Windows Question?

I was looking at getting the windows media center with the free upgrade slip but I was wondering because it made it sound that you had to buy a computer with windows pre installed so my question is...If I get it will I be able to upgrade if I have a home built computer or does it have to be pre installed.

Here it is
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116171

I've never noticed any difference in OEM and retail software (except for the price). I've never done a Media Center install, but I didn't notice any difference in XP pro. Also, I would be leary as to if Microsoft will honor the certificate to home system builders. It sounds like you have to purchase from a Registered System builder to receive the upgrade. I could be totally wrong, but I would do my homework before buying if that is what you are basing your purchase decision on.

sruane is right, you may have to buy a piece of hardware. I have purchased OEM Windows from Newegg by itself. However, if you do have to buy hardware, just throw in some cheap part.

I upgrade my computers which have OEM windows all the time. Of my five copies of windows, three have required a call to Microsoft to reactivate, but it was just a phone call. No big deal.

At first its automated. You key some numbers into the phone. If all is well, the "voice" reads a set of numbers back and you use those to activate.

If not, you get to talk to a person who will make you promise that you only have that particular copy of windows installed on a single machine. Then he'll give you the numbers.

So I will be able to upgrade to vista on a homebuilt system with the coupon?

At Newegg; the first post has a link.

Yeah right, Microsoft give something away for FREE!

Sorry, I wasn't trying to imply anything. I beleive there are some coupons that let you upgrade from Media Center to "Ultimate" for free and from XP Pro to "Business" for free. The upgrade from XP Home is at a cost. Anyway, my comment was just a light backhand at the way Microsoft does it's licensing. You really see how ridiculous the costs are when you work in a Server/Client environment!

I guess what I was thinking of wasn't actually a coupon, rather the Express Upgrade program. If you go to Microsoft's site you will find a list of vendors that offer this program. I would assume the coupon that comes with OEM software (like the one offered at Newegg) would be the same thing. Also, I stand corrected on the Ultimate part. You get an upgrade from Media Center to Home Premium. There are too many versions to keep straight

yes, you will be able to recieve an upgrade if you buy one of the new OS packages.
and, OEM is the ONLY way that anyone should think of buying OS's. If you don't and go retail, all you get is the cool little box and an "introduction" to your OS, while OEM is half the price. OMFG you dont get the box. NOOOOO!!!!. WHo cares. 94% of people are gonna throw it away anyhow.
And when you're looking at Ultimate, the lowered price is a great thing.

Yeah, I bought a Dell for SUPER cheap off of ebay, ripped out the CPU, memory, and hard drive, and was able to use the XP license on a new machine with no trouble.

As with any version of Windows ...

If you upgrade too much or a major piece such as the CPU or HD you have to call in and get a key. If you put it on an entirely different machine you have to assure the boyz in India that you've killed it on the old machine. Once again, as with all XP or greater.

Nothing new here, move along.

There is no such thing as an OEM upgrade. If you have an OEM version of Windows you will get an OEM key. If you have a retail version you will get a retail key. If you get an upgrade you will get an upgrade key. If you add a new device that requires the Windows disk be inserted you will need to insert your proper disk for that machine. If you insert the wrong disk, based on the key info, Windows will let you know.

When I moved my main machine to x64 I installed the XPPro that had been on it, (BTW: that XPPro had been on that machine through 3 chips, several memory steppings and 2 HD's), to a perimeter box. I had to make the call, got the key, and activated the x64 while I had them online. Both installs were OEM.

heres the proof to contradict your reasoning: Microsoft Revises Vista Licensing to Appease Enthusiasts

with windows XP, under ceartain conditions you could do so. As for I, I just procrastinated to un-install it from the second machine, and after the 30 days, I said what the hell, why not try. It worked.

Vista is a different animal. This is not possible. With all of the copyright protection and anti-piracy stuff, this unfortunantly isn't going to happen.