XP Pro & Office 2003 Standard bundle: $149 shipped

[esquared]

Originally posted by: eos
Yikes. Their rating is horrid.

Yes, it's 0.77 on 13 reviews over the last 6 months but their lifetime rating is 8.43 with 2207 reviews.

 

[Eos]

Originally posted by: esquared

Originally posted by: eos
Yikes. Their rating is horrid.

Yes, it's 0.77 on 13 reviews over the last 6 months but their lifetime rating is 8.43 with 2207 reviews.

That tells me that in the last 6 months, service has gone down the toilet. Before then, things were better.

It can happen to any company. Ask former www.deafening-urge.net customers...

 

[wpd7]

Ok a lot of confusion here, so let me step in.

NFR software is 100% retail software, but it is labelled as such- its not for resale. Meaning the ORIGINAL recepient must use it. And in a perfect world that happens.

If you buy this software, you will be essentially buying Windows XP Pro as if you bought it at full retail. M$ or its software verification or phone people will not know that there is a difference between NFR or Retail by the serial number or any other means.

Of course, technically both you and the retailer is breaking the law, but if you think its worth doing so to save a few $$$, then make your own choice.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: kindlr
I've been using the same OEM copy of XP since 2001, the system is on its 3rd mobo/CPU, 4th vid card, 2nd hard drive, and has had a good amount of other hardware added/removed over that time.

Microsoft never gave me any trouble with re-activating that copy since every time it was well past the limit on how often you can reinstall on differently configured hardware.

That, of course, does not mean the above described actions do not violate the license.

This is a rather good summary of typical licensing questions and issues, including links to the appropriate portions of the Microsoft website.

In the above example, the license was violated after the first non-defective motherboard replacement.

Would be remiss to fail to point out that most of the OEM discussion in this thread is rather moot as nowhere on any of the OP's product pages is OEM software mentioned; only NFR, which Microsoft explicitly states as "software identified as "Not For Resale"" which "may not be sold or otherwise transferred for value, or used for any purpose other than demonstration, test or evaluation."

 

[Eos]

I've got an OEM (ordered with a new computer build) disc and COA sticker of Windows 98SE. From the linked page, it would appear that I could buy an Upgrade version of Windows XP Pro and all would be good.

Would I have to reformat with the new upgrade disc, or could I just call and get the current install validated? Anyone know?

 

[Slikkster]

To think that Microsoft is *unaware* of Surpluscomputers.com selling OEM software at this stage strikes me as a bit naive. Afterall, I've seen them go after mom and pop local outlets that inappropriately sell their wares. Surpluscomputers.com has been around for quite some time, and makes no secret of their product inventory. For whatever reason, MS isn't taking action, whereas if they really wanted to, they could have done so a long time ago.

 

[Stratmanx]

Originally posted by: BigLar
Nice clear, clean, and concise discussion, Stratmanx!

Thanks.

Somebody asked a question about OEM vs. Retail.

Just trying to give back to the forum.

 

[ickywu]

Originally posted by: wpd7
Ok a lot of confusion here, so let me step in.

NFR software is 100% retail software, but it is labelled as such- its not for resale. Meaning the ORIGINAL recepient must use it. And in a perfect world that happens.

If you buy this software, you will be essentially buying Windows XP Pro as if you bought it at full retail. M$ or its software verification or phone people will not know that there is a difference between NFR or Retail by the serial number or any other means.

Of course, technically both you and the retailer is breaking the law, but if you think its worth doing so to save a few $$$, then make your own choice.

Regrettably, this is just not accurate. What you get in this particular case is a student copy of the software. Overall, NFR software is NOT legal unless YOU own the underlying license: you are a student, you qualify as a member of an organization which has an internal use license, whatever. Just because you can validate the software doesn't make it legal for you to use.

 

[Bu11itt]

Did anyone buy one of these?

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: eos
Yikes. Their rating is horrid.

I ordered from Surplus Computers several weeks ago. I first checked their rating at resellerratings.com. I ordered PowerDVD 6.0, OEM, for $5.99 shipped. It was in my mailbox a few weeks later. I'm happy.

Not completely happy. It has a nag screen that keeps bugging me to register it; but, I can't blame that on Surplus Computers.

Please note that the Windows XP Pro OEM disc being sold by surplus computers for $89.99 does not have service pack two. You can buy Windows XP Pro OEM with service pack two from them for $139.99. That is the same price that newegg.com is selling it for.

 

[Monotaur]

Originally posted by: uberman

Originally posted by: eos
Yikes. Their rating is horrid.

I ordered from Surplus Computers several weeks ago. I first checked their rating at resellerratings.com. I ordered PowerDVD 6.0, OEM, for $5.99 shipped. It was in my mailbox a few weeks later. I'm happy.

Not completely happy. It has a nag screen that keeps bugging me to register it; but, I can't blame that on Surplus Computers.

Please note that the Windows XP Pro OEM disc being sold by surplus computers for $89.99 does not have service pack two. You can buy Windows XP Pro OEM with service pack two from them for $139.99. That is the same price that newegg.com is selling it for.

You can always slipstream SP2 into the installation from the $89.99 media.

 

[EagleEye]

Originally posted by: aimanzym
is it an upgrade version? or a individual version that i can install without upgrade?

individual- no upgrade required

 

[busmaster11]

Originally posted by: Golgatha

Originally posted by: CarpeDeo

Originally posted by: eos

Originally posted by: CarpeDeo

Originally posted by: eos
I've read some of the threads in the OS category about this, but still need some clarification.

An OEM version of XP is good for a one time install on one computer.

A Retail version of XP is good for multiple installations (reformat, major hardware changes) on one computer.

Correct or incorrect?

Cliffs:
OEM: install once on 1 computer?
Retail: install as many times as you want on 1 computer?

This one appears to be OEM, although I did not see it on the page.

Incorrect. OEM and Retail are functionally the same.

Hmmmm. Functionally the same. Then do you know what does the price difference is for?

Basically, OEM software/hardware isn't intended to be sold to end users. OEM is sold to vendors who package it with their own products. So OEM tends to be cheaper because there's usually no packaging, no manuals, etc. OEM sometimes offers shorter warranties than retail and less (if any) customer support.

BS. OEM is "married" to the first machine you install it on (hint: read the EULA). NFR is plain illegal to resell.

OK. I build a machine and install this OS. What piece of hardware is the OS tied to? motherboard? CPU? Or that mysterious combination of identifier strings from a combination of various hardware items?

 

[SimMike2]

OK. I build a machine and install this OS. What piece of hardware is the OS tied to? motherboard? CPU? Or that mysterious combination of identifier strings from a combination of various hardware items?

I think it is tied to mysterious combination of all of the above. But, from my understanding, the Microsoft database of these installs and combinations is not limitless. So after a period of time, you should be able to install again on a totally different system and still be able to activate.

Personally, I think you could talk MS tech support into getting a balky one to activate. They know what a pain this whole activation thing is. They also know, that just like drug tests, it IS NOT 100% accurate.

I think one thing OEMs can't do is upgrades of current intstalls. Since XP pretty much gives you a bad time about doing any kind of an upgrade, instead requiring some kind of clean install, this isn't a deal breaker.

In the past, MS required hardware purchase to get these OEM copies. Sometimes this was satisified by buying something like an MS mouse.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: ickywu

Originally posted by: wpd7
NFR software is 100% retail software, but it is labelled as such- its not for resale.

Regrettably, this is just not accurate. What you get in this particular case is a student copy of the software. Overall, NFR software is NOT legal unless YOU own the underlying license: you are a student, you qualify as a member of an organization which has an internal use license, whatever. Just because you can validate the software doesn't make it legal for you to use.

"Student" software is called "Academic." NFR is "Not For Resale." They are not the same thing.

NFR is paying for demo software.

It is up to the retailer/reseller to verify eligibility for purchase. AFAIK Microsoft has no way of knowing which one you have. As for legality, well, breaking a contractual agreement such as a EULA may land you in civil court but not in criminal court. Most likely if Microsoft were to do anything about it, they would just pull the rights for the vendor to sell that kind of software (such as Academic).

For OEM, I recall reading an interview of a Microsoft rep and the interviewer asked about how vendors are selling it with hardware, and the rep basically said it was okay to bundle it with a mouse or cable. Supposedly according to EULA or something, an OEM copy of Windows XP is tied to the motherboard. Don't know about retail box versions.

Some day Windows will need a subscription to use. <-- Need to put that in a time capsule to see if I'm right.

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: Zap
NFR is paying for demo software.

That isn't precisely accurate.

NFR software is more often than not full-featured, retail software simply licensed under non-retail/non-OEM terms.

In Microsoft's case (as stated above), NFR software "may not be sold or otherwise transferred for value or used for any purpose other than demonstration, test, or evaluation".

A classic example of NFR software is the Action Pack.

Again (as also stated above), this thread summarizes a number of common licensing issues and questions.

 

[SnarkRap]

Originally posted by: Stratmanx

Originally posted by: HomeAppraiser

Stratmanx, what about replacing a dead hard drive. The customer support person at HP said my new hard drive had to be the exact same size (GB) for the reistall of WinXP Home OEM to work. I had a 160GB Seagate SATA that died after 16 months, it was OEM so "no five year warranty to you", replacing it with a 200GB Maxtor SATA that I picked up for $49.99. Any reason why the reinstall would not work with a different hard drive?

Since you have an HP branded system, I'm thinking that what you have is essentially a backup disc(s) disguised as an installation disc(s). If you have to re-do your operating system and setup, the HP "installation" disc(s) just puts your computer back to factory-fresh setup. As such, it requires certain hardware to be present, for instance, the appropriate motherboard. Since harddrives can be viewed as essentially "generic" to the operating system, with size and type of ATA/SCSI connection for data flow being important and the manufacturer not important (certain peculiarities excepted).

Your HP installation disc(s) require a similar sized harddrive in order for the "installation" to continue. The installation routine looks for a specific sized harddrive for formating and partitioning to HP's specifications. In addition, part of the reason most likely involves that HP makes a hidden partition on the harddrive for restoration purposes if/when the customer runs into problems. This secret partition/drive may require specific placement as dictated by the installation disc(s).

For those that purchase an OEM operating system, one that did not come with their Dell or HP or whatever branded computer, the size of the harddrive will not be an issue since the activation of Windows is dependent upon the motherboard and potentially the CPU and network interface card (the MAC address of the LAN connection which oftentimes is built into the motherboard and not found on a separate card as in the old days.).

How is it then that many peeps, including many on these forums, have bought OEM Dell copies of XP from any of many sellers on e-bay and then successfully installed them on ANY AND ALL types of computers -- all different brands, home brewed, intel, AMD, laptops, etc, with no problem?

 

[iseestars]

I think you're missing what he's saying. He's saying that if people purchased OEM that didn't originally come with a machine - as in are not yet bound to it, they can install it on whatever they want.

 

[Lurker1]

Originally posted by: Stratmanx

For those that purchase an OEM operating system, one that did not come with their Dell or HP or whatever branded computer, the size of the harddrive will not be an issue since the activation of Windows is dependent upon the motherboard and potentially the CPU and network interface card (the MAC address of the LAN connection which oftentimes is built into the motherboard and not found on a separate card as in the old days.).

Do note that due to legacy support, most NIC's support configurable MACs. (DEC systems required this features long long ago, and it carries through today)

 

[desert crawler]

I have found that MSFT has an "in-house rule" that after the third time you ask for a new key code because of hardware upgrades, you get a kiss-off.

Have rebuilt a ton of pc's for my manufacturing company...it is not true to say that if you have a retail version you get a life-time pass from Microshaft.:disgust:

Way I figure it, if I bought the SW and choose to upgrade hard drives, etc, I should be able to do it to without limits.

but guess they have to pay for those endless creation of "features"...read that as marketer's wet dreams.

 

[Stratmanx]

Originally posted by: Lurker1
Do note that due to legacy support, most NIC's support configurable MACs. (DEC systems required this features long long ago, and it carries through today)

Yes. I have used MAC address changers, such as A-Mac Address Change, with perfect results on a variety of machines. I have not tried it when reloading Windows operating systems since it has not been an issue for me. Of course you would need to record the MAC of the previous motherboard/NIC to try it out. I guess that would fall under the category of "contingency plan" and require forethought, something I probably would miss!

 

[Stratmanx]

Originally posted by: iseestars
I think you're missing what he's saying. He's saying that if people purchased OEM that didn't originally come with a machine - as in are not yet bound to it, they can install it on whatever they want.

Yes. Thank you!

 

[Xeon22]

From what I understand of this software, it is essentially a replacement media CD, that did not origionally come with a key, but apparrently, the keys / licenses were bought seperately and the keys were attached to the media sleeve. I ordered one of these and the CD clearly indicates that it did not origionally come with a key, and was only intended as replacement media of some sort. Seems that surplus bought the keys seperately and have attached them to the CD itself. As far as I understand it, the key to the item can be resold, and I think that's kind of what you're getting here.

I mean, with those who have pirated software, you can buy the key immediately on the windows update site, and there are many companies who just sell the licenses without the media. I am not sure of the legality of this, but most likely, there is some legality to it or it wouldn't be going on because surpluscomputers makes their inventory no secret.

 

[aimanzym]

i saw this b4. are they oem versions? thx

 

[Samus]

Originally posted by: CarpeDeo
The software itself should be legit, but I think it's illegal for surpluscomputers to be selling NFR (Not For Resale) software.

Microsoft should investigate surpluscomputers, they've been selling microsoft software illegally for years. I purchased a few 'oem' copies of windows xp pro a few years ago that got around the licensing thing by including a floppy drive cable (lol) and they turned out to be NFR COMPAQ/HP OEM licensed.

I sent them back, they charged me a 15% restocking fee. They refused to refund the restocking fee. I contacted my lawyer, which cost me $50 bucks for him to call them and threaten action, they refunded me the $68 they charged me. In the end I lost $18, and they lost a customer for life.