OT windas 7 OEM discs...

What is the price? It's pretty cheap from CPC.

Jim K

OEM pc vendor supplied.

is that a major omission that will cause agro?

Drivers are usually no problem as long as you have a way to log on to the website of the part(s) maker(s).

Downsides of OEM install media? They are only licenced to the motherboard they're first installed on, so they can't legally be moved later. Some OEM media are locked to one maker's BIOS and won't install on the "wrong" make. There's no support from Microsoft, if it goes wrong, it's *your* problem, and M$ care even less about it than they normally do.

Check your hardware for compatibility, and try a Linux Live CD first, but ignore the slowness, it will run a lot faster from HD. If you want it to sort of feel like Windows XP or 7, try Mint Linux.

Support from Microsoft? Are you having a laugh?

So how's it work then?

It will install & run but you can't ring ms for "help" when it fecks up?

Something I've never done ever btw..,.,.

Jim K

I see CPC only seem to have Windows 8 Pro. £53.49 plus VATV but at least you know it's kosher. Needs a previous version as it's an upgrade.

Win 8 ? Nooo

Universally derided, why would the latest version be less than 1/2 price of the "old"?

Jim K

pc vendor supplied.

is that a major omission that will cause agro?

Linux is OK

I use PC linux and used to use Ubuntu until it went too commercial.

I think that in my dim & distant I bought a cut price Win 3.1 at a computer fair. This was the only purchase of Windows I made.

I saw Office 365 in Staples yesterday. Buy now and open your wallet to Microsoft for evermore! No doubt this philosophy will carry through to their "operating" systems where all people can do is rent the crud!

Not familiar with Win 7.0, but if it's like XP, ensure you have the drivers for your Motherbard at least, otherwise your ethernet port will not work.

ATB

Kosher? More like horse meat.

OEM pc vendor supplied.

Yes. Support for OEM Windows is from the equipment maker, and as you're the maker, it's your problem. That's one reason the licence is cheaper than the full retail version.

In article , Archibald scribeth thus

We've been using this version of "Office" now for a while and can't fault it, very compatible apart from the price:)...

Mmm I'm told office is obtainable from Eire legally for 80 odd....

Jim K

When you say would not validate, what do you mean? The code you entered was refused or something else?

The eBay OEMs appear to be a new install disc sold with a salvaged code fro m a broken pc/laptop, a piece of which is sent with the disc to satisfy eBa y's legal system aiui. Knowing how tetchy eBay are I would not expect them to allow illegal sales of a ms product so if lacking support is the only is sue it looks tempting

Jim K

This software "subscription" business model seems to afflicting Photoshop as well. At least according to No.1 Daughter(*), except that is $50/month.

(*) Who is extremely good at latching onto the bad news and ignoring everything else.

In article , Jim K scribeth thus

What the full version..

You mean you haven't had them phone you up to sort out your PC?

Its just win7 with a few extras and a need to install a free add on to get a start button and menu back. If you got it early it was cheap and had all the windows 7 professional

• media centre. Well worth the few quid it cost to replace XP.

There are OEM disks as used by the likes of HP,dell which are BIOS locked to their machines and don't usually need activation

and there are OEM disk from M$ for smaller systems manufacturers that work on (almost) anything but need activation, they are like retail but different license conditions.

You need to know which is being sold to you.