Help with purchasing additional licenses for VISTA please

DatabaseError

no...it is for purachse with new hardware, which you have (but purchased separately). You 'shouldn't' buy the OEM copy, but I would. Be aware though that the licence from the oem copy is not transferrable to another machine...ever!
Plan b.....slightly more risky....try to join the windows 7 beta program, 2.5million copies of the unfinished new OS available for free and legal download at 8pm tonight, but they will stop working 1/7/09 (or 1/8/09?) but that gives 7 months for the price of vista to drop..

Psychofly

It's OEM which means for the license to be valid you are technically supposed to buy it with an item of hardware like a harddrive or something like that.

Psychofly

anewhope wrote: »

There's no performance difference between x64 + 2GB RAM running 32 bit software and x86 + 2GB RAM doing the same. There's more to a 64 bit operating system than just how much memory it can address. Now 64 bit is becoming more prominent with software vendors both hardware and software, you are starting to see anywhere between 5-25% increases in performance over x86 in the same conditions.

From experience I would dispute that. Yes it's getting better but I still don't think installing x64 is worth it without running at least 4GB of RAM. It's not as bad as it was but it's not worth the hassle if you don't know what you're doing. However noticing the post that this machine is 8GB then yeah Vista 64 is definitely the way to go.

trcooke

Reading the small print for the OEM licence it looks like Microsoft are washing their hands of support for the O/S stating that the system builder (who the disk is intended to be sold to) must provide support.

I don't know how this works out in real life though.

Psychofly

It's not really a concern to be honest mate since contacting Microsoft directly for support is incredibly rare for a home user. Even the system builder is unlikely to provide any form of OS support - they're only really interested in whether or not the hardware is functioning.

DatabaseError

without a 64 bit OS the OP has just bought e-peen and bragging rights, with the 64 bit OS..well..the 8gig club is still one which only those with more money than sense enter, but at least all the ram can be addressed

[Deleted User]

trcooke wrote: »

Reading the small print for the OEM licence it looks like Microsoft are washing their hands of support for the O/S stating that the system builder (who the disk is intended to be sold to) must provide support.

I don't know how this works out in real life though.

It means if you call Microsoft for support with an OEM install, they'll either direct you back to the OEM (yourself) or make you pay for a support incident over the telephone (not cheap).

An OEM is defined, by Microsoft as;

an original equipment manufacturer, or an assembler, reassembler, or installer of software on computer systems

You can install, therefore you can be an OEM under the EULA.

gjchester

hethmar wrote: »

Many thanks data, but this is on that advert - does it mean I cant buy it?

This software is not intended for purchase or installation by consumers.

Technically yes. You need to buy the full retail version as there is no OS to upgrade from.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Windows-Vista-Home-Premium-Service/dp/B0013O54OE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1231501735&sr=1-2

The OEM version you were pointed to is only valid if you buy hardware at the same time. That said I doubt anyone will check.
OEM versins can only be activated on one machine. If you upgrade the machine to a new PC you'll need to buy a new licence. A full retail version can be removed fro a machine and moved to a new one if need be.

hethmar

Many thanks. I rang the supplier of the computer (small independent up north) they said they can send me the OS 64 bit in a few days for £90. I asked about the proviso re not for consumers and they said ignore it - so Ive gone back to amazon and bought that OS for express delivery before 1 p.m. tomorrow. Many thanks everyone, much appreciate the input.

gjchester

DatabaseError wrote: »

without a 64 bit OS the OP has just bought e-peen and bragging rights, with the 64 bit OS..well..the 8gig club is still one which only those with more money than sense enter, but at least all the ram can be addressed

Or couse given this is a gaming rig, and probably has high end graphics and sound cards there is always the possiblilty there are no 64 bit drivers for the hardware.

64 bit is just not ready for general use yet, the driver support can be hit and miss.