Windows 2000 OEM vs. Windows 2000

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Guest

I am considering upgrading to Windows 2000

I have seen remarkable price discounts on the OEM version over the non-OEM version.

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the OEM and non-OEM version

What do you get in the non-OEM version that you don't get in the OEM version

Thanks

-
Berni
(e-mail address removed)
 
Hi Bernie

In terms of software, they are exactly the same. It is what you can do with
it and how you can acquire it that differs.

When you buy an OEM piece of software, it has to come with a non-peripheral
piece of hardware (e.g. not a mouse) or a computer. The software is
permanently tied to that piece of hardware. When that hardware dies, the
software dies with it. You can't transfer OEM software to another machine.

Hope this clarifies things.

Oli
 
Thank you for the quick reply

I think that answers my question.

But may I ask what prevents me from re-installing OEM software on a new computer

I ask, not because I want to pirate MS software (as a developer myself, I am opposed to software piracy), but I am concerned what if my hard drive dies and I need to re-install the OS on a fresh new drive in the same machine (as has happened to me a few times already -- Win 95 warns me about multiple installs, but let's me continue the install)?

Is there copy protection preventing me from doing it? Or just my honor

If there is cop protection, then I definitely DO NOT want the OEM version

If it is just my honor, then the OEM version will suit me just fine

Thanks again

-
Berni
(e-mail address removed)



----- Oli Restorick [MVP] wrote: ----

Hi Berni

In terms of software, they are exactly the same. It is what you can do wit
it and how you can acquire it that differs

When you buy an OEM piece of software, it has to come with a non-periphera
piece of hardware (e.g. not a mouse) or a computer. The software i
permanently tied to that piece of hardware. When that hardware dies, th
software dies with it. You can't transfer OEM software to another machine

Hope this clarifies things

Ol
 
Hi Bernie.

Bernie Gallagher said:
But may I ask what prevents me from re-installing OEM software on a new
Click to expand...
computer?
Only the license agreement.
Is there copy protection preventing me from doing it? Or just my honor?
Click to expand...
Just your honour.
If there is cop protection, then I definitely DO NOT want the OEM version.
Click to expand...
Some OEM versions (those shipped by major computer manufacturers) check the
make and possibly the model of machine they're installing on. If you bought
and OEM along with a piece of hardware (a hard drive, say), then that
version would be the regular OEM version.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
You're welcome.

Regards

Oli
 
Oli

Thanks again, you are very helpful

It seems from what you said that the OEM version may work for me

But may I clarify an issue

The computer is one I assembled myself from individual components.

I am one of those people who likes to tinker inside computers -- I hesitate to use the term "hacker" because of the malicious connotation the term has sadly acquired

I just recently swapped in a new motherboard (I upgraded from a Pentium 233 with 128 Kb ram to a Pentium III 1 Ghz with 1 Gb ram).

Now, Win 95 won't boot because of "insufficient memory" ?!?!

Twiddling with the vcache in system.ini doesn't seem to be able to get around the problem

This is the machine I will be installing W2K on.

Do you see any problems installing W2K OEM on this machine?

FYI. I have had everything from Linux, DOS 6.22, OS/2, Win 3.1.1, and Win 95 running on it..

Thanks again

-
Berni
(e-mail address removed)


----- Oli Restorick [MVP] wrote: ----

Hi Bernie

Bernie Gallagher said:
But may I ask what prevents me from re-installing OEM software on a ne
Click to expand...
computer
Only the license agreement
Is there copy protection preventing me from doing it? Or just my honor
Click to expand...
Just your honour
If there is cop protection, then I definitely DO NOT want the OEM version
Click to expand...
Some OEM versions (those shipped by major computer manufacturers) check th
make and possibly the model of machine they're installing on. If you bough
and OEM along with a piece of hardware (a hard drive, say), then tha
version would be the regular OEM version
Thanks again
Click to expand...
You're welcome

Regard

Ol
 
Hi again!

Bernie Gallagher said:
The computer is one I assembled myself from individual components.
Click to expand...
No problem. As long as when you purchase the OEM software, at the same time
you purchase a piece of non peripheral hardware (a hard disk, some RAM, a
CPU, motherboard, etc), you are OK.
I just recently swapped in a new motherboard (I upgraded from a Pentium
Click to expand...
233 with 128 Kb ram to a Pentium III 1 Ghz with 1 Gb ram).
That seems like a great candidate for Windows 2000.
Now, Win 95 won't boot because of "insufficient memory" ?!?!
Click to expand...
Sorry -- it's been a very long time since I've touched either Windows 95 or
Windows 98 in any great detail and certainly not on a machine with 1Gb of
RAM. I seem to recall a limit of 768Mb on that platform, but I don't know
the specifics.
FYI. I have had everything from Linux, DOS 6.22, OS/2, Win 3.1.1, and Win
Click to expand...
95 running on it...
I think you'd love to get your hands on Microsoft Virtual PC 2004.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/virtualpc/
Don't worry about the Windows XP in the URL -- it works with Windows 2000 as
well.

Regards

Oli
 
FYI: someone in a different chat room (outside of Microsoft.com support) told me the difference is that the OEM version lacks the printed manual, otherwise they are the same product.
 
Oli

I looked at Virtual PC. It sounds like the PC equivalent to IBM's Virtual Machine for S370. I may consider it in order to keep Win 95 alive on my machine after I upgrade to W2K

I assume that Virtual PC will allow Win 95 to run on my 1 Gzh, 1 Gb Pentium III

Or will the hardware incompatibilities still exist between my PC and Win 95, even under Virtual PC?

-
Bernie
 
Oli,

I looked at Virtual PC. It sounds like the PC equivalent to IBM's
Virtual Machine for S370. I may consider it in order to keep Win 95
alive on my machine after I upgrade to W2K.

I assume that Virtual PC will allow Win 95 to run on my 1 Gzh, 1 Gb
Pentium III.

Or will the hardware incompatibilities still exist between my PC and
Win 95, even under Virtual PC?
Click to expand...

Windows 95 will run fine in VPC independent of the hardware on the host.
VPC virtualizes the host processor and otherwise emulates a standard
generic motherboard, nic, sound card and graphics controller. That makes
in compatible with a broad set of OS's. I use it to do a lot of testing
of different environments. You can even setup your own little domain
environment using VPC.

Leonard Severt

Windows 2000 Server Setup Team
 
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