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

Joose · 02-May-05, 02:35 PM

I don't pay for it at all...it's covered by our corporate license

Definitely buy OEM. Newegg's price is the best I've seen (barring education discounts)...go get it.

j-dogg · 08-May-05, 11:49 PM

Get OEM, Their tech support is sh*t. I know this from experience, trust me they are useless, get an OEM copy. And tech support is only good for RMA, laptop owners and n00bs, we're []D [] []\/[] []D S, we ARE the tech support's PWNERERS. We bitchslap tech support with our 1337 skillz.

The only good tech support I have ever dealt with is Dell, they pwn all. We might be PIMPS but Dell TS are P.I.T. (Pimps In Training)

All the others are worthless, get OEM.

01-May-05, 07:22 PM		#1 (permalink)
Scorpionic Recycl-Hoe-tron	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, 09:46 PM		#4 (permalink)
Scorpionic Recycl-Hoe-tron	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, 09:10 AM		#11 (permalink)
FunkyFresh 'Da Doctor of Funk	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.

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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	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	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

02-May-05, 12:02 AM		#5 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	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	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	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	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.

02-May-05, 03:26 AM		#9 (permalink)
aaronrkelly Apex Tech God	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	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....

02-May-05, 10:01 AM		#12 (permalink)
SexyPants 5-Hoe-1 Jeans	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	i purchased mine from newegg for about $120ish. No problems at all.

02-May-05, 02:13 PM		#16 (permalink)
4rm4g3dd0n Apex Elite Tech	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	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.

02-May-05, 02:35 PM		#19 (permalink)
Joose Joosey	I don't pay for it at all...it's covered by our corporate license Definitely buy OEM. Newegg's price is the best I've seen (barring education discounts)...go get it.

08-May-05, 11:49 PM		#20 (permalink)
j-dogg Mystical Schwinn Guru	Get OEM, Their tech support is sh*t. I know this from experience, trust me they are useless, get an OEM copy. And tech support is only good for RMA, laptop owners and n00bs, we're []D [] []\/[] []D S, we ARE the tech support's PWNERERS. We bitchslap tech support with our 1337 skillz. The only good tech support I have ever dealt with is Dell, they pwn all. We might be PIMPS but Dell TS are P.I.T. (Pimps In Training) All the others are worthless, get OEM.