Oem

I'm still looking around for the best price on Windows XP Home/Pro and I was just wondering if the install on an OEM version is any different/harder than an install from a boxed, retail version. I've never done an OEM install, so I have no clue on how to do it.
Danke schon.

Here's Google definition of OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer ~ a company that acquires products or components to embed or sell under the company’s own brand. OIF: Optical Internetworking Forum OLTP: Online Transaction Processing ~ data processing mode focused on predictably structured application capabilities. OS: Operating System ~ after loaded by the boot program, the program that manages all other programs on a computer. ...

OEM installs can be different. For example, the copy of Microsoft Windows that comes with a new Dell computer is usually held on the hard disk in a special partition. Instead of installing from CD, you install from this partition. Some OEM installs come with extra software as well. Once you initiate the installation, it is usually the same as when you install from a CD that you buy from a store. Some OEM copies of Windows do still come on disk. The would install the same way, with maybe some minor changes like additional software.

Hope this helps.

If you buy an oem OS without the appropriate hardware,
then it is unlicensed.

Now, Microsoft are known to sulk about unlicensed software
so you have to ask yourself if you want to hurt Bills feelings.

I like the way you said this

As far as installing an OEM version of windows, it's virtually identical to installing a retail version, other than an OEM installer may complain if your disk is not empty. All the extraneous stuff jmurryhead said is about OEM manufactured computers and their software, which is a different topic from an OEM licensed version windows. Drivers, restore partitions, bundled software, etc. are all provided by the OEM manufacturer, not Microsoft.

Not really, an OEM licensed version of Windows is an OEM licensed version of Windows, regardless if their was a manufacturer involved or not.

@deibler: I've done multiple OEM installs (plain OEM licensed version and OEM Licensed version through another manufacturer product. It's all in all the same process, unless you have a copy like I was talking about above where there is extra software added. Just be careful in your search that you don't get a pirated copy.

Alright.. It's a completely new system, fresh HDD, everything. ordered all of the parts, and actually just finished putting it together about 20 mins. ago. (Final parts arrived today)

What I'm getting from this so far, is that the OS install of an OEM version should be no different (if I were to buy the right version), than the boxed, more expensive version, minus the papers... I'll probably get it from one of the mainstream sites like Tigerdirect.

But yeah, I just need to save up to get a new car, too.
ha.

btw- Not a real expensive system, but it has:
-2.8ghz AMD Athlon x2 CPU
-Nvidia nForce EVGA 590 sli
-EVGA e-GeForce 8600 gts superclocked
-600W Ultra PSU
-Western Digital 250gb S-ATA II HDD
-Samsung 18x dual layer DVD+-RW drive w/ lightscribe
-2gb OCZ DDR2-800 PC2-6400 Gold Gamer eXtreme XTC ed. Dual Channel RAM
Should play games quite nicely.

Sorry, you don't know what you are talking about ... or actually you said what I said. Your non-relevant crap about a restore partition has absolutely nothing to do with windows, for example.

deibler, if you qualify for an OEM version you should have no problems installing on your hardware, but typically you must purchase hardware to get a valid OEM license. In addition, an OEM version of windows is not eligible for Microsoft support as a retail version is.