what dose this mean Windows Vista Home Edition Basic (OEM) i mean the oem part?

Answer 1

Own Equipment Manufacturer.

Basically, you build your own PC from parts.
Hence the restriction on purchase - at http://www.scan.co.uk/ you have to buy some item of hardware at the same time...
I think (but you should check) that just a hard drive or a graphics card qualifies.

It also conveys restrictions on re-installing the software following a hardware upgrade - be warned...

Answer 2

Original Equipment Manufacturer means it is intended for builders and generally only included mandatory things for whatever the item is. Often you won't get software, say for a CD-RW drive, or mounting hardware, cables, etc... It is why the products are often less expensive. Some items aren't worth saving a few bucks if it means you have to go buy something to use it, again like a CD-RW drive you may need to buy burning software to use it. Things like hard drives it doesn't matter much because you don't need much. When it comes to software like Windows you will not get support from Microsoft. You can still get updates and all but the OEM software is intended to be supported by the end builder, in this case it would be you. Most of the time, and I say most very carefully, you won't need the support, but the less comfortable it makes you, the more you should consider buying a retail version. Sometimes tech support is worth a few extra bucks, if they at least speak english...

Answer 3

OEM=Original Equipment Manufacturer

I know that doesn't mean much but OEM version of windows is normally sold with a computer, therefore the cost is a little cheaper. If you just wanted windows without the computer you would have to purchase a boxed retail version of windows. Both are the same as far as the software content but Microsoft sells the OEM version to system builders to ship with their machines.

Answer 4

Hi there,

OEM means Original Equipment Manufacture

Answer 5

OEM indicates that your operating system, VISTA, is provided by the makers of the computer as bundled software. They are not packaged for sale from retail outlets. If you buy Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, E-Machines, etc., it is OEM version. It is the same software as sold in stores, just no packaging or printed manuals.

Answer 6

OEM usually supplied by hardware manufacturers (like Dell)
OEM=Original equipment manufacturer


OEM, when used to describe software, is used to differentiate that version of the software which is bundled with other hardware or software from that same software package sold on its own as a retail package. The packaging and legal rights that come with the OEM versions of a software package generally differ from what is provided with the retail versions. The functionality of the software is sometimes the same, but it is quite common for the OEM version to be a version with reduced functionality. (For instance the OEM version of Cyberlink PowerDVD supports two-channel audio but not multi-channel sound systems. A customer who wishes to play DVDs with multi-channel sound is required to pay to upgrade to the full version). The OEM version of a software package may also be limited to be usable only with the hardware it came with. For instance the Nero burning ROM OEM software only functions with the same brand burner it is bundled with.

Answer 7

Original equipment manufacture. It's a version of Windows that was supplied with a new computer (subsidised by the PC manufacturer at a discount) and is not authorised to run on another machine.

Answer 8

When an operating System is installed you have 2 kinds........

Retail or OEM

Retail is when you buy the disc on its own
OEM is the disc that comes with a PC (pre-installed)