Vista OEM or Retail?

**Reidy** · August 18, 2007, 06:41 AM

What exactly is the difference between these again? Apart from oem being half the price, i can't quite recall. Something to do with it not letting you upgrade...

Can someone clarify for me what the main differences are?

I don't want to spend an extra £60 for no reason. (+reps if you help

)

**sapi** · August 18, 2007, 07:50 AM

OEM software is tied to the hardware of the computer it is purchased with (in real terms, that means that you can't change your motherboard)

**Reidy** · August 18, 2007, 07:52 AM

But you can change other parts such as upgrading ram in the future?

**Freddie** · August 18, 2007, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Reidy

But you can change other parts such as upgrading ram in the future?

Yes.

**Reidy** · August 18, 2007, 08:25 AM

Ok. Thanks to you both.

**Dick** · August 18, 2007, 08:27 AM

OEM is also supposed to be sold with hardware (supposedly a motherboard), but it is also legally possible to buy it with a 99p mouse.

**sapi** · August 18, 2007, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by King Richard

OEM is also supposed to be sold with hardware (supposedly a motherboard), but it is also legally possible to buy it with a 99p mouse.

Yeah, technically it should be a 'critical system component' but most shops will let you walk out with it when paired with anything, really

**Arakorn** · August 18, 2007, 09:30 AM

My friend claimed he bought an OEM XP alone... Then again he had upgraded his computer half a year ago from the same place, I'm sure that if he mentioned that they might've symphatized for them as he never got the old XP to work..