Retail 64 bit OS?

[Srek]

Also, I heard that with an OEM OS, you can only install it with the same system specs. And retail versions let you re-install as many times as you like, with whatever changes to your system hardware. Is this true?
You are mixing up two different licenses here. The system builder licences you can get will work with every hardware. Only those OEM licenses that come with systems from big manufacturers (Dell, HP etc.) are locked to specific hardware.

Personaly i use and prefer XP 64 Bit, it works stable and fast on my quadcore office system for well over a year now.

Cheers
Björn

[damage inc]

So ifwere to get this (http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-SP2B-System-Builders/dp/B000JTBX08/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1207635655&sr=8-1) or this (http://www.amazon.com/MICROSOFT-Vista-64-bit-English-66I-00788/dp/B000MFIPDC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1207635655&sr=8-5), I would be able to re-install them as many times as I want, and with whatever hardware changes I make?

[Srek]

If the offers are legit then yes, but keep in mind that Vista behaves differently than XP, after activation the OS is locked to the hardware anyway and needs to be reactivated after every major (and sometimes not so major) hardware change. MS only allows a small number of online reactivations, after that you have to phone in and convince them that what you are doing is legit.
The shots on e-bay are obviously photoshoped images, not actual product shots. I get the XP 64 bit SBE licenses in simple blue DVD boxes.

Cheers
Björn

[damage inc]

Cool, thank you for the info Srek.

[dontgvadamn]

you can get them directly from microsoft online. You can download the retail version. There is no difference between OEM and retail except OEM youll get the boot screen for that computer manufacturer. Still the same software though.

[damage inc]

There is no difference between OEM and retail except OEM youll get the boot screen for that computer manufacturer.

So if I buy XP 64 bit OEM from Amazon.com, or any other store that doesn't build computers, which boot screen will I get?

[tuna]

So if I buy XP 64 bit OEM from Amazon.com, or any other store that doesn't build computers, which boot screen will I get?

The boot screens are all the same. On my computers I use 2 OEM XP installs (Dell OEM and generic OEM), and a generic OEM version of Vista. I have to call up MS to register both my XP installs, but I haven't needed to for the Vista install yet, so I can't say how they differ. The question the MS rep asks you across the phone and the EULA you agree to are so broad/generic/grey area that I have no idea what and what isn't legal with these OEMs, or where MS will simply cut you off. I've read what people think will happen, but these people are usually morons. I can't find any info on people's actual experiences of what MS says when they transfer OEMs of Vista between computers. Although with XP, all they ask you is "is this verison of XP installed on any other computer?", and perhaps occasionally "please state your reason for reactivating", both of which are easily handled by "no, I'm just formatting". Then you spend the next half an hour reading out and recieving a ridiculously long string of numbers :banghead:

[damage inc]

Oh ok. Thanks for clearing that up for me tuna.

[dontgvadamn]

I might be mistakin but I beleive with vista you can change your boot screen. I know you can if you install stardock. But I belive you can with vista since they have a deal with stardock. thats where the gadgets sidebar came from.

I wouldnt worry about the boot screen cause that can be changed. Just get the OS system you want be it vista or xp or ultimate...the boot screen can be changed.

[tuna]

But I belive you can with vista since they have a deal with stardock. thats where the gadgets sidebar came from.


The windows sidebar began its development back in 2000 and used internally at MS for a while, it was also always in Longhorn, way before Stardock (and in fact way before Konfabulator and Apple's Dashboard). MS don't have any deals with that stardock company. Changing the boot screen is possible with a hack because it's a fairly simple process, but it's one of the more pointless things to do, and MS certainly don't let OEMs re-brand their operating system.

You're probably thinking of OEMs showing their logo during POST at startup, which has to do with the motherboard BIOS.

[Srek]

Tuna: You are mistaken there, it's very common to see Windows startup screens that additonaly show the computer manufacturers logo or name. Those OEM versions are usualy the same that only work with hardware of that specific manufacturer.
Cheers
Björn

[tuna]

*eats hat*

[dontgvadamn]

your wrong twice actually. The gadgets sidebar is through a contract with stardock. And I have yet to see a OEM version that wont work and is specific to the hardware....Google stardock and micrsoft...as well as stardock sidebar. Microsoft had nothing to do with the sidebar it came from stardock.

Unless you can explain how they can make a OS specific to their hardware....IN which case its a lack of drivers which can easily be installed.

[Srek]

And I have yet to see a OEM version that wont work and is specific to the hardware....
I encountered this myself with a Fujitsu Siemens PC running a OEM version of XP Pro. I had to change the mainboard and the reinstallation of the version failed due to non supported hardware, even though the replacement mainboard featured the same chipset, CPU etc.
Some digging turned up that actualy the BIOS is checked to show the correct manufacturer.
It's very likely possible to patch the installation disks, but your on shaky legal ground then.

Cheers
Björn

[tuna]

your wrong twice actually. The gadgets sidebar is through a contract with stardock. And I have yet to see a OEM version that wont work and is specific to the hardware....Google stardock and micrsoft...as well as stardock sidebar. Microsoft had nothing to do with the sidebar it came from stardock.

I'm going by the development history explained here: A Brief History of Windows Sidebar (http://web.archive.org/web/20070621071923/http://microsoftgadgets.com/blogs/gadgetnews/archive/2005/09/15/181.aspx).

I *did* google what you asked me to and it didn't turn up anything. Was there some specific link you had in mind?

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