OEM software

Discussion in 'Software' started by Raffaz, Jan 24, 2007.

  1. Raffaz

    Raffaz Kebab Lover Gold Member

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    Quick question, how does the licence work with OEM software? I noticed that OCUK are selling copies of the OEM vista, but i thought that OEM operating systems were shipped with new computers, or is that wrong? Cheers
     
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  2. ThomasMc

    ThomasMc Gigabyte Poster

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    I Got an OEM XP Pro from my local computer wholesale store at a fraction of the cost of the Retail XP only diffrence was i didn't get a fancy box and saved a packet, Iam sure you are correct in saying that OEM should only be shipped with new computers but i think they get around this by classing it as wholesale.

    I have heard that the major diffrence with the Vista OEM & Retail is that the Retail version comes with both 32bit and 64bit OS with a key for both
     
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  3. elli5on

    elli5on Kilobyte Poster

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    And usually to buy OEM software, you normally have to buy some form of hardware alongside it. I believe a mouse counts for this.
     
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  4. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    OEM software is technically tied to the computer that it's purchased for (at least, as far as Microsoft OEM software is concerned). Once the computer is sold, OEM software is supposed to be transferred with the computer, not uninstalled and reinstalled on another computer. Do people do it? Of course. Legally, they're not supposed to, but it happens.

    Retail software does not have this limitation. You can freely uninstall it from one computer and install it on another.

    OEM software is usually sold with a computer. Some retailers try to get around this requirement by selling it with a small hardware component.
     
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  5. Bluerinse
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    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

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    Wholesalers by definition are not supposed to sell to the general public, they are supposed to sell to the trade and the trade (people like me) sell them to the public. If they sell directly to the public, how are people in the trade going to make any money?

    I know that this goes on but it is annoying when you are running a business and your suppliers break their own rules and cut you out of the profit chain. :dry
     
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  6. Mitzs
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    Mitzs Ducktape Goddess

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    Thats how I bought my windows 2000
     
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  7. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    I've bought OEM software from ZipZoomFly.com several times. Pretty reliable company.
     
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  8. Mitzs
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    Mitzs Ducktape Goddess

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    i've never heard of them before. Thanks i'll check them out.
     
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  9. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    They accidentally forgot to ship Josh a hard drive (he ordered two and got one), and it took forever to get them to believe that he wasn't trying to rip them off. Josh eventually got the drive.

    That said, I've purchased thousands of dollars of hardware from them in the past, and haven't yet had a problem.
     
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  10. Mitzs
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    Mitzs Ducktape Goddess

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    An inventory count should have told them they were wrong, unless someone sent out an extra one to the wrong buyer.
     
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  11. Mathematix

    Mathematix Megabyte Poster

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    Apart from the requirement that OEM software must be sold with an item of hardware, I thought that the only other disfference (apart from the more environmentally friendly packaging ;) ) was that you cannot obtain support from the manufacturer for the product.
     
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  12. Bluerinse
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    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

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    And it is locked to the PC once it is activated - you can't install it on another PC if that one dies.
     
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  13. Modey

    Modey Terabyte Poster

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    That is why many retailers sold a piece of hardware with OEM OS's. You technically become the 'system builder' if you buy it with hardware, and thus responsibility for supporting said OS now lies with you and not them.

    Some retailers are now blatantly selling OEM OS's without any hardware at all though, not sure where the legality of that stands. MS obviously know this goes on, I guess they see it as another revenue stream and turn a blind eye.
     
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  14. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    You should get support for any problems from the system builder (or agent who supplied you) rather than from MS.

    As has been said, if you sell the PC you should also hand over all the OEM paperwork.
     
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  15. Mathematix

    Mathematix Megabyte Poster

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    I build my own PCs, so i guess that makes me a 'system builder'. I have run into a few problems like the nightmarish screen staying black on system startup which has lead me almost to tears before getting the system working.

    The joy of supporting yourself, eh? :biggrin
     
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