Vista - Vista Retail vs OEM

Is there any difference in the setup of the OEM and retail versions of Vista,
i.e., customize and setting up a dual boot configuration? Also, does the OEM
version allow reinstall on the same computer in the event of system recovery
and/or other problems? Thanks.
RickC

You cannot perform an UPGRADE using OEM.
Only a clean install....

You can reinstall an OEM version infinite times as long as its on the same
PC


"leoram" <leoram@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:FE229045-912A-425D-8D25-751BFEB61FDD@xxxxxx

You can re-install either retail or OEM versions as many times as you need to, provided that it is on the same computer. Another critical issue to consider is that Microsoft does not provide product support for the OEM version, the supplier where you bought it is responsible for that. (I never could figure that one out, but thats how it works).

If you have the retail version, you can concievably install it onto another PC (i.e. New Hardware), but I believe that this can only be done once.

It is possible to use the same OEM media on different hardware and to re-activate windows with the same product key, but you'll need to be a system builder like me to do that.

>That's not true. At least not in the US. The
details are here:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070130-8730.html

It's perfectly OK to buy OEM Windows in the US.
The difference is that it's licensed to a PC rather than
a person, so it's can't be transfered later to a second
PC.
Of course, it may not be legally binding to
restrict a license for intellectual property to an inanimate
piece of metal that hasn't been demonstrated to have human
consciousness, but Product Activation will enforce the
license whether it's legal or not.

leoram <leoram@xxxxxx> wrote:
No. The OS is exactly the same, whether you installed from an OEM or
retail disk. The differences are in support (MS doesn't support OEM
versions, the OEM is supposed to do that), and licensing.
On the same machine, yes, of course. An OEM disk will not upgrade an
existing system, it has to be installed on an empty disk (or at least
on a disk that doesn't already have an OS installed on it). And an OEM
license is good only for the first machine that it's installed on. It
cannot be installed on another machine, even if the first one ceases
to exist. But reinstalling on the same machine wouldn't be a problem.

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(Shell/User)
Slattery_T@xxxxxx
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

It depends, but the OEM Windows Vista setup is generally identical to the
retail versions. If your computer came without recovery disk, you might have
to use the OEMs custom method of installing the OS such as booting from your
BIOS.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"leoram" <leoram@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:FE229045-912A-425D-8D25-751BFEB61FDD@xxxxxx

Tim Slattery wrote:Regarding the comment about having to install on an empty disk, or a
disk without an os installed on it, I installed vista oem on a computer
that still had the vista final release candidate on it. When all was
said and done, the new image was in place, and the rc was gone. However,
I did have the windows.old info available. I was surprised to see that
data, give the caveat above. Is that just the nature of the beast, no
matter what the install circumstances should be? Thanks.

--
norm

Man-wai Chang ToDie <toylet.toylet@xxxxxx> wrote:
It is much cheaper, for the reasons I talked about in my other post.
It won't upgrade an existing system, but only install from scratch.
And you get no support from MS. The OEM is supposed to supply the
support. If you bought the CD from eBay or something like that, you
have no support. Other than this group, of course.

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(Shell/User)
Slattery_T@xxxxxx
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

"leoram" <leoram@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:FE229045-912A-425D-8D25-751BFEB61FDD@xxxxxx
Onto a blank harddrive, the OEM and full Retail versions will install, to
all intents and purposes identically. An upgrade Retail version will install
clean as well, but it will register that it was clean installed. Therefore
it will not activate online until you do an in-place upgrade - Vista over
Vista - and then it will activate online fine, all else being A-OK.

The OEM disc has the recovery tools AFAIK , but since various manufacturers
do weird and wonderful things vis a vis recovery and recovery discs, you'd
have to check with the particular manufacturer about how their disc works if
it is anything but generic Microsoft.

Saucy

"Tie Various" <noneofyourbusiness@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4729ba65@xxxxxx-privat.org...Wrong! A generic OEM DVD will perform an in-place upgrade from qualifying
version (ie XP/Win2000)