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Old 08-17-2007   #9 (permalink)
Mark


 
 

Re: OEM versions and Full Versions of Vista

:-) You don't miss anything. Thanks for tying it together with the EULA...

Okay, based on other posts and problems noted through Google and forums:

"A preinstalled OEM copy, like HP or Dell, is generally BIOS-locked by the
manufacturer. These can rarely be installed on anything other than the system
they come with. This differs greatly from the generic OEM license which is
basically a copy of the retail disk that is intended for a single machine
without support from Microsoft."
I was generic in my statement (making it incorrect) because the original
post did state that they were looking to purchase the OEM version which means
the above likely could not apply. But, keep in mind, OEM versions are not
typically sold as "stand alone" disks.

Additionally, activation is based on a hardware signature which also
includes the BIOS string. Updates _may_ change this string making activation
of OEM versions difficult since Microsoft will not typically support OEM
versions. If you get the typical person on the end of phone activation, you
_may_ succeed.

Per my original statement, "may" is the key word.


"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

> Mark wrote:
> > It's not just tied to the PC you install it on. It is tied to the
> > configuration. If you change something, like update your BIOS, you may no
> > longer be able to activate it.

>
>
> That's news! When did this happen? Can you provide a link to the
> Microsoft announcement of the new EULA?
>
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
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