping your a Y-cable splitter for free to make it legit. I bought XP Media Center 2005, which can only be bought as an OEM product. It is completely legal as long as you get a Microsoft CD and the certificate. __________________ Why don't you wish in one hand and crap in the other and tell me which one fills up first. -- Badder Santa.

02-May-05, 03:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
aaronrkelly Apex Tech God Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Arrgh!!! in a pirate ship watching me video CDs and listen to MP3s Posts: 2,720	I have a few XP Pro COAs laying around - PM me if your interested.......I can also provide an installation disc. I think I can anywho...... __________________

02-May-05, 03:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
nev_payne Apex Tech God Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Somerset, England UK........ News Threads: 8,143 Posts: 4,085	I was under the impression that the retail version could also be re-activated, where as the OEM is a once off installation? I guess thats the same as Tech Support. PS- Thanks go out to WordBiker for waking me up at 7am this morning.... __________________ You have reached Nev's Voicemail. Please leave a message in the PM. Thank-you.

02-May-05, 09:10 AM	#11 (permalink)
FunkyFresh 'Da Doctor of Funk Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Maine Posts: 3,021	I've used XP Pro OEM on several different machines, through multiple upgrades. My guess is nearly everyone here does. Yes, I've had to reactivate it after hardware upgrades; always with no problems Windows Update works flawlessly with it. If by "upgrade" you mean move to a future OS from it, well then it usually works better to wipe the HD and get the full version of the new OS anyway. Newegg treats you better than most any local store. For me, this has been the extent of the difference between retail and OEM: I didn't pay an extra $160 for a cardboard box.

02-May-05, 10:01 AM	#12 (permalink)
SexyPants 5-Hoe-1 Jeans Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,182	My college computer store sells OEM XP pro for a whopping 15 bucks. Looks like you guys are paying for what I don't __________________

02-May-05, 01:52 PM	#13 (permalink)
droeblek9 Warcraft Warrior Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 2,018	i purchased mine from newegg for about $120ish. No problems at all. __________________

02-May-05, 02:13 PM	#16 (permalink)
4rm4g3dd0n Apex Elite Tech Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Texas A&M University Posts: 1,195	lol at my college its a grand total of 5 bux. office 2003 professional is 15... __________________

02-May-05, 02:30 PM	#17 (permalink)
G Money Fuel Hoe-lio Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Boom Pod Posts: 885	It is possible to have to call an activation support person if you install the program too many times. I installed a copy of XP Pro OEM 2x on a machine, then installed MCE 2005 over it (fresh), then reinstalled XP Pro (fresh again) on it. I had to call activation and get an activation number to match my hardware ID. They just asked how many times it has been installed on that machine and didn't give me any problems when I told them I was trying to build a dual boot system. Of course, my mistake that all Media Center 2005 is an application built into Windows XP Pro SP 2 so I'm just putting all my games on one drive, and using the other drive for recording. __________________ Why don't you wish in one hand and crap in the other and tell me which one fills up first. -- Badder Santa.