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Vista buying help...

Forum Windows Vista : Vista General Discussion - Vista buying help...

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Blak op blob   09-29-2008 at 08:06:16 AM

Hey all, i have built my own system, and now i need the OS. I am going to get the Vista home premium 32bit SP1 but am confused what OEM stands for on websites. It is around $160 Australian on the websites when it says OEM with it, but at stores it retails for around $350 Australian. My comp has no OS so it will need to be a brand new one. I am unsure what to do because of the price difference and the meanings associated with the many types available. Can someone please help because all i want is Vista home premium 32bit SP1 for a new build...

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Zoron   09-29-2008 at 09:14:38 AM
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Original Equipment Manufaturer.

OEM copies of Windows are intended to be installed by computer manufacturers on the computers they build. They come with very basic packaging and you will not have any telephone support from Microsoft... they will tell you that you have to contact your system manufacturer for any support issues. OEM copies of Windows are also intended to be installed only on one machine (same as retail), but the difference is if you sell the computer, that copy of Windows must go with it... no wiping and installing it on another computer. This is why OEM copies are much cheaper than retail copies.

With retail copies, you are allowed to uninstall the OS from the current PC and install it on a completely different PC. You could do this with OEM copies as well... but it is a violation of MS's license agreement.

------------------------------ Desktop: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit; Intel Q6600 CPU; E-VGA 780i SLI motherboard; E-VGA E-GeForce 8800GT; OCZ Vista 4GB dual-channel kit; Ultra X2 750W power supply; 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB in RAID 0. Laptop: Acer Aspire 8730-6314;
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Blak op blob   09-29-2008 at 09:24:47 AM
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lol sweet, that helps, thanks....

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