Someone here was just asking about OEM versions the other day, so thought this story I just read is useful.
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OEM editions of Windows don't come in pretty boxes, nor do they include manuals. Of course, a real "manual" hasn't shipped with Windows for over a decade, and chances are, if you're interested in OEM software, you don't need what passes for a manual these days, anyway (and no, I was never satisfied by the pre-Win95 manuals, either). And the pretty box... well, that's not really worth much anyway, is it? Rest assured, though: the software on the disc is the same as that found in any retail edition.
There are some gotchas, though. OEM software cannot be returned once opened. There are no exceptions. You open it, you've bought it.
OEM software is also tied to the motherboard it is first installed on. Unlike the retail versions of Windows which can be transferred to a new computer, OEM versions are not transferable. What about upgrading hardware? Microsoft says that anything is fair game, except the motherboard. Replacing the motherboard in a computer results in a "new personal computer," which the company considers to be synonymous with a transfer. It's not permitted with an OEM edition of Windows.
Nevertheless, I've known users who got around this limitation by calling Microsoft and reporting that their motherboards died when they wanted to build a new computer. It is Microsoft's policy to allow motherboard swaps in instances where a system is defective or has suffered a hardware failure. But you shouldn't bank on this approach; there's no guarantee it will work and, well, liars don't get ice cream. Also, while retail versions of Vista include both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows, OEM versions are specific. You get one or the other.
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