- Oct 8, 2000
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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.
Originally posted by: eos
Yikes. Their rating is horrid.
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.
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.
Originally posted by: BigLar
Nice clear, clean, and concise discussion, Stratmanx!
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.
Originally posted by: eos
Yikes. Their rating is horrid.
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.
Originally posted by: aimanzym
is it an upgrade version? or a individual version that i can install without upgrade?
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?
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.
That isn't precisely accurate.Originally posted by: Zap
NFR is paying for demo software.
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?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.).
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.).
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)
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.
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.