Oem vs full.

I am to understand that the OEM versions of Windos XP are in reality identical to the Full version, correct? The only thing different is you have to have either win98 or winme, correct?

 

No,, that would be an upgrade version. An OEM version is just a disk, with no pretty box, or manual to read. Don't know if there are OEM upgrade versions,, If there are,, they would say upgrade on them.

 

I knew that. I was ahead of myself. Thanks dperino.

Is there some discrepancy here? One says disk with nothing and xflat says all the things you can't live without?????

 

Don't mean to "butt in", but heads up re OEM. You know about this link here, right:
http://majorgeeks.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=477480/ut=d8dd8649e96b0595
If Mr. A buys XP OEM and Mr. B buys XP retail, what does Mr. B get that Mr. A doesn't?
A retail box, a manual, perhaps support that Mr. A doesn't get?

No brainer, I say. Anyone who knows about this site has no need for the retail product, right? We all talk about this stuff every day...
People post here who make a living w/ computers...

There is no computer problem that this cast of characters cannot solve.. None.... So who would ever need some kind of support?
We cannot be stopped....

 

yech!!

Mr. A would get a bunch of bundled crap like "30 day free trial of AOL". In my computer they are titled "internet services" are are hard written so I can't get rid of them, I can only de-activate them. bunch of junk. And of course, being new to computers I bit like a dumb fish and they dragged me right to shore. Once I wised up it was too late and I had one hell of a time setting things straight so that my box would run like it should. Then again, I run a Compaq, and I can only assume that it is running like it should!!

 

Maybe I should just go with the upgrade. It is a full version that you just have to show you have the lower versions.

 

There's actually nothing you can do with the full version that you can't do with the upgrade, as long as you have a CD of a qualifying earlier product.

 

When I first answered this thread, I thought things were pretty much cut and dried in the world of XP disks,, now I find out that I could have gotten an upgraded, OEM fully stripped down, AOL version of XP,, bundled with all kinds of stuff I could delete. I think I need to go back to bed.

 

Thank you one and all, much appreciated.

 

Wait wait wait... OEM... without the manual, and you can make your own copies of it if you have the OEM distribution liscence. Microsoft dont put anything on the OEM version that they wouldnt put on the "full" version, its the OEM (original equiptment manufacturer) that puts the kack on there. If you go to a computer shop and buy an OEM disk, it will just be the OS cd, in a wallet. maybe a "quick start" guide. If you bought a Compaq or IBM computer, however, the OEM version of Window PLUS all the stuff that compaq thought you needed will be on the "restore disk"

Its just that weve got 2 versions of XP Home OEM here, not upgrade OR full, and neither of them have any cack on them. However, if you do a reformat with an IBM restore disk, for example, it puts a load of bundled software onto ur pc.

 

Well, I just found out that I will most likely never buy OEM software. I have a disk that is damaged from my Office XP Pro, and the manufacture, (DELL,bless their hearts,don't have a replacement for it and Microsoft will not replace it because it is OEM. Now it is going to really cost me, as I can't see buying XP 2002 again, so going to 2003 will mean I have to upgrade my OS too. Oh Well.

 

Hi Greyhound.

http://www.edmunds-enterprises.com/linux/cart.php/ba/pdtl/product/160

 

I don't know if I am ready for that yet.