OEM or Actual XP...totally confused

[Gig-O-Ram]

Ok, here's the thing...I bought an XP disc from Newegg (so I could finally get the wife's computer going), and they advertised it as a single pack OEM disk. I understood this much, as I did not want to pay the higher dollar amount at the time for the full retail version in the nice hard-to-open plastic box it comes in. I just wanted a disc with which to install the OS. The disc I have has all the pretty holographic stuff on it and it says "Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/Service Pack 2 v.2002" as well as "For distribution with a new PC only. For Product support, contact the manufacturer of your PC." Blah, Blah, Blah... Here's what I got:

Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM

Here's where my confusion comes from...I read an article in a PC magazine that explains how to tell the difference between an actual Windows disc, and an OEM (copied, or from-another-source) disc. It said that an actual, legal Windows disc from Microsoft will have all the holographics on it, and an OEM disc may have another maker's logo on it,(Dell, Gateway, whatever) or nothing at all. I have another Windows disc lying around which is just a burned image disc with the key written on it with a sharpie. Anyway, like I said, this "OEM" disc I got has all the signs of an actual Microsoft disc, so I'm confused as to whether I got "OEM" or "Actual". I've had to install XP twice on her computer (I had a problem with system software the first time), and it basically worked like it should each time, where I thought that you couldn't install from an actual disc more than once on one system with getting hell from Micro$oft.

I've been thinking about reinstalling XP on MY computer with this disc, but I'm not sure it will work, given that I've registered it for my wife's machine, and I have different hardware, so I don't know if it will accept it as a genuine installation.

Did any of this make sense? If not, maybe it shows just how confused I am, LOL!

[screwballl]

there are actually 3 official levels of discs out there
holograph retail
holograph OEM
vendor OEM (Dell, HP, etc)

I myself see no difference between the OEM and retail other then maybe a legal exclusion saying you cannot transfer it to another machine if removed from the original.

As long as you don't tell us that it is already installed elsewhere then there shouldn't be any legal questions and you can install it

One thing I am curious about, the disc cannot be both version 2002 AND SP2...
I finally got mine slipstreamed to where I took my standard holograph OEM version 2002 and got SP2 added, so at that point it is officially SP2, not version 2002 anymore.

[Gig-O-Ram]

Originally Posted by screwballl

there are actually 3 official levels of discs out there
holograph retail
holograph OEM
vendor OEM (Dell, HP, etc)

I myself see no difference between the OEM and retail other then maybe a legal exclusion saying you cannot transfer it to another machine if removed from the original.

As long as you don't tell us that it is already installed elsewhere then there shouldn't be any legal questions and you can install it

One thing I am curious about, the disc cannot be both version 2002 AND SP2...
I finally got mine slipstreamed to where I took my standard holograph OEM version 2002 and got SP2 added, so at that point it is officially SP2, not version 2002 anymore.

Okay, then I must have the holograph OEM version.

To your first statement: Do you mean as long as it is currently installed on another machine (which is the case), then I could install it to another? Newegg billed it as a disc for system builders, which I take to mean that it can be installed repeatedly on numerous machines.

To your second statement: As I state above, the OS contained on said disc is currently installed on my wife's computer, and registered with Micro$oft, which sees it as a genuine installion of Windows - despite the fact that I went through the full installation and registration process twice. So if I install it to mine, obviously using the key it comes with, and try to register it, will it still be seen as genuine?

The disc actually has a 2004 copyright date on it, even though it does say it is version 2002. And it says that it includes Service Pack 2, which is true because her system now reads as WinXP Pro SP2. So, I don't know what to say. The OS that is running on MY computer is from the disc I mentioned before that has the key written on it, which was given to me buy the guy who had built a rig for me a couple years ago. But for some reason, that disc didn't work right when I tried to install it to my wife's comp, which is why I bought this new disc.

[Capper]

I have the Holographic OEM, and have installed and reinstalled it on hundreds of test benches (all mine). I've never had a single issue when doing a fresh install......you will have to call M$ to validate the installation, but you just tell them you bought the copy at a store, and thats its only installed on the machine you are working with....and all is well

[gvblake22]

I've got a copy I got through my University, I just downloaded the .iso for the disk.
I've installed it and reinstalled it on about every machine and test bench I've set up. I've called them to activate it so many times that they must have just got fed up with me and changed my key or something because now I don't have to call anymore!

[Dread]

Originally Posted by Gig-O-Ram

...actual Windows disc, and an OEM (copied, or from-another-source) disc. It said that an actual, legal Windows disc from Microsoft will have all the holographics on it...

An OEM disc that you can purcahse from Newegg (with a purchase of a certain type of hardware) is a legitimate MS Windows package, not a 'copy' or from another source. EOM Branded discs like those from Gateway, Dell, Toshiba and the like can not be legally sold as a seperate item. They must be included with the purchased system pre-installed, and used exclusively as backup / emergency copies only for that machine only.

We are allowed to purchase these OEM disc's with hardware under the rule that by building your own computer, you are in fact an "OEM". You
can even sell or give away that computer, but legally will need to include that OS disc and certificate/label of authenticity with it.

I kind of got the impression from your original post that you have either a legitimate OEM disc, or a bootlegged (illegal) copy from some other source.

Hope this clarifies a bit for you.

[screwballl]

Legal speak:

Retail: Can be installed/reinstalled on several computers (just not more than one at a time)
holograph OEM: Install on one computer and legally must stay on this same computer, must be sold with this computer including the OEM disc and sticker key on the case. Only exception is if the OEM (you) needs to replace something in the machine such as mobo or cpu or hd are you legally allowed to reinstall it provided a large majority of the parts are still original.

Pretty much all versions allow for several reactivations but the number of times for an OEM is lower. It is also based on number of times total, time period between installs, part differences inside the case, etc.


Non-legal speak:
if it has been more than a few months since installed/activated on the wife's or another PC then you shouldn't have anything to worry about, just don't tell anyone that may have legal connections (including a forum like this).

[halutzparilla]

i got both Non-Holograph OEM and Holograph OEM, i use them both, but on different machine...

and i have reinstalled them a hundred of times with out a hitch, and the only con is i have to have an active internet to activate it all the time i reinstall it...

[PrOLifIC_onE]

Originally Posted by Gig-O-Ram

I've been thinking about reinstalling XP on MY computer with this disc, but I'm not sure it will work, given that I've registered it for my wife's machine, and I have different hardware, so I don't know if it will accept it as a genuine installation.

Why not just use a program to get the xp key that is currently on the system and use that during the reinstall?

[screwballl]

I just tried that on a machine here but for some reason that XP Pro OEM key that came from the machine did not work with the XP Pro OEM disc I was installing it from. So not all OEM codes will work on all OEM disc installs.