The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    If you get the OEM vista, will you be able to reformat, or does liscening work like retailer?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Zellio, Dec 12, 2006.

  1. Zellio

    Zellio The Dark Knight

    Reputations:
    446
    Messages:
    1,464
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I'm interested in getting a OEM version of Windows Media Center edition so that I can get OEM Home Premium later on for my core 2 duo. I'm finding from other people that home premium would be just fine, esp. since it's the second lowest costing and I want Aero Glass for my Core 2 Duo.

    However, I don't want to get it if I can only use it once, and not reformat...

    So, what do you thinx? Would the liscening be like normal windows, or like Dell, etc?
     
    Zellio, Dec 12, 2006
    #1
  2. chrisyano

    chrisyano Hall Monitor NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    956
    Messages:
    5,504
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    OEM copies can only be installed on one system. So you cannot remove it from one notebook and then install it on your next one.

    A retail version, however, can be installed on one system at a time. So if you get a retail version, you can uninstall Vista and put it on your next notebook.
     
    chrisyano, Dec 12, 2006
    #2
  3. Zellio

    Zellio The Dark Knight

    Reputations:
    446
    Messages:
    1,464
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Herm.

    So it would be best if I get retail Vista?

    Alrighty then.
     
    Zellio, Dec 12, 2006
    #3
  4. chrisyano

    chrisyano Hall Monitor NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    956
    Messages:
    5,504
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Well, reformatting wouldn't be a problem with an OEM version. It's just that the license gets transferred to the hardware. With a retail copy, you own the license for one copy of Windows on one system.
     
    chrisyano, Dec 12, 2006
    #4
  5. Zellio

    Zellio The Dark Knight

    Reputations:
    446
    Messages:
    1,464
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Would you be able to reformat and put it back on the pc say you upgrade it?

    I'm talking about my desktop here.

    I guess for laptops I'd definately get retail.
     
    Zellio, Dec 12, 2006
    #5
  6. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

    Reputations:
    4,018
    Messages:
    6,046
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    206
    What is OEM?
     
    Bog, Dec 12, 2006
    #6
  7. EQualizer

    EQualizer Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) versions are basically what a company buys to build say their own computers. So Dell for example, would purchase the OEM version of Vista to install onto their own computers.

    Would an upgrade version of Windows Vista work if I'm running an OEM version of XP on my laptop? Or does it have to be a retail version of xp for the vista upgrade to work?
     
    EQualizer, Dec 12, 2006
    #7