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[TheBoy]

Microsoft don't make the drives so support of format is not that important - anyway Dell are BR supporters, as are most PC companies due to the higher capacity.

Having native OS support is important - most of the world don't want to install additional and expensive burning software.

As to the +RW - only ever done the write once discs but I have noticed that the cheap under TV recorders are mainly +RW - must be cheaper to licence. But it seems than -R is the most like DVD Video.

No, +RW format is better suited to that use...   ...+RW downfall was that stupid 'booktype' parameter they invented.

Anyway when I get another PC it will be late next year with current C as a D or E, almost certainly it will be a self build (I have modded but never built) of top of second level parts. Not sure about Vista or XP but it will be 32bit as I need a lot of 32bit support still.

If your current drive will fit - is it SATA?  You will be forced to Vista - I'm assuming your XP licence is OEM, bundled with your system, hence non transferrable.  Most retail channels will not stock XP Home within a few months of Vista release...

But this one works so why worry about building a new one until I am ready - it can video edit, it can encode, it can play games and it can surf the internet.

But ultimately not worth spending much on.

[Martin_1962]

Microsoft don't make the drives so support of format is not that important - anyway Dell are BR supporters, as are most PC companies due to the higher capacity.

Having native OS support is important - most of the world don't want to install additional and expensive burning software.

As to the +RW - only ever done the write once discs but I have noticed that the cheap under TV recorders are mainly +RW - must be cheaper to licence. But it seems than -R is the most like DVD Video.

No, +RW format is better suited to that use...   ...+RW downfall was that stupid 'booktype' parameter they invented.

Anyway when I get another PC it will be late next year with current C as a D or E, almost certainly it will be a self build (I have modded but never built) of top of second level parts. Not sure about Vista or XP but it will be 32bit as I need a lot of 32bit support still.

If your current drive will fit - is it SATA?  You will be forced to Vista - I'm assuming your XP licence is OEM, bundled with your system, hence non transferrable.  Most retail channels will not stock XP Home within a few months of Vista release...

But this one works so why worry about building a new one until I am ready - it can video edit, it can encode, it can play games and it can surf the internet.

But ultimately not worth spending much on.

Ever since I first used a PC adding on bits has seemed to be standard practise.

My drives are IDE and the XP licence I have the disc too and wasn't cheap XP Pro as well! Work actually paid the difference for connectivity reasons.

Anyway this PC is not any slower than when it was built, just new ones are faster, while it works and can do the jobs I want I'lll keep it. I will be getting a > 300GB drive for it to store all my ISOs and in use AVIs on - worst case would mean USB enclosures

[TheBoy]

the XP licence I have the disc too and wasn't cheap XP Pro as well! Work actually paid the difference for connectivity reasons.

Is it retail or OEM?

[Martin_1962]

the XP licence I have the disc too and wasn't cheap XP Pro as well! Work actually paid the difference for connectivity reasons.

Is it retail or OEM?

Whats the difference?

[supermop]

Retail is boxed and includes all the additional packaging contents. OEM is a stripped down version, mainly for bundling with PC's - or in the case of component OEM's, for building a package PC from. They are generally always cheaper than the retail counterpart.

[Martin_1962]

Retail is boxed and includes all the additional packaging contents. OEM is a stripped down version, mainly for bundling with PC's - or in the case of component OEM's, for building a package PC from. They are generally always cheaper than the retail counterpart.

So having a book and CD makes no real difference though.

If this one gets replaced I'd use the same licence since the C drive would be reused and that is where it is installed

[Markjay]

The OEM license is (a) only valid if sold bundled with a new PC, and (b) it can NOT be transferred to another PC, or in Microsoft’s own words – ‘the software lives and dies with the PC’. Incidentally, some OEM versions (though not all) are manufacturer-specific, i.e. BIOS-locked so that they can only be used with Dell or HP PCs etc, but when this is the case it is clearly identified on the package.

The Retail (or FPP for Fully Packaged Product) license can be purchased at any time and used with any PC, and can be transferred from one PC to another.

Retail software is nicely boxed as opposed to the OEM which is usually provided in plastic shrink, but it no longer has the advantage of a printed manual as used to be the case in the past. The other difference is that Retail software is supported directly by Microsoft, where as OEM software is supported by the vendor who sold you the PC. If you contact Microsoft Support with regards to any software who’s Product ID shows it’s an OEM version, they will simply not talk to you.

There is a third option which is through Microsoft’s various licensing schemes e.g. Open Business Licensing, Open Volume Licensing, Microsoft select, Microsoft Action Pack, Microsoft MSDN, Academic licenses etc…. but this are generally not applicable for home users.

The only exception is Microsoft Student and Teacher editions, which are very very cheap – if you are eligible for one.

As for OEM, in principal it can only be purchased by ‘system builders’ for the purpose of pre-installing and bundling with a new PC – but Microsoft have acknowledged a loophole where home-builders can purchase OEM versions legally if building their own PCs since they qualify as ‘system builders’. In fact, if this was not the case, then legally building your own PC would have been prohibitive as the OS license alone would have cost around £100 more.

It is also important to emphasise that these are all legal issues, not technical ones – in practice you can install any CD on your PC, be it OEM, Retail etc (as long as you have the correct Key Code that is), and it will work fine, but if you want the license to be legally valid you need to follow the guidelines as detailed above….

[TheBoy]

So having a book and CD makes no real difference though.

If this one gets replaced I'd use the same licence since the C drive would be reused and that is where it is installed

Having book and CD does not constitute having a licence.  If the book has a COA sticker on it, then its OEM. If you don't have the COA, then its retail, and you need the sheet with the licence on it.

If its OEM, you cannot transfer to another PC - even if you are planning on fitting your exist HDD...

The loophole that MJ refers to is OEM versions are allowed to be sold with certain pieces of hardware (originally intended for 'barebones' systems), but somehow includes a mouse!

Another reason for Retail being so much more expensive is that it entitles you to support from MS. OEM users must get any support via the PC builder.

[Markjay]

Incidentally, if anyone is after a legal copy of Microsoft Office, the cheapest way to get one legally is to buy the OEM version with the new PC, it works out £100-£150 cheaper (depending on the version – i.e. Basic, SBE, or Professional). Unless of course you are eligible for the Students and Teachers edition….
But you must ask for it when you buy the new PC, you can't (legally) buy it afterwords separately.

[TheBoy]

Incidentally, if anyone is after a legal copy of Microsoft Office, the cheapest way to get one legally is to buy the OEM version with the new PC, it works out £100-£150 cheaper (depending on the version – i.e. Basic, SBE, or Professional). Unless of course you are eligible for the Students and Teachers edition….
But you must ask for it when you buy the new PC, you can't (legally) buy it afterwords separately.

Or, alternatively, if you work for a large company using one of the MS Open licencing options, they may have extended it for a 'Home Use' programme, allowing you to use Office for free

[supermop]

You can also buy second hand licenses now. Can't remember the website, but it was in the news not so long ago.

At the end of the day, all you need is the license key. You can get a copy from whatever source you like, as long as you have a paid for license, it's all legal (home users at least).

[TheBoy]

You can also buy second hand licenses now. Can't remember the website, but it was in the news not so long ago.

At the end of the day, all you need is the license key. You can get a copy from whatever source you like, as long as you have a paid for license, it's all legal (home users at least).

The key is not the same as the licence. It may work (assuming nobody else is using the same key), but doesn't mean its legal.  To be legal, you must have the COA (either on booklet, or more likely with XP, stuck to the system unit) for OEM, or the licence sheet for retail.

As for 2nd hand licences, OEM ones are not transferrable, clearly stated in EULA...  ...last time I checked, full retail ones are (not sure about upgrade licences, don't believe they are, but would need to check)

[TheBoy]

You can also buy second hand licenses now. Can't remember the website, but it was in the news not so long ago.

At the end of the day, all you need is the license key. You can get a copy from whatever source you like, as long as you have a paid for license, it's all legal (home users at least).

Additionally, from end of Jan, be cautious buying 2nd hand licences for XP - with many buying an upgrade licence to Vista, their old XP licence (which they may try to sell) is not valid, hence illegal.  Ignorance is no excuse in law. I'm sure MS would have set up WPA/WGA to pick up invalid licences due to Vista upgrades....

[Markjay]

...Additionally, from end of Jan, be cautious buying 2nd hand licences for XP - with many buying an upgrade licence to Vista, their old XP licence (which they may try to sell) is not valid, hence illegal.  Ignorance is no excuse in law. I'm sure MS would have set up WPA/WGA to pick up invalid licences due to Vista upgrades....

On another note, quite misleadingly computer companies advertise ‘free upgrade to Vista’. OK, but does thin mean that they will send en engineer to your house to install the Vista upgrade? No they won’t, all they’ll do is send you a CD and expect you to sort yourself out…

Some companies have a ‘Recovery CD’ which automatically installs the OS and drivers, and this is fine except it formats the hard drive in the process, thus wiping off any applications or games you installed, as well as any documents or family photos you haven’t backed-up…

While the Vista Upgrade should not be a problem to any IT savvy person, the fact is that many consumers out there wouldn’t have a clue what to do with the Vista upgrade CD and will need to pay someone to install the upgrade for them. None of this is mentioned in the brochure….

[TheBoy]

‘free upgrade to Vista’

Most of these 'free' offers, you have to pay a shipping and handling fee, often around £20 - though have seen them at £35. Hardly free