WinXP Pro Version

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Kernel

I've received an XP Pro installation CD from Microsoft Returns as a
replacement for a defective CD, and I'd like to know if it's an OEM or a
retail CD. The CD says Not For Retail or OEM Distribution. I'd like to
install it temporarily on a daughter's old PC that is kaput, then later
trash that PC and install it on a new one I'm building...but obviously I
wouldn't want to do that if it's an OEM version. The CD it replaced was not
an OEM, but a retail XP.
 
Kernel said:
I've received an XP Pro installation CD from Microsoft Returns as a
replacement for a defective CD, and I'd like to know if it's an OEM or a
retail CD. The CD says Not For Retail or OEM Distribution. I'd like to
install it temporarily on a daughter's old PC that is kaput, then later
trash that PC and install it on a new one I'm building...but obviously I
wouldn't want to do that if it's an OEM version. The CD it replaced was not
an OEM, but a retail XP.
Click to expand...

You sure it says "Not For Retail". The NFR versions that I've seen are
"Not For Resale". So just how did you "receive" this install CD? Did
you buy it? If so, the seller sold you an illegitimate copy.

NFR = Not For Resale
The original purchaser is NOT allowed to resale the product. Typically
it is a promotional product distributed to a limited set of customers.

If it indeed says "Not For Retail or OEM Distribution" then that install
CD is to use with whatever license you already have and for which you
needed a replacement CD. You got a *replacement* install CD for the
license you already possess. You never bothered to mention just what
license type you had previously so we can't tell you how you can use
this replacement CD. You got a replacement CD, not a new license. So
what license did you have before and still have now for which this
replacement CD is associated?
 
They are not going to give you an "OEM" installation cd unless you
specifically asked for one and quoted for them the exact machine / model
number of the PC it was intended for use on.

If the defective cd it was intended to replace was a plain retail version,
then that is what they will have replaced it with.

OEM disks are generally only obtainable through the PC manufacturer that
supplied your PC.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Tim Meddick said:
They are not going to give you an "OEM" installation cd unless you
specifically asked for one and quoted for them the exact machine / model
number of the PC it was intended for use on.

If the defective cd it was intended to replace was a plain retail version,
then that is what they will have replaced it with.

OEM disks are generally only obtainable through the PC manufacturer that
supplied your PC.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
Click to expand...
I purchased a WinXP Pro from Viosoftware, it would not install
because some of the files were defective, and it named them.
There was a small scratch on the CD, so I buffed it out. It still would
not install although there were fewer defective files noted when I
tried to install it. I contacted Microsoft and they sent a replacement
with a new product code (YIPEE). So back to my question, is this
replacement CD an OEM or a retail version??????

FYI, I also purchased a WinXP Pro OEM on ebay, it installed and activated.
But
when I went to the Microsoft update site and installed WGA, it went crazy,
THIS CD IS NOT A GENUINE CD, IT IS A FRAUDULENT... That site
then gave me instructions to send it to Microsoft with the date of purchase,
place of purchase, receipt, etc. They said if it's a copy with the
Microsoft
holgram they would replace it. They did! This is not the CD I'm referring
to
in my post...this one says it is OEM!
 
If the disk it was replacing was not an OEM disk then nor will it's
replacement be OEM.

OEM disks are always provided through the PC manufacturer - Microsoft don't
give out OEM disks.

OEM disks always have the name of the PC manufacturer written on them (e.g.
Dell, Compaq, etc., ).

OEM stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer" so, obviously, must be
obtained through the PC manufacturer and not direct from Microsoft.

If it were an OEM disk, Microsoft would inform you it was such and refer
you back to the PC manufacturer, whose responsibility it would be to
provide effective "backup" installation CDs in working order.

Like I said, an OEM disk is linked to a specific manufacturer and model of
PC - it will not install properly on a PC of another make / model without
having to be specifically activated, usually involving a special phone call
to Microsoft - and if there're not convinced you have paid for the disk, or
otherwise have a right to use it on the PC you are trying to install it
on - they won't allow it's activation.

Incidentally, the practice of providing backup OEM installaation disks with
a new PC, is decreasing, as nowadays, PC manufacturers prefer the inclusion
of a hidden partition on which is kept a restoration image of the operating
system as it left the factory.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Read my lips...I purchased an Win XP Pro OEM CD through ebay. It installed
and activated just fine. When I went to update it, what happened was a
thing to behold...everything but bells and sirens. The site then said if
the CD has the full MS hologram, and if you send it along with the receipt,
where you bought it, and from whom you bought it, and it was determined to
be a counterfeit CD, MS would replace it free of charge. I did, and they
did. They replaced it with an OEM CD. Obviously it doesn't say Dell, or
HP, because it came from Microsoft. I found their service to be superb, and
I suspect the seller is not now so fond of MS, eh?
 
Tim said:
OEM disks always have the name of the PC manufacturer written on them
(e.g. Dell, Compaq, etc., ).
Click to expand...

This is incorrect. Branded ones, yes. However, Microsoft does indeed
manufacture generic OEM CDs.
 
Your "read my lips" comment was base and insulting.

You obviously have a problem yourself, "hearing" what others say...

Microsoft do NOT give out OEM disks.

They MIGHT replace a defective OEM disk with a retail copy - but it won't
be OEM!

What - you think they carry copies of all the thousands upon thousands of
PC manufacturer's different customizations of disk from all the years gone
by?

One easy way to tell if the disk you are talking about is OEM - open
Windows Explorer and browse the cd for a folder with the same name as a PC
manufacturer.

Or look for filenames like :

OEMLOGO.*
OEMINFO.*

The original equipment manufacturer's name will be somewhere on the disk
for sure - *if* it's an OEM disk....

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Kernel said:
I've received an XP Pro installation CD from Microsoft Returns as a
replacement for a defective CD, and I'd like to know if it's an OEM
or a retail CD. The CD says Not For Retail or OEM Distribution. I'd
like to install it temporarily on a daughter's old PC that is
kaput, then later trash that PC and install it on a new one I'm
building...but obviously I wouldn't want to do that if it's an OEM
version. The CD it replaced was not an OEM, but a retail XP.
Click to expand...

You need to ask Microsoft what they sent you.

Did they send you an actual COA? If so, the license type should be on
there.

Even assuming it is a Retail license, what do you hope to gain by
temporarily installing it on an old PC that is kaput (out of curiosity)?
Is the one you are building intended to replace your daughter's old one?
 
Tim said:
Your "read my lips" comment was base and insulting.

You obviously have a problem yourself, "hearing" what others say...

Microsoft do NOT give out OEM disks.
Click to expand...

This is an example of what Microsoft sells to system builders.
I bought one of these, to install WinXP SP3 on this computer.

"Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3 for System Builders - OEM"

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511

It is OEM, because it is intended to be used on only one PC,
and not transferred from PC to PC. It is available for
less money than the ones marked "retail". It isn't a "branded" or
"royalty" OEM disc, such as you'd get with a Dell or HP. It
is intended for someone who builds PCs at home, to install
an OEM version to the system they build and sell to someone else.

I built my own computer, but did not sell the resulting
built-up system to anyone. I've still using it.

Paul
 
Tim said:
OEM disks are always provided through the PC manufacturer - Microsoft don't
give out OEM disks.

OEM disks always have the name of the PC manufacturer written on them (e.g.
Dell, Compaq, etc., ).

OEM stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer" so, obviously, must be
obtained through the PC manufacturer and not direct from Microsoft.
Click to expand...

Wrong. In the past, you could buy Microsoft-sourced OEM versions (the
image came from MS, not composed by the PC maker) for Windows XP. These
were the same setup (with nothing special for any brand PC) as the
retail versions but would only perform a full install. So there were
generic (MS-sourced) OEM versions that were never associated to any PC
manufacturer, and then there were the OEM licenses distributed by PC
makers who had the licenses but had to produce the media themselves (and
why you see their brand name on the CD along with differentiation in the
setup process and the file set on the CD).

For Vista, they generic OEM licenses were renamed to "System Builder"
licenses. These are NOT doled out through PC makers (who buy just the
licenses and have to produce themselves the image they stamp onto their
branded CDs). There are still the name-branded OEM versions, too.

The reason for renaming the generic OEM licenses to System Builder
licenses was to make clear that they were generic OEM versions sold for
use by jobbers who build their own hosts, and these aren't branded of
OEM licenses, either. There was confusion between the old generic
(MS-sourced) OEM versions and the branded OEM versions (from PC makers).
So, for Vista, they called the generic OEM versions as System Builder
OEM licenses. Back for XP, OEM could've meant generic or branded. For
Vista, it's System Builder or branded for OEM versions.

OEM applied to whomever was the entity that did the install. That could
be a PC maker. It can also be YOU. You can be the OEM. MS was hoping
to eliminate some of that confusion by adding System Builder OEM to the
generic versions. I'd have to go digging (if the web pages even exist
anymore) to find out the reseller qualifications for redistributing
MS-sourced images for OEM version but it was there before. You could
get legitimate generic OEM versions that was Microsoft's image and not
tainted or touched by any PC maker.
 
The rare example you quoted, is not what most would think of as an OEM
disk.

Here, OEM means anyone building a custom PC and not a "true" manufacturer
as in: Original Equipment Manufacturer.

A true OEM disk is tied to a particular make / model of PC, and if used on
a PC other than that it was intended for use on, would require activation.

This would not be true for the disk you quoted in your last post.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Kernel said:
Read my lips...I purchased an Win XP Pro OEM CD through ebay. It installed
and activated just fine. When I went to update it, what happened was a
thing to behold...everything but bells and sirens. The site then said if
the CD has the full MS hologram, and if you send it along with the receipt,
where you bought it, and from whom you bought it, and it was determined to
be a counterfeit CD, MS would replace it free of charge. I did, and they
did. They replaced it with an OEM CD. Obviously it doesn't say Dell, or
HP, because it came from Microsoft. I found their service to be superb, and
I suspect the seller is not now so fond of MS, eh?
Click to expand...

You never specified what you bought from *Viosoftware*, only some OTHER
copy you got from eBay (uffda!). So, as yet, you have NOT clarified
just what type of license you got for the copy you bought from
VioSoftware.

Don't even know why you bothered mentioning the copy from VioSoftware
since that wasn't the copy that you got MS to replace. First you said
you got the Windows XP CD from VioSoftware. You now say that it was a
copy from eBay that you got replaced. Unfortunately for you, we can see
you moving the mirrors and lighting the smoke bombs trying to obfuscate
just what is going on. According to your story as it has unfolded so
far, you have /TWO/ copies of Windows XP Pro: one you bought from
VioSoftware and another you bought from eBay. Microsoft sent you only
ONE replacement for the copy you got from eBay. You have yet to get a
replacement for the bad CD you got from VioSoftware. So you now have:
(1) A bad CD for the copy from VioSoftware (which was never mentioned if
retail or OEM version) and still have no replacement for it so you
cannot use that license; and, (2) A pirated OEM copy from eBay that you
paid Microsoft to send you a legit license and install CD but which is
still an OEM version.

See my other reply (to Tim) which explains why there *do* exist generic
Microsoft-sourced imaged versions of OEM discs. It was possible to get
MS-sourced OEM discs. Microsoft produced them and resellers or
distributors licensed by Microsoft could then sell them. That was the
only type of OEM disc that I ever would buy when I was building my PCs.
I wouldn't touch the branded OEM discs.

So now, in your reply this time, it appears the replacement CD had
nothing to do with the copy of Windows XP Pro that you got from
VioSoftware. Now it appears you are talking about a replacement CD for
a PIRATED copy you got from eBay and which was for an OEM version.
Since you paid to get a legitimate CD and product code for a bad OEM
version, the replacement is for that OEM license. So what you got from
MS was a CD that is to be used with the OEM license that you originally
you thought that you bought (and obviously never paid for the retail
version to include support; 2 incidents, as I recall).

You got a pirated OEM copy from eBay. Microsoft charged you to replace
the pirated version with a legit version. So what you have is an OEM
version to replace the pirated OEM version.

If you already installed that pirated OEM version, that is the same host
where you now get to use the replacement OEM version. The license
sticks to the first host on which the OEM version is installed. If, as
you say in your first post, that you intend to install this OEM version
on your daughter's old PC then that is the host to which the OEM license
gets stuck *permanently*. When you trash the daughter's old PC, you'll
also trash the OEM license and lose that copy of Windows.

OEM licenses stick to the first host on which they are installed.
Whether that host gets stolen, trashed, burned up in a fire, lost in a
divorce settlement, a UFO levitates it away, or for whatever cause the
host is lost or becomes unusable to you, the OEM license still remains
tied to THAT hardware. The condition of that first-and-only-install
host does not obviate the conditions of the OEM license. So be very
careful as to which is the first host on which you install an OEM
version because that's to where the OEM license gets stuck for eternity
(well, legally that is per the contract to which you agreed by
installing and using the software).

If the VioSoftware copy is also an OEM version, you can use the OEM
version that you got from Microsoft. That is, you can use the same MS
generic OEM version where you install the licenses for the VioSoftware
OEM copy and for the MS generic OEM copy; however, you use the
VioSoftware OEM product key for that install and the MS generic OEM
product key for that install. You can legally reuse the same OEM copy
for many installs as along as you manage their licenses separately by
using the product key for each one on one host. We do that regularly in
our alpha lab by buying a set of licenses and using the same OEM image
for each install but make sure a different product key (hence its
license) on each host. Whether you buy 10 MS generic OEM CDs each with
a product key or leave 9 of them sit on the shelf and use just 1 of them
to do 10 installs but each has a different product key makes no logical
or legal difference.

The problem that crops up when using a MS-sourced image OEM disc is that
it won't have any brand-specific drivers. You never mentioned just what
you got from VioSoftware. I'm guessing that it was also a generic OEM
license. So, perhaps, you have 2 generic OEM licenses, 2 product keys,
but just 1 legitimate OEM disc. That means you can install twice on
different hosts using the same OEM disc provided you use the 2 product
keys on 2 different hosts. Once installed, you can't move that instance
of Windows to another host. The OEM license (the image you lay down for
the install and its product key) stick to the first host on which it is
installed. So decide right now if you want to waste an OEM license on a
PC that you intend to trash. When you trash that PC, you also trash the
OEM license with it.

If you had a retail version of Windows XP, the only limitation is that
it be installed on only PC at a time (actually the EULA just says it
must be running on only one PC at a time). So you can uninstall a
retail version and move it to a new host. Can't do that with an OEM
version.
 
Kernel said:
Daave wrote ...


Yes, they sent an actual COA. The license type is not on the COA.
Click to expand...

As I recall, if it was an MS-sourced (their image) generic (non-branded)
OEM version then you saw "OEM" somewhere on the COA sticker. After you
do the install and enter the product KEY, you would see "OEM" in the
product CODE (Control Panel -> System Properties -> General tab).

How much did you pay Microsoft to replace the pirated copy you got from
eBay? As I recall, the price that Microsoft charged to dole out a legit
copy (in exchange for a pirated retail or OEM copy) was maybe $10 less
than buying a legit OEM version from an online store (you didn't save
much with Microsoft's exchange program and might do as well or better
getting a whole 'nother legit OEM copy). Difficult to follow your
changing story. I can't tell if Microsoft send you replacement
installation media for the legitimate VioSoftware copy (which was never
mentioned if retail or OEM) or you got them to dole out a legit copy for
the pirated one you got from eBay. Replacements for defective media
probably costs around $20 but the pirate replacement was close to full
retail cost of the OEM version.

You mention the bells and sirens after installing the eBay copy of
Windows XP and couldn't do upgrades. So it sure sounds like you got
Microsoft to exchange a legit copy for a pirated copy from eBay. From
the pictures at:

http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?displaylang=en&pg=coa

You should see "OEM" on the COA sticker if what you got from MS was an
OEM version. If you are still unsure (by the absense of "OEM" that it
is a retail version) then you could probably used the same contact venue
that you used before to submit the pirated exhibit to Microsoft for
exchange.


For the VioSoftware copy (the disc you cannot read), was it a:
- Retail version? <---.___ You never mentioned its license type
- Or OEM version? <---'

For the eBay copy (the pirated version that caused all the bells and
sirens on upgrade), was it a:
- Retail version?
- Or OEM version? <--- Looks like it was this license type

Microsoft's replacement disc was to replace WHICH copy:
- Replaces the VioSoftware disc?
- Replaces the eBay disc? <--- Looks like you replaced this one

How much did Microsoft charge you for the replacement?

See "OEM" anywhere on the COA sticker? If not, it's a retail version.

Did you ever visit the following web page to validate your install of
Windows (from eBay since it appears your issue was with a pirated copy
since you couldn't even read the VioSoftware copy)?

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?displaylang=en

If that (or the validation program in Windows) detects a pirated copy,
it leads you to where you request to buy a legit copy from Microsoft. I
don't have a pirated copy to see just where they lead you. Maybe they
dump you to:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/cu_sc_genadv_master?ws=support&ws=mscom#tab4

In any case, you might be able to call them to find out what Microsoft
sent to you.
 
Tim said:
The rare example you quoted, is not what most would think of as an OEM
disk.

Here, OEM means anyone building a custom PC and not a "true" manufacturer
as in: Original Equipment Manufacturer.

A true OEM disk is tied to a particular make / model of PC, and if used on
a PC other than that it was intended for use on, would require activation.

This would not be true for the disk you quoted in your last post.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
Click to expand...

Whether you build PCs for yourself or others, there is nothing that
disqualifies yourself as an OEM. It is the *role* you play regarding
the installation of the OS. The OEM might be Dell, HP, you alone, me
alone, me working in a local computer shop, me working from home as a
jobber to built on-spec hosts for customers, and so on.

No one producing OEM gear must slap a label on it to stroke their ego
and strive for free advertising. I also do not buy shoes with labels or
decals on the outside and I tell car dealers NOT to install any of their
decals (or I won't take delivery). The lack of a decal does not alter
that the product was produced by an OEM at some time.

OEM have varying definitions depending on the industry in which the term
is used. For automotive parts, OEM means the *original* manufacturer of
the part, not someone that produced a like product. Branded OEM Windows
was never produced by Microsoft (and, in fact, those OEM'ers have to
produce their own image and distro CDs). Here you have someone OTHER
than the original manufacturer producing an OEM product. However, there
are generic "OEM" images distributed by Microsoft to licensed resellers
that usually do not decal their distro of the product so it is labeled
from Microsoft, is a generic image (forced to do a full install although
I've seen hacks that can make it do an upgrade), is not distributed
through any computer hardware manufacturer, and even the COA that says
"OEM" is labeled as coming from Microsoft.

I don't consider these generic OEM discs to be rare at all. Only the
boobs that always buy pre-built name-brand computers think they are the
prevalent scenario whereas the rest of us that fab our own host see the
generic MS-sourced image OEM versions as the most prevalent (because we
don't waste time with the branded versions).

Start here on how to become an OEM reseller for Microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/Pages/default.aspx

If our software development company (that doesn't currently produce
on-spec hardware for clients) wanted to separately sell OEM versions of
Windows, we subscribe to their reseller program. We don't need to
produce hardware platforms in order to resell generic OEM versions (but
there was a requirement to sell the OEM software with hardware at one
time, which might be all of a case screw).

The generic OEM license is sold to system builders (and can be resold by
licensed resellers to other parties). Well, guess what YOU are when you
are building your own host for your own use? Uh huh, you are a system
builder.

You can deny the existence of MS-imaged generic OEM versions all you
want to make you happy. You can change your story that they are rare
versus the rest of us who have been using them for years and that's all
we use. Meanwhile the view outside the blinders still exists.
 
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