Board index » Windows Vista » Vista OEM vs Retail & No support from MS

Windows Vista35
I want to purchase Ultimate 64bit Vista yet I cannot in the UK. I have

contacted MS regarding OEM versions, they advised me NOT to. You cannot buy

Vista 64bit Ultimate Retail anywhere at all. I have contacted MS regarding

this, they had absolutely NO IDEA either. I have tried to lodge a serious

complaint with MS, yet the site "conveiniently" will not accept the complaint

form. I do not want a download or upgrade, I want the 64bit Ultimate DVD. You

cannot purchase a retail version of that ANYWHERE so it seems in the world.

Yet there are hundreds of sites offering the OEM version. Why are microsoft

shafting people who want to do the right thing and get the correctly licensed

version? And more to the point why are they allowing so many people to use

the OEM version ? Now ive made enquiries about this, I bet my bottom dollar

if I was to get the OEM version and I had a problem that my mobo failed and I

needed to reactivate vista, they'd block me. I cannot get a single contact

detail for MS off the site, and im sick to the back teeth with the answers im

getting. So im posting here hoping that some MS expert can either tell me

where I can purchase Vista Ultimate 64bit Retail. If that isnt availible,

then why isnt it ? Why sell the 32bit version with the 64bit, and charge over

£300 for it. Yet the OEM is £100.


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"You cannot purchase a retail version of that ANYWHERE so it seems in

the world."

Yes, you can.

Purchase Windows Vista Ultimate and there are 2 DVDs in the box, 32

bit and 64 bit.



Also, the other versions of Windows Vista, Home Basic, Home Premium

and Business, include instructions for ordering the 64 bit DVD.



Also see:

www3.telus.net/dandemar/vistaget.htm" >www3.telus.net/dandemar/vistaget.htm





"Why sell the 32bit version with the 64bit, and charge over £300 for

it."

That is not two licenses, it is one license with a choice of which,

If 32 bit DVD were removed from the packaging, savings would probably

be less than £1.

OEM has always been cheaper than retail which is why many choose OEM

in spite of the disadvantages.



--

Jupiter Jones [MVP]

www3.telus.net/dandemar" >www3.telus.net/dandemar

www.dts-l.org" >www.dts-l.org





"LeVzi" <LeVzi@discussions.microsoft.com>wrote in message

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"LeVzi" <LeVzi@discussions.microsoft.com>wrote in message





Right, so to recap you want to buy the retail version so that you can gloat

over people who have legitimately bought the OEM version, and tell them that

they have illegitimately bought it.



You also want to pay more, since you are disturbed at the fact that people

are obtaining exactly the same product as you for a fraction of the price.





And you're looking for the added value of Microsoft technical support which

you'll get with the Retail version, which your own first-hand experience has

just shown to be a waste of space, and which lead you to post a question in

a free newsgroup in the hope of a better answer.





Yep, that makes a lot of sense





--

Jon







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"LeVzi" <LeVzi@discussions.microsoft.com>wrote in message

You didn't try looking very hard. Ultimate Retail comes with both the 32bit

and 64bit discs in the box.



www.google.co.uk/products >www.google.co.uk/products



ss.





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"Jon" wrote:



the sales of Vista Ultimate ive seen in the UK are the 32bit version with the

option of getting the 64bit sent out + a handling fee, rofl yeah right.



So according to you Jon, I can freely get the OEM and all will be well. Sure

MS would love that.

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"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:



to purchase the OEM and use it, was totally wrong ? Id be quite happy to buy

the OEM and ive never used MS for technical support anyway, so I couldnt care

less about that. What I was told, is that the consumer may NOT purchase the

OEM version. And even if I did, if my mobo fried, id have to buy it again.

This all seems well strange. Using the OEM is close to piracy according to

MS, but not here. Whos right and whos wrong ?

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"LeVzi" <LeVzi@discussions.microsoft.com>wrote in message

You haven't tried very hard www.ebuyer.com/product/119995" >www.ebuyer.com/product/119995 or pop

into pcworld or staples as they have them on the shelves.



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I do not know exactly what was said between you and Microsoft.

At the least there was a misunderstanding.



The rules seem to vary depending on who you talk, but OEM is generally

available to anyone.

The variable is if the seller will sell just the OEM or if you also

need to purchase hardware with the OEM.

Typically those selling and requiring some hardware, satisfy the

requirement by selling some piece of computer hardware such as a hard

drive , motherboard, even an inexpensive cable etc.



Some people interpret the OEM agreement to mean if the motherboard

dies, the license is void, but motherboard is not named in the

license.

However, OEM is permanently tied to the original computer regardless

the condition of the original computer.

But the original computer can be upgraded and a new motherboard is an

upgrade.

Read the license for more details.



There are other differences between, but those are the major reasons.

A few of the many reasons you pay less for OEM than others pay for

retail.



Major OEMs such as Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway etc, also design their

install media to be tied to the motherboard.

So the major OEMs have effectively tied the Windows license to the

motherboard.

In that case, a motherboard replacement may mean you can no longer use

the included media if the replacement motherboard is not from the

original manufacturer.





--

Jupiter Jones [MVP]

www3.telus.net/dandemar" >www3.telus.net/dandemar

www.dts-l.org" >www.dts-l.org





"LeVzi" <LeVzi@discussions.microsoft.com>wrote in message

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"dennis@home" wrote:



Does that say Windows Vista 64 bit ? No. You can buy the OEM 64 bit, but not

the retail, thats my point. Anyways at 275 quid you gotta be joking. Just

seems a complete and utter joke that so many people are getting the OEM and

not having problems. 110 quid for the OEM 275 for that retail. Yet MS say you

cannot use the OEM. MS are a ****ing joke. I dont want their crappy technical

support and I dont need a manual, im paying an additional 165 quid for that.

Its just if I did install OEM and my mobo fried, they wouldnt re-activate it.

God I wish linux was better.

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"LeVzi" <LeVzi@discussions.microsoft.com>wrote in message

Wow, you are an idiot. You said you wanted Ultimate? Retail version of

Ultimate comes with both discs. How many times do people have to explain

this to you?



ss.





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Ive never seen the oem for sale, link plz



and ultimate retail includes 64 bit as said above





--

sosrandom



AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ *||* ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe AM2

GeIL (4x1GB) 800MHz 4-4-4-12 *||* Gainward 7900GS 256mb 'Golden

Sample'

Scythe Andy Samurai Master CPU cooler *||* 2x XILENCE 120mm fans

@ 68CFM each

Logitech G5 Laser Mouse *||* Media Keyboard Elite

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"LeVzi" <LeVzi@discussions.microsoft.com>wrote in message

It says retail vista ultimate.

Not OEM and you get the 32 bit and the 64 bit DVDs in the pack.



M$ say you can use the OEM if you want.. there is nothing to stop you buying

it.

Just don't expect to buy a new computer next year and port the OEM version

to it like you can the retail.



BTW there is also a retail upgrade version.



BTW which feature of ultimate do you need rather than say premium OEM at £61



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Go into a store, any store selling Windows Vista RETAIL

Look at the box.

Front, top left corner:

"32- and 64-bit" (Vista Ultimate)

That is the box pictured in that link.



"Yet MS say you cannot use the OEM."

FALSE, see my other post.

Call back for another opinion.

Also remember, the techs you talk may not be trained in the

differences between retail and OEM.

Think of OEM as being marketed, manufactured, sold and supported by

the seller and not Microsoft and understanding will be more clear.



"I dont want their crappy technical support and I dont need a manual"

There are other limitations, but the choice is yours and choice is

good.



"and my mobo fried, they wouldnt re-activate it"

FALSE again, see my other post.

People activate OEM with upgraded motherboards regularly.



--

Jupiter Jones [MVP]

www3.telus.net/dandemar" >www3.telus.net/dandemar

www.dts-l.org" >www.dts-l.org





"LeVzi" <LeVzi@discussions.microsoft.com>wrote in message

-

Does vista home premium also come in a 64 bit variety?



and OEM version are cheap beacuse



*NOTE:* This OEM software is intended for system builders only and

_cannot_be_transferred_to_another_PC_once_it_is_installed_.

_The_purchaser_of_this_software_is_required_ to comply with the terms of

the System Builder license, including the responsibility of

_providing_all_end-user_support_ for the software.





--

sosrandom



AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ *||* ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe AM2

GeIL (4x1GB) 800MHz 4-4-4-12 *||* Gainward 7900GS 256mb 'Golden

Sample'

Scythe Andy Samurai Master CPU cooler *||* 2x XILENCE 120mm fans

@ 68CFM each

Logitech G5 Laser Mouse *||* Media Keyboard Elite

-

Windows Vista Home Basic, Premium, Business and Ultimate all come in

32 bit and 64 bit.

For Vista Premium, 32 bit media comes in the box with information on

ordering 64 bit media.



Also see:

www3.telus.net/dandemar/vistaget.htm" >www3.telus.net/dandemar/vistaget.htm



--

Jupiter Jones [MVP]

www3.telus.net/dandemar" >www3.telus.net/dandemar

www.dts-l.org" >www.dts-l.org





"sosrandom" <sosrandom.2yvbt2@no-mx.forums.net>wrote in message

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On Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:22:13 -0500, sosrandom

<sosrandom.2yvb43@no-mx.forums.net>wrote:



You may or may not find it in larger computer stores. You should have

no trouble finding it sold on the web all over the place.



This site explains it about as good as anywhere.



arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070130-8730.html" >arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070130-8730.html



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