OEM Vista

[Louis]

What is the implications of buying the OEM version of Vista instead of the Retail version? Will it make it more difficult to install/work with?

[Lynx]

Nothing different except that oem only has one activation.

[mac124]

Not strictly true, i managed to screw up my new work pc the day after i got it (all i did was switch it off by holding in the power button when it was asleep??) to the point where i had to reinstall vista and it reactivated just fine, this is business edition though so unless thats different??

xp could be activated 3 times before requiring a phone call i believe.

[Lynx]

You only get 1 licence that is tied to that mobo, if you want to be pedantic. while normal has 3 possible licences.

[mac124]

Not being pedantic, just accurate. You said one \"ACTIVATION\" which, as i said, is not strictly true.

[Micky007]

You can activate it as many time as you want. I have an OEM of Windows XP and iv reformatted and installed this onto 3 other computers and i ring Microsoft up with my cd key activation number and it says sorry we can not do this, please hold while we connect you to one of our advisors. they ask you again for the activation code and they ask you why, just say you reformatted and they will give you the activation numbers to type in.

Iv done is more than 15 times and on other computers aswell.

But thats for XP, i dont know how it works with Vista as i dont use it.

Thanks

[The Architect]

OEM version comes in a plain white box - the full version comes in a pretty colourful box

(not sure about activation)

[Lynx]

Dw archetect, ive had the experience, our info is definatley true.

[Micky007]

I'm sure if you do what i said in the above post then you will be able to activate Vista again.

Thanks

[Lynx]

Yeh your right, just me using the wrong word.

[GOONERUK]

[quote:92b8bccaf9=\"Micky007\"]You can activate it as many time as you want. I have an OEM of Windows XP and iv reformatted and installed this onto 3 other computers and i ring Microsoft up with my cd key activation number and it says sorry we can not do this, please hold while we connect you to one of our advisors. they ask you again for the activation code and they ask you why, just say you reformatted and they will give you the activation numbers to type in.

Iv done is more than 15 times and on other computers aswell.

But thats for XP, i dont know how it works with Vista as i dont use it.

Thanks[/quote:92b8bccaf9]

Its the same with Vista as XP, I got an Oem version with my Dell and put it on my home build pc and my old Fujitsu laptop and all you have to do is phone MS and tell them youve had to reformat, easy.