quwik Q bout OEM install

This has been my life for past week:

(1) Bought a new mobo and CPU: ASUS m2a-vm/Athlon 64 x2 dual 6000+

(2)Replaced old mobo and CPU

(3) Tried to install WinXP Home using Recovery CD's that originally worked; did not work.

(4) Compaq said that i need to get mobo tattooed, i went to BEST BUY and they said it was illegal for them to do it; lost $30

(5)They said i need to use an OEM disk.

(6) I'm downloading one right now, and i need to know whether i should burn it to a CD as an ISO or not? What does the Computer recognize if i boot from a CD-R?



Thanks in adv.



Vizy



p.s. btw

COmpaq s4000nx

2gb Ram

Athlon 64 x2 6000+

Asus M2A-VM

First of all onve you replaced the original board the branded recovery disks were then automatically void. An OEM for system builder copy of Windows is a full install version without all the thrills of the retail carton and large paperback that covers how to do things in that version of Windows. It's like ordering drive OEM where you get what you need.

With that type if not a full retail copy you perform a clean install and then proceed to download all drivers needed from the HP/CompaQ support site for that model. Things like board drivers, onboard sound and video without expansion cards in use, etc. are found there. Other then a recovery disk link provided by customer support...? Best Buy was quite correct about the tatoo or rather best expressed as "TABOO"! illegal.

Any discussion on copying protected materials isn't allowed here. This is why the recommendation is made for buying a new Windows disk of your own. OEM buys can save on retail prices to see Windows see a clean install there.

thnks you so much, u helped alot, so do i burn to an iso?

I order oem disks for different custom built systems frequently to save on retail costs for the versions of Windows that will be run. For Vista you will a dvd drive since the new version comes in dvd format due to the larger size.

That's nothing new! Windows 3.1 came on a set of six 1.44mb 3 1/2" floppy disks or even on several of the older type 5 1/4" 1.2mb type. For current prices on OEM full version disks it's usually best to run a web search. Which version are you looking for? or planning to run?

The current lowest price seen on XP Home Edition including Service Pack 2 is seen between $83 upto $93- at many online vendors like the one seen at http://www.viosoftware.com/Windows+X...5fa10dfda0c1b8

For XP Pro $54.99 is the lowest price seen for the moment at http://edirectbuy.net/index.php?productID=119

And for Vista depending on edition, http://www.calibex.com/vista-oem/zzc...0--search-html

uve been alot of help, thnks alot. i Downloaded my OEM it went perfectly. But now my INTERNET EXPLORER and other things requiring SCROLLBARS keep refreshing, i hope u knw wut i mean. It sora of reminds me of the windows 98 comps.

If that was for the recovery disk in case of seeing the original disks lost or not included you will still need to see the reinstall of Windows activated in order to see all updates go on as well. For XP you download a fresh copy of IE 6 or upgrade to IE 7 with a valid installation being recognised along with the new Windows Genuine Advantage tool. http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/Pro...8-64fd7b397be8

WHOA! wait a min. is that a real site for xp! OMG tell me that is a legit site and price. The cheapest I have ever seen xp retail for is $200. Can anyone confirm, is that a trustworthy site, because if it is I'm buyin one right now. Do you get a retail box straight up or is that some burned disc?

OEM disks for XP will be shipped in a plastic sleeve while seeing the actual MS label on them. They simply come like that inside a sleeve type mailer when shipped. The sleeve is sealed with a plastic wrap with a verified ms stamp.

For Vista the sleeves seen there are also factory sealed with the same type of wrapping or are enclosed in a plastic rectangular box. The "for distribution with new pc" or "For System Builders" is what should be seen on the label on any OEM disk. The sleeve will be the same when looked over at newegg, TigerDirect, mwave. directsoftware, and any legitimate vendor.

You need to install the appropriate drivers for your system.

That's actually understating it there. Without drivers/software for the board and expansion cards(video, sound) plus additional devices added on the bare OS will see a volume of problems like the lack of memory controller drivers and use of the basic vga drivers found in Windows itself.

For changing versions of Windows on a prebuild system like an HP, Dell, Gateway, or other you first go to the manufacturer's support site to see if that version sees updates since those will roll the various drivers needed into one self extracting download. For a custom case the board then any for video and sound from each company if not using onboard. The list goes on.