Format option unavailable Installing Windows XP Pro SP2

[ex2bot]

Hold on. That's not accurate. It _IS_ legal to install an OEM version of Windows (including XP) on to any machine. You must abide by the license agreement to be legal.

Here's a good explanation: http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2007/01/8730.ars

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[djackmac]

Originally Posted by ex2bot

Hold on. That's not accurate. It _IS_ legal to install an OEM version of Windows (including XP) on to any machine. You must abide by the license agreement to be legal.

Here's a good explanation: http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2007/01/8730.ars

Bot

Sure, buy it and try it! But getting it to install is a different story. Just like OEM specific OSX installers will only work on certain machines. If the EULA stated it could be used on any machine, than why will it only boot/install specific models of machines. I even had one of the extremely picky early 2006 iMacs in the shop a week or two ago and I had the exact OEM specific installers for that machine. It would not install any version of 10.4 (retail or OEM) until I had gotten the installers from the client that came with that machine. For Windows machines even if you can get an OEM to install on a machine its not intended for, it won't even boot properly half the time.

[DeltaMac]

Of course, there's questions about 2 different forms of OEM installs here.
One, the installer that would come with a PC/Dell/HP/whatever - the OEM install provided by that manufacturer, often with Dell,etc on the label.
The other, the one referred to as a builder version, also an OEM disk, but quite generic, and tied to the hardware where it will eventually be installed. Until that install (actually when the validation code is entered, then approved), the Windows will install on any 'acceptable' system. I have installed the builder OEM version on several dozen Macs. I know, not a huge sample, but all (AFAIK) continue to work and boot properly.
I would not expect an OEM version with a Dell (etc) name on the label to work properly, if at all.
I think that's where the confusion comes from, when someone has that 'brandname' OEM, and not the generic system builder's OEM.

[rj713]

Deltamac is correct. I have purchased OEM retail software for many Builds and it works perfectly. Once installed however you cannot move it to another machine--in fact you usually have to call MS if you replace the motherboard. The OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. Ralph

[ex2bot]

Yes, I've used OEM Windows before. They are legal. And as DeltaMac wrote, you're probably confusing a restore disc with an OEM copy of Windows. The restore disc from, say, Dell will only work on that type of Dell machine. An OEM copy of Windows will work with any Windows-compatible machine that's up to spec.

The system discs for Mac machines *are* tied to a particular type of machine, though they are OS X installation discs, not a restore image. They can only legally be used by the machine they come with.

And RJ713 hit on the difference between OEM Windows and retail Windows: OEM cannot be transferred from machine to machine.

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[DeltaMac]

Eh?

Looks like a spammer...