OEM key vs retail

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

At my work we have Vista RTMs now being setup and tested on a few select
machines. The disks for Vista are the same, I believe, as the ones made
available to TechNet or MSDN (can't remember which) but the keys are strictly
for our work machines; we cannot install them on our home machines for
personal use.

My company has approved my purchase of a notebook and I've decided to get it
after Vista release. I know from past experience OEMs shove extra software
down my throat and now most are just giving recovery disks with their
machines rather than actual windows install disks.

My question, finally (hehe), would I be able to use the Vista OEM key that
will be given to me with my new notebook with the Vista install disk from my
work? Obviously I would need to install the same version that I have the key
for (in my case most likely Home Premium) but I was just curious if anyone
knows if that would work? I don't see why MSFT would care where the disk came
from as long as I have a legitimate paid-for key, am I correct to assume that?
 
OEM Product Keys cannot be used with MSDN installation media.
MSDN CD/DVDs are "retail versions". Your OEM Product Key
would not be accepted.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| At my work we have Vista RTMs now being setup and tested on a few select
| machines. The disks for Vista are the same, I believe, as the ones made
| available to TechNet or MSDN (can't remember which) but the keys are strictly
| for our work machines; we cannot install them on our home machines for
| personal use.
|
| My company has approved my purchase of a notebook and I've decided to get it
| after Vista release. I know from past experience OEMs shove extra software
| down my throat and now most are just giving recovery disks with their
| machines rather than actual windows install disks.
|
| My question, finally (hehe), would I be able to use the Vista OEM key that
| will be given to me with my new notebook with the Vista install disk from my
| work? Obviously I would need to install the same version that I have the key
| for (in my case most likely Home Premium) but I was just curious if anyone
| knows if that would work? I don't see why MSFT would care where the disk came
| from as long as I have a legitimate paid-for key, am I correct to assume that?
 
Rob said:
At my work we have Vista RTMs now being setup and tested on a few select
machines. The disks for Vista are the same, I believe, as the ones made
available to TechNet or MSDN (can't remember which) but the keys are
strictly
for our work machines; we cannot install them on our home machines for
personal use.

My company has approved my purchase of a notebook and I've decided to get
it
after Vista release. I know from past experience OEMs shove extra software
down my throat and now most are just giving recovery disks with their
machines rather than actual windows install disks.

My question, finally (hehe), would I be able to use the Vista OEM key that
will be given to me with my new notebook with the Vista install disk from
my
work? Obviously I would need to install the same version that I have the
key
for (in my case most likely Home Premium) but I was just curious if anyone
knows if that would work? I don't see why MSFT would care where the disk
came
from as long as I have a legitimate paid-for key, am I correct to assume
that?
Click to expand...



I'm planning on getting a new laptop too soon, and was wondering about this
myself. I am going to investigate whether I can extract files from the
vendor's custom Vista DVD or recovery disk to make my own DVD, like I did
with XP nLite. There seems to be an early version of Vista nLite already.
http://www.vlite.net/

ss.
 
OEM Product Keys cannot be used with MSDN installation media.
MSDN CD/DVDs are "retail versions". Your OEM Product Key
would not be accepted.
Click to expand...

Is that new for Vista?

This IBM laptop is running MSDN XP Home using the key on a label on the
underside of the machine. It's about the only way to avoid (a) an all day
re-install from 7 x CD's and (b) the pile of garbage that get installed
with OEM versions.
 
There are three types of keys and media the keys and media are not
interchangeable
1. OEM - Must use OEM key other keys will not work.
2. Retail - Must use Retail key OEM keys will not work
3. Volume License - Must use Volume License keys OEM or Retail will not
work.
 
There are three types of keys and media the keys and media are not
interchangeable
1. OEM - Must use OEM key other keys will not work.
2. Retail - Must use Retail key OEM keys will not work
3. Volume License - Must use Volume License keys OEM or Retail will not
work.
Click to expand...

Is that Vista or XP?

As I said I am using an MSDN version of XP Home with a key that's on the
bottom of the laptop -presumably an OEM key.
 
MSDN subscription media cannot be shared with individuals who do not have a MSDN Subscriptions license.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Jeff Gaines" | Is that new for Vista?
|
| This IBM laptop is running MSDN XP Home using the key on a label on the
| underside of the machine. It's about the only way to avoid (a) an all day
| re-install from 7 x CD's and (b) the pile of garbage that get installed
| with OEM versions.
|
| --
| Jeff Gaines
| Damerham Hampshire UK
 
FYI, MSDN does ship MSDN version and retail version CDs/DVDs for XP. I
don't know about how OEM keys work with it.

Dale
 
Oh, and like Carey said. Even the retail version with MSDN is limited to
the specific named MSDN subscriber only and only for development/test use.

Dale

Dale said:
FYI, MSDN does ship MSDN version and retail version CDs/DVDs for XP. I
don't know about how OEM keys work with it.

Dale
Click to expand...
 
MSDN installation media is for use with MSDN product keys
and not OEM product keys. The MSDN installation media
can only be used in accordance with the MSDN licensing agreement.
If it is determined someone is mis-using MSDN installation media,
the subscriber could have his/her MSDN license revoked.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Jane C" wrote:

| Jeff is not sharing it...it's on HIS pc.
|
| --
| Jane, not plain ;) 64 bit enabled :-)
| Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
 
You seem sure about this although it does not make sense.

I'm not questioning whether you're correct or not, but I am confused about
the motive behind this. We don't buy software anymore but merely a licence to
run them, right?

My OEM key is only good for one version of Vista (say Home Premium) and
cannot ever be transferred to another machine or hardware configuration. Fair
enough. What difference which disk I use to install my Home Premium, whether
it was a Retail disk, an MSDN disk or a recovery disk that came with the PC?

The only reason this has become an issue to me is because OEM disks are full
of bloat ware and a clean install is almost impossible. Also, some OEMs are
no longer giving MSFT Windows disks but rather recovery image of the drive
that is full of, excuse my language, Crap.

So I ask why did MSFT do this if in fact this is how they plan to do it? All
this does is irritate legitimate customers and drive them that much closer to
piracy.
 
The installation disk includes a specific license agreement.
A OEM installation CD includes a different license than
either a retail or MSDN installation CD. The product key
unlocks the license agreement.

In your case, if want a generic Windows Vista installation,
you'll need to purchase a generic Windows Vista license
and the generic Windows Vista OEM CD that comes with it.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| You seem sure about this although it does not make sense.
|
| I'm not questioning whether you're correct or not, but I am confused about
| the motive behind this. We don't buy software anymore but merely a licence to
| run them, right?
|
| My OEM key is only good for one version of Vista (say Home Premium) and
| cannot ever be transferred to another machine or hardware configuration. Fair
| enough. What difference which disk I use to install my Home Premium, whether
| it was a Retail disk, an MSDN disk or a recovery disk that came with the PC?
|
| The only reason this has become an issue to me is because OEM disks are full
| of bloat ware and a clean install is almost impossible. Also, some OEMs are
| no longer giving MSFT Windows disks but rather recovery image of the drive
| that is full of, excuse my language, Crap.
|
| So I ask why did MSFT do this if in fact this is how they plan to do it? All
| this does is irritate legitimate customers and drive them that much closer to
| piracy.
|
|
| "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:
|
| > OEM Product Keys cannot be used with MSDN installation media.
| > MSDN CD/DVDs are "retail versions". Your OEM Product Key
| > would not be accepted.
| >
| > --
| > Carey Frisch
| > Microsoft MVP
| > Windows Shell/User
| > Microsoft Community Newsgroups
| > news://msnews.microsoft.com/
| >
| >
| > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| >
| > "Rob" wrote:
| >
| > | At my work we have Vista RTMs now being setup and tested on a few select
| > | machines. The disks for Vista are the same, I believe, as the ones made
| > | available to TechNet or MSDN (can't remember which) but the keys are strictly
| > | for our work machines; we cannot install them on our home machines for
| > | personal use.
| > |
| > | My company has approved my purchase of a notebook and I've decided to get it
| > | after Vista release. I know from past experience OEMs shove extra software
| > | down my throat and now most are just giving recovery disks with their
| > | machines rather than actual windows install disks.
| > |
| > | My question, finally (hehe), would I be able to use the Vista OEM key that
| > | will be given to me with my new notebook with the Vista install disk from my
| > | work? Obviously I would need to install the same version that I have the key
| > | for (in my case most likely Home Premium) but I was just curious if anyone
| > | knows if that would work? I don't see why MSFT would care where the disk came
| > | from as long as I have a legitimate paid-for key, am I correct to assume that?
| >
| >
| >
 
The installation disk includes a specific license agreement.
A OEM installation CD includes a different license than
either a retail or MSDN installation CD. The product key
unlocks the license agreement.

In your case, if want a generic Windows Vista installation,
you'll need to purchase a generic Windows Vista license
and the generic Windows Vista OEM CD that comes with it.
Click to expand...

There's a conflict between these statements.

If it's the key that unlocks the licence (which I have always understood
to be the case) then the source of the media is not important, it's the
key that matters.

Certainly it's very easy to buy media (in the UK) for around £2.50 but
it's of absolutely no use to anybody unless they have a genuine key/COA.
 
With the EULA, we're talking semantics here. Surely MSFT can have one
physical EULA that addresses both OEM and retail given that really the main,
and possibly only, difference is one that prohibits the transfer of the OEM
to another machine.

Now, if money was no object then people would not worry about any of this.
But given the fact that we cannot buy notebooks without an OEM Windows
version, buying another in the form of a retail version is just wasteful, to
merely be able to do a clean install.

Am I somehow gaining an advantage from installing Vista using say a retail
disk and my OEM key while still abiding by my OEM EULA? I still question why
MSFT would think it's wrong for me to use my OEM key to activate the same
version of Vista, for which I have paid for, using media of my choice.
 
If you have a full retail version of XP Home or Pro, only a retail key will
be accepted during install. A VLK or OEM key will be rejected. Similarly,
if you have a (generic) OEM disk of XP Home or Pro, only a (generic) OEM key
will be accepted. A retail or VLK will be rejected. With XP, there were
different discs produced for the different key types.
 
What is being overlooked in the discussion of keys is suitability of the
media for your laptop. Your laptop will ship, if you order it with Vista
installed, with the proper drivers for all the hardware it contains. Using
any foreign media (that did not come with the computer) will mean that at
best you'll have to go a-hunting for drivers and at worst that you won't be
able to find them and your laptop's performance will be crippled.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
 
If you have a full retail version of XP Home or Pro, only a retail key
will be accepted during install. A VLK or OEM key will be rejected.
Similarly, if you have a (generic) OEM disk of XP Home or Pro, only a
(generic) OEM key will be accepted. A retail or VLK will be rejected.
With XP, there were different discs produced for the different key types.
Click to expand...

That was my understanding. However, this lappy was installed from an MSDN
XP Home CD (burnt from the MSDN iso) and it accepted the key on the laptop
label. Perhaps the MSDN iso is an exception?

It's certainly a much cleaner install without all the rubbish IBM/Lenovo
think is essential to my computing happiness :-)
 
What is being overlooked in the discussion of keys is suitability of the
media for your laptop. Your laptop will ship, if you order it with Vista
installed, with the proper drivers for all the hardware it contains.
Using any foreign media (that did not come with the computer) will mean
that at best you'll have to go a-hunting for drivers and at worst that you
won't be able to find them and your laptop's performance will be crippled.
Click to expand...

That's certainly going to be true for some (perhaps most) laptops.
Fortunately IBM/Lenovo have a help section which shows where all the
drivers are and what you need to do to install them if you upgrade.
 
Jeff Gaines said:
That's certainly going to be true for some (perhaps most) laptops.
Fortunately IBM/Lenovo have a help section which shows where all the
drivers are and what you need to do to install them if you upgrade.
Click to expand...


Sony has a very nice download centre as well.

ss.
 
Back
Top