OS choice for new system

[Kata]

Hi all,

I'm after a little advice - I am intending to put Vista Home Premium 64bit on my new build (it has 8GB of RAM). I have heard that Ultimate really doesn't add anything useful, is this the case?

I don't know whether to go for a 'Retail Upgrade', or an OEM version for less than half the price. I will only want it on my own PC, but don't want to be too stuck if I upgrade - what exactly are the limitations of the OEM software?

If I get the retail version, how long would it take to get the 64bit version, and is there any extra cost? I understand only the 32bit version is in the box.

Thanks!

Kata

[MSIC]

The best way, that seems to have worked well over the years, of considered OEM licence operating systems is this:
1 OEM licence to 1 motherboard.

You can add & swap other bits in and out, but change the motherboard, get a new licence.

Technically it's nothing like as simple as that, but in general terms it works.
A retail version (at around 2 - 3 times the cost) can be moved to a new computer (ie motherboard), providing it's wiped from the previous system and only in use on one machine at a time.

And you are right - steer clear of Ultimate unless it's the same price. It adds nothing worth any money.

[Andeh13]

I may be mistaken but im sure iv used an OEM operating system on a new motherboard. All i did was call them up to activate it, explain to them i had problems with MOBO and just had it replaced, and they activated it for me over the phone.

[NeoVector]

Heard of that aswell, but it's not a hard rule, think it might be down to the operators discretion at Microsoft.

[Webby]

Basically MISC has it about right, the easiest way of looking at it is new motherboard new licence, now MS are not iron hearted and the licnce allows for changing a faulty motherboard for a comparable alternative on the same licence. But if you choose to change motherboard for upgrade purposes (say you were on a S775 now and decide to get an i7 on release) then you really should be paying to get a new licence, although MS may reactivate you copy they dont have to and you shouldn't really expect them to, after all you agreed to the terms when you installed the OEM version. If you want to be able to install as many times as you like on multiple upgrades then Retail is the way forward, personally OEM makes more sense unless you are upgrading your motherboard every five minutes.

[Kata]

Well, I'd be hoping to keep this mobo for at least 2-3 years, so I guess by then there'd be a new Windows anyway! Thanks all!