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Re-Purchase Windows XP

Started by adams0423 , Jul 11 2006 12:50 PM

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#1
adams0423

Posted 11 July 2006 - 12:50 PM

Member

Member
123 posts

I have a computer with a failed harddrive. My Windows XP CD is missing, which means I will have to re-purchase.

Checking Pricegrabber.com, I see that I can purchase an OEM copy (no box) for about $100, and any retail version is $175 and more.

Are there any disadvantages to purchasing the OEM version? Will I run into any Windows licensing or patching issues?

Thanks

#2
dsenette

Posted 11 July 2006 - 12:58 PM

Je suis Napoléon!

Community Leader
26,047 posts

OEM versions (OEM doesn't mean out of the box by the way) are required to be sold along with "qualified" hardware (the definition of "qualified" hardware is fuzzy...and changing pretty regularly...but i think Microsoft's most recent tendency is to use "motherboard" as the definition) so there are occasions when OEM copies will run into licensing issues...also...depending on the OEM sometimes they are HIGHLY modified versions of the o/s designed for specific systems. that said...in general purchasing an OEM version doesn't cause any issues whatsoever...but it cannot be guaranteed without knowing all of these variables...

so in short...the decision is up to you...if you go full retail...you can be guaranteed that there will be no issues (with licensing or the disk....within reason)...with oem...there's a chance there could be issues