OEM Operating Systems.

**CoCheez** · 12-28-07, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by Cecil900

Anyway, my question is, would i be able to just pop this in the drive and install on a computer with Windows already on it? Basically reformatting or upgrading to Vista. Or would i need to get a retail version of windows?

You can not do an upgrade with an OEM version only a full install.

**SapiensErus** · 12-28-07, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by WileECyte

Vista seems awful picky about the changes that cause reactivation. I swapped out my motherboard (old one started having issues. Same CPU, Video Card, RAM, OS Install, etc, but needed to reactivate. Then I decided to replace my primary HD (Old PATA drive) and I literally cloned it from disk to disk using Ghost.... needed to reactivate. Upgraded my CPU... needed to reactivate. XP's activation process was a lot less picky.

Greeaat.. I my Vista system has gone unmodified as of yet so I have not had to jump off that bridge.. thanks for the eads up!

**...bigdog...** · 12-28-07, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by CoCheez

Originally Posted by Cecil900

Anyway, my question is, would i be able to just pop this in the drive and install on a computer with Windows already on it? Basically reformatting or upgrading to Vista. Or would i need to get a retail version of windows?

You can not do an upgrade with an OEM version only a full install.

that's not true. you can buy OEM 'upgrade' versions......I think.

**SI42** · 12-28-07, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by SoySoldier

Originally Posted by WileECyte

Vista seems awful picky about the changes that cause reactivation. I swapped out my motherboard (old one started having issues. Same CPU, Video Card, RAM, OS Install, etc, but needed to reactivate. Then I decided to replace my primary HD (Old PATA drive) and I literally cloned it from disk to disk using Ghost.... needed to reactivate. Upgraded my CPU... needed to reactivate. XP's activation process was a lot less picky.

Greeaat.. I my Vista system has gone unmodified as of yet so I have not had to jump off that bridge.. thanks for the eads up!

I had to actually send Vista Home Premium back to MS, because I do a lot of OCing and it would want me to activate every time I upped the speed to a point where the hardware was fine but the OS did not like it, and would not authenticate at all. So I scrapped it and went back to XP pro.

**SapiensErus** · 12-28-07, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Gumby

We started selling OEM instead of retail so our customers could get it cheap. What we did was to sell them an old 30-pin SIMM that we had stacks of for $0.01 and the OEM Windows for $90.00. It was great for us because we could drop retail OSes from inventory and great for the customers because they got what they needed for about half the price.

that right there is shifty, clever, and made me laugh out loud. Kudos.

**CoCheez** · 12-28-07, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by ...bigdog...

Originally Posted by CoCheez

Originally Posted by Cecil900

Anyway, my question is, would i be able to just pop this in the drive and install on a computer with Windows already on it? Basically reformatting or upgrading to Vista. Or would i need to get a retail version of windows?

You can not do an upgrade with an OEM version only a full install.

that's not true. you can buy OEM 'upgrade' versions......I think.

Nope Upgrades come in retail only. If you try and use a OEM copy to upgrade it will tell you this version cannot upgrade an existing OS.

**CoCheez** · 12-28-07, 11:17 PM

If you feel like tinkering you can force an OEM version to do an upgrade but I wouldn't recommend it.

http://www.petri.co.il/use_oem_versi...upgrade_xp.htm

**SapiensErus** · 12-28-07, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by ...bigdog...

Originally Posted by SoySoldier

I have not bought a retail version of an OS since DOS 6.2.

then you're a criminal, and my shit is more expensive because of you.

Duh! I am slow sometimes and I thought you said this because I indicated I use OEM software and you thought I was not ordering OEM with parts that qualify...but I finally caught on that you thought I implied I steal software! Hell no! i have not used a hacked, copied or otherwise illegitimate OS since I was 18 and I am now 31. I don't want you looking down your nose at me boss!

I buy OEM because I don't need a manual and it's cheaper. As a system builder I can easily qualify for purchase of OEM software because I order lots of parts. If I made software I would want..hell, NEED someone to purchase it, so I return the favor. But I only buy OEM.

**~~Cecil900~~** · 12-29-07, 02:34 PM

Well i ordered XP(OEM). Thanks for the info and help guy's. I plan on using this only on my computer.

**iTz II PrS II** · 07-19-10, 04:43 PM

Yesterday I downloaded the passing DLC And went to play it. Then the update message comes on my screen so I accept the update wait 2 min's and the game goes to start up. It goes to a black screen, but then it goes to the L4D2 loading screen and then black again, I can hear all the music on the title screen and I can hear myself moving through the different playlist options, but no picture. I researched the problem and came across these exact symptoms but only for the pc. Can anyone help or advise me on anything as its really stressing me out.
regards.