Comments for Vista OEM vs Retail

So if MS shows sympathy for people telling them that their motherboard, hard disk and CPU died (and purchase new hardware instead) MS has no way of verifying this so why pay extra 100% for the full version? In 2 years when the time for upgrade of hardware comes there will be next Windows version (because MS told so that they will be issuing new Windows every 2 years).

The only way how MS can actually check the motherboard number is via mandatory activation which in other words means that they will be spying on you. But in two years you might want to have new hardware and new OS so go ahead be a sucker and overpay for the retail version. I'd rather use pirated version than support this limited policy MS is enforcing.

Well I'm building a PC, and I've decided to go with the retail verision. Because it has BOTH 32 and 64 bit, I won't have to end up buying a new OEM version once 32 is less used and 64 is more widel used. 64-bit right now just doesn't work too well, and 32 would eventually be taken over. Just get the retail version and save the problem of having to install a new OEM Vista.

From lots of experience:

1. You can call and get a new activation for OEM. Just can't get technical calls answered.

2. Only Ultimate comes with both 32bit and 64bit in the retail box. You get 32 OR 64 bit but only 1 on the other installs.

3. Upgrading, if you are going the route of 98.....all the way to Vista, you only have to Install from XP upgrade disc, insert the 2000 disc (or 98) like you would've before, then install SP2 then do the Vista upgrade over that. Vista is the first OS that has this new way of doing the upgrade.

4. XP is at the point in its lifecycle where I would just stick with it unless you're an IT guru. Wait until SP1 comes out for Vista.

5. Do NOT do an upgrade on your perfectly setup XP box. It is a nightmare just waiting to happen. Even if you purchase Vista Upgrade, I very much recommend you backup all of your data, reinstall ALL of your programs, and do a fresh install of XP, SP2, then the Vista upgrade, then reinstall all of your programs AFTER vista is done. Use the 'compatibility wizard' in the control panel (under programs at the top)..you can set it up so any program runs as an 1. administrator 2. always runs as win95 all the way to XP SP2...the compatibility issues mainly arise from apps checking in the installation to see if system is XP, which Vista says NO so use the compatibility wizard to install older apps. Some games have issues, but I've installed all of my old apps on Vista, with no problems.

5. If you hack, the easiest hack out there isn't even a hack. It's a service that stops the '30 days to activate' in its tracks. Just install the crack service right after installing Vista, and it stays at 30 days to activate forever. It isn't really a hack, you never installed a key at the beginning, which let you pick any Vista version (so go with Ultimate). DON'T ever activate, and it just sits at 30 days. Search torrents for 'Ishy timebomb' and you should find one version of it. ALL Vista discs have all versions on them, and you can choose between them, as long as you don't enter a key when it asks for one...next screen you pick the version to install. BUT there is a seperate disc for 64 bit and a seperate disc for 64 bit, but each has all versions of each bit type. Go with 32 bit if you know what's good for you.

Can't stress this enough:
If you have a dialed in XP box that is running great, and you don't like to fiddle for hours on end to dial in Vista (and everything is different that you're fiddling with)...DON'T ruin it by getting Vista. Wait a while. It's May 8th and if you install right now, there's already been something like 80 security updates to install already.

Aero can wait--unless the cool look is all you're after.

But--I can tell you this--you can go to as many PORN sites as you want, and no spyware/trojans will install. Vista is much tighter. So if you are getting clogged with lots of spyware/trojans all the time (and I'm not talking clicking 'yes' to install something--you still get the stuff that way)...Vista might be a good choice now.

If I was a 45 year old guy who just used email/surfed/played a couple of 3d games, and had kids, I would wait on Vista, or just wait until you purchase a new computer that already has vista installed from the manufacturer with all the drivers working good.

-My $.02 dollars.

Correction:

I made it sound like you had to buy both 32 and 64 bit each seperately if you bought one or the other and you didn't purchase Ultimate.

If you buy a version other then Ultimate, you just request a 64 bit disc be shipped to you by going to microsoft.com and requesting it.
Sorry. Take care.

The reason why you don't just pay a hacker 45 is because windows operating systems make frequent contact with microsoft through patches, upgrades, etc. It's not hard to tell where a request comes from and if the os of that request is legitimate .