System Builder version - NEED HELP BAD!

gamerjames

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Sep 3, 2008
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Ok, I am 16 and I am going through my first PC build.

I have all of the parts, but I don't have the OS yet. I am looking on Newegg, and for full version home premium 64 bit it says $283.

I seriously can not afford this, I thought it would be cheaper.

It does, however, say System Builder OEM, for $106 - is this for someone like me? Will it work if I have no copies of windows laying around? Can i just put it in and it installs?

I need help badly lol, I am stressed out now since I didn't budget well enough for a $283 OS.

 
Solution
The System Builder packs are OEM copies of Windows. OEM media and Retail media (by media, I mean the physical disk(s) themselves) are exactly the same. The differences are in the licensing, and package contents. They are as follows:

1. OEM copies cannot be transferred from one PC to another. Once you install an OEM copy on a PC, it must remain with (can only be reinstalled on) that PC.

2. OEM copies contain only 32, or only 64 bit media. You must choose which one you want before you buy. You don't get both 32 and 64 bit disks in the same box.

3. OEM copies do not come with any support from Microsoft. Part of the price of a retail copy is a phone support incident with Microsoft. Most consumers won't need to worry about this point...
The System Builder packs are OEM copies of Windows. OEM media and Retail media (by media, I mean the physical disk(s) themselves) are exactly the same. The differences are in the licensing, and package contents. They are as follows:

1. OEM copies cannot be transferred from one PC to another. Once you install an OEM copy on a PC, it must remain with (can only be reinstalled on) that PC.

2. OEM copies contain only 32, or only 64 bit media. You must choose which one you want before you buy. You don't get both 32 and 64 bit disks in the same box.

3. OEM copies do not come with any support from Microsoft. Part of the price of a retail copy is a phone support incident with Microsoft. Most consumers won't need to worry about this point anyway though.
 
Solution

I assume you mean M\B is fried and must be replaced, well in Vista OEM they will activate it again. If you wind up activating to often you will get the only option of Phone activation. Vista OEM gets de-activated with any major system parts changed. I believe Win-7 will be the same.
 


In case of XP OEM what to do??
 



Sorry, I mean to say that In case of preloaded XP ....
 



Same M/b Is not available. I am having preinstalled XP..
 

Ok I'm going a bit out on a limb here, but my experience with the upgrade version of win 7 pro (I pre-ordered during the half price introduction offer). I have a Xp Pro license I expected to need to give the key from the pro license or put in the media, which like you I had no actual media disk. I did a full install on a bare drive that I had wiped all partitions from I fully expected to need either the license key or media disk. What really happened in my case was all the installer asked for was my win-7 key it installed fully, and yes it activated. Weird, but totally true in my case I hope this may help you as I don't know how a OEM disk itself will actually work.
 
Does anyone know if this would work for Home Premium as well (just entering the XP pro key that is)? Also, for the upgrade version, do you get full Microsoft support and transferrability to another machine? When Windows runs into a problem where it needs a system disk, does it go straight to asking for the Vista 7 disc or does something else need to happen first?