OEM issues

anselm_3

Apologies if I missed any previous thread to this specific problem. I bought OEM Vista Home Premium (on price obviously) for a Mediacentre build. It wont start up..nothing, just shuts down after a few seconds, no safe mode, nothing. In troubleshooting the problem I need to try another mobo & so I've now realised the restrictions on OEM.... I rang MS who told me I shouldn't have been sold OEM at all. I've asked Scan (the seller) for a refund & to sell me the retail version which, OK, is a lot more dosh but, as most people, I would like to do the right thing. Can anyone answer any or all of the following: Whats the worst that could happen if I used the software anyway? Should anyone other than me take responsibility..I've read about 'grey areas' in licensing agreements? Have you had this problem & how was it resolved? Have you any suggestion as to the cause of the original problem with the computer? Have you any experience of Scan Computers..? I've seen them referred to as Scam Computers although loads of companies sell OEM. Should they be expected to comply with the refund under consumer protection legislation or is there no real fault? Sorry for the length of the post but I'd be hyper-obliged for any input..

unrich

Is this a base unit you have bought with Vista pre-installed on the disk?
It will only ever have OEM on it!

I guess you want the retail as it comes on a disk.

Take everything off except the KB and screen.

Does it boot into bios?
Does it boot a Lunix live CD like Damn Small Linux? (download the ISO and burn CD)
Does it boot a Windows XP disk, a bootable Win98 CD, a DOS boot image?
Does it boot with another operating system on a different hard disk?
Does it boot from a USB key with a bootable image?

If it doesn't do what you expect and you have a faulty item then you have 7 days to send it back to Scan under distance selling regs. No ifs or buts.

Don't swap things about like motherboards.

Don't register the software.

mdbarber

unrich wrote: »

Is this a base unit you have bought with Vista pre-installed on the disk?
It will only ever have OEM on it!

I guess you want the retail as it comes on a disk.

Take everything off except the KB and screen.

Does it boot into bios?
Does it boot a Lunix live CD like Damn Small Linux? (download the ISO and burn CD)
Does it boot a Windows XP disk, a bootable Win98 CD, a DOS boot image?
Does it boot with another operating system on a different hard disk?
Does it boot from a USB key with a bootable image?

If it doesn't do what you expect and you have a faulty item then you have 7 days to send it back to Scan under distance selling regs. No ifs or buts.

Don't swap things about like motherboards.

Don't register the software.

The DSR regs do not require the item to be faulty, you have 7 days to return under DSR what ever the reason, really unsure how this applies to software as there are a few exceptions '
this isn't the consumer forum anyway post on there for more help concerning that,

As for the rest i suspect that the OP is actuallly on about buying the software only' possibly with a hdd or such "permissable hardware" that oem software is allowed to be shipped with as per ms licence.
Unfortunately if this is a copy of the oem disk that is supplied with HP systems it will be locked to HP mainboards, and if you were informed it was an HP copy i honestly believe you don't have a leg to stand on
please post more info to get more detail m8, such as description on invoice what you bought it with and for etc

russ_gillespie

The fact that its OEM is not the problem.

The problem is the PC will not boot, this is nothing to do with it being OEM, it sounds faulty.

Check all the cabling inside and make sure everything is secure.

OEM machines are generally for resellers but there's nothing to stop you buying one and you shouldn't get any problems, you've just been unlucky in that the machine you've got doesn't work.

I've bought from scan many times. If you return something they will insist you send it back to them at your own cost and they will refund the postage cost if they find a fualt, and they will issue you with a replacement. This is likely to take a couple of weeks.

S0litaire

Eekk! the one word that striked dread into any IT loving person
"Scan". the WORST company for support I've ever came across!

As for the problem you are having:

Did the motherboard work at any time since you got it? If it didn't then there is no issue with the licence agreement since the OEM has not been used.

If you did install it and the Mobo did work for a time then best if you return it to scan..

mdbarber

russ_gillespie wrote: »

The fact that its OEM is not the problem.

The problem is the PC will not boot, this is nothing to do with it being OEM, it sounds faulty.

Check all the cabling inside and make sure everything is secure.

OEM machines are generally for resellers but there's nothing to stop you buying one and you shouldn't get any problems, you've just been unlucky in that the machine you've got doesn't work.

I've bought from scan many times. If you return something they will insist you send it back to them at your own cost and they will refund the postage cost if they find a fualt, and they will issue you with a replacement. This is likely to take a couple of weeks.

why are you making all those assumptions, the OP clearly stated whether mistaken or not that;
A, it was an HP oem version he had been supplied with
B the computer powered up, then shut down
The OP did not clearly state that he had bought a HP machine from scan, nor that it wouldn't boot at all, just "no safe mode" etc

exup

an OEM copy is for a system builder . the licence is granted for that PC that it is on - so if its a lgit OEM copy its stil ok to use - if for example you buiild a PC for someone and install an OEM operating system on it - they should come back to you for suport in the case of problems and not microsoft - I have built my own PC's and used OEM versions as it does save alot of money - but any issues I sort myself .
If the shop supplied an OEM copy of vista its either in error or because they believed you could sort the problems on it.
(If the PC had OEM vista already on it then you would go back to the supplier to sort the problems out).

as for the PC problem itself. if the system is failing to boot - it could be that the Boot device is selected wrong . and is trying to boot from floppy, or another drive - or the boot device isnt conncted properly.

anselm_3

Hi Guys. I'm sorry I've misled you in the post. HP = Home Premium. I bought the barebone Shuttle SN27P2 used, added CPU, HDD, OD, graphics card & Vista & it worked, at least for a couple of days. After that it would only boot from safe mode 'start windows normally' & after that wouldnt start at all. Now, after seconds it shuts down even the power led goes out although the fan stays on & I can get the led back by pressing 'Delete' but thats it. I've took it apart & rebuilt without success. It was suggested to swop & change parts to determine any faults. I suspect the mobo for 2 reasons: its not brand new but more importantly in trying to fix it I cleared the CMOS with the power on, not off as it should have been:o . I believe this has creamed the mobo or at least corrupted something critical. I want to confirm this by using another mobo with all the other parts hence the issue with the OEM (unless you can suggest something else). I dont believe there is, or was, anything wrong with any of it so wont actually accuse Scan of anything. Can you shed any more light on the issue with this info?

mdbarber

moving the jumper with power on won't have done this as it simply puts the battery voltage away from the cmos chip, most common problem with shuttles is static due to the limited space you have to work in, you did take anti static precautions?
from the description you have now supplied it is unlikely to be related to the oem software which is identical in build to the retail version
Can i ask what graphics card you are using, anything up market will exceed the power rating for these psu's and will cause the problems you describe.
Try setting the system up using the onboard graphics first, if u can also try attaching a psu tester just to make sure there is no fault there

anselm_3

Hi mdbarber. Thanks for the reply. I'm pleased that it may not be the mobo after all & the PSU would be my next step anyway although when you select the 'clear CMOS' button on the back the PC powers off for the time the button is depressed & fires up when released...sim. to a reset, more than shorting the battery. By the way the proper reset button on the front does nothing. This model shuttle doesnt have integrated graphics so I had to use an XFX 8400 GS which from the stats isnt overly hungry although I did have some minor problem on set up with the drivers. I used the power cord to earth any static during the build sequence..ok? Can you say if it isnt possible to corrupt the BIOS? I cant stop thinking it is something very critical like that to make it shut down so quickly I mean. Its as if there is something there, the first thing it sees, so awful it thinks 'crikey, I'm off'.

mdbarber

try just disconnecting the reset switch at board end if it doesn't work have often seen these stick causing boot failures