Windows XP will not Start

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:23:17 -0400, norm <noone@afakeddomain.net>
wrote:

> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> > On Fri, 6 Jul 2007 07:52:03 -0700, cf <cf@discussions.microsoft.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> So is my Dell PC purchased with Windows XP and OEM?
> >
> >
> > You didn't quote anything, so I'm not sure what this is about, but,
> > no, you are apparently misunderstanding what "OEM" means.
> >
> > "OEM" stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer." An OEM is a
> > *company*, one that builds computers and sells them to the public. In
> > your case, your OEM is Dell.
> >
> > The term "OEM" is also used for some software. When you buy an OEM
> > computer (for example, from Dell) the copy of Windows XP that you get
> > from them is called an "OEM version." You can also buy generic (not
> > supplied by a particular OEM) OEM versions that you can install
> > yourself.
> >
> > OEM versions of Windows are sometimes identical to retail versions,
> > but are sometimes customized by the particular OEM. OEM versions (not
> > the generic ones) are also sometimes BIOS-locked to a particular
> > computer and can't be used on any other.
> >
> > An OEM version can only legally be sold with hardware, although these
> > days, any piece of hardware, even a power cord, qualifies.
>
> Are you you sure of the hardware thing? Are newegg and others doing
> something illegal?
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=Vista+OEM
> No requirement for hardware that I see.


I have *heard* rumors that the requirement to buy hardware with OEM
copies had been lifted, but, no, I'm not sure.

The original requirement was either a whole computer, a motherboard,
or a hard drive, but that was weakened a number of years ago. Since
trivially inexpensive hardware, like a power cord, has recently
counted as fulfilling the requirement, it hardly matters whether the
requirement still exists.



> > Although if
> > you get a complete generic OEM version, it contains the same software,
> > it (and any OEM version) has the following disadvantages as compared
> > with the retail version:
> >
> > 1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
> > installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold,
> > or given away.
> >
> > 2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.
> >
> > 3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them
> > with a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your
> > OEM; that support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or
> > you can get support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.
> >
>
>
> --
> norm

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

[R. McCarty]

Just a couple of weeks ago I went by our Tiger Direct Outlet store to
pick up a few copies of OEM XP. Sure enough, I was informed that
I had to make a "Hardware" purchase to be able to buy OEM XP.
The counter agent told me they keep a box of inexpensive parts just
for OEM XP purchases. For the life of me, I can't remember what I
ended up buying - I think the validation hardware was a PATA-IDE
cable for ~$4.00. So at least from Tiger Direct the hardware purchase
is still valid & enforced.

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:go5t83hm9imo6hr1eaqd01dgj1qh20ujo2@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:23:17 -0400, norm <noone@afakeddomain.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
>> > On Fri, 6 Jul 2007 07:52:03 -0700, cf <cf@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >> So is my Dell PC purchased with Windows XP and OEM?
>> >
>> >
>> > You didn't quote anything, so I'm not sure what this is about, but,
>> > no, you are apparently misunderstanding what "OEM" means.
>> >
>> > "OEM" stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer." An OEM is a
>> > *company*, one that builds computers and sells them to the public. In
>> > your case, your OEM is Dell.
>> >
>> > The term "OEM" is also used for some software. When you buy an OEM
>> > computer (for example, from Dell) the copy of Windows XP that you get
>> > from them is called an "OEM version." You can also buy generic (not
>> > supplied by a particular OEM) OEM versions that you can install
>> > yourself.
>> >
>> > OEM versions of Windows are sometimes identical to retail versions,
>> > but are sometimes customized by the particular OEM. OEM versions (not
>> > the generic ones) are also sometimes BIOS-locked to a particular
>> > computer and can't be used on any other.
>> >
>> > An OEM version can only legally be sold with hardware, although these
>> > days, any piece of hardware, even a power cord, qualifies.
>>
>> Are you you sure of the hardware thing? Are newegg and others doing
>> something illegal?
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=Vista+OEM
>> No requirement for hardware that I see.
>
>
> I have *heard* rumors that the requirement to buy hardware with OEM
> copies had been lifted, but, no, I'm not sure.
>
> The original requirement was either a whole computer, a motherboard,
> or a hard drive, but that was weakened a number of years ago. Since
> trivially inexpensive hardware, like a power cord, has recently
> counted as fulfilling the requirement, it hardly matters whether the
> requirement still exists.
>
>
>
>> > Although if
>> > you get a complete generic OEM version, it contains the same software,
>> > it (and any OEM version) has the following disadvantages as compared
>> > with the retail version:
>> >
>> > 1. Its license ties it permanently to the first computer it's
>> > installed on. It can never legally be moved to another computer, sold,
>> > or given away.
>> >
>> > 2. It can only do a clean installation, not an upgrade.
>> >
>> > 3. Microsoft provides no support for OEM versions. You can't call them
>> > with a problem, but instead have to get any needed support from your
>> > OEM; that support may range anywhere between good and non-existent. Or
>> > you can get support elsewhere, such as in these newsgroups.
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> norm
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

[Ghostrider]

Harry Ohrn wrote:

> Removing EasyShare item from MSconfig would not have caused the problem you
> are seeing. It is possible that your initial issues were related to a
> hardware problem like a failing drive or bad sectors on the drive and the
> fact that it doesn't boot now is simply coincidental to the removal of
> EasyShare from MSConfig.
>

That is debatable. I always have had problems removing Kodak EasyShare
from computers and it is not just a straight removal from Startup but
also involves manual deletions from the Windows Registry. But it is very
much akin to a hardware problem since Kodak Easyshare tries to integrate
the Kodak digital camera, cdrom drive(s), its pictures folder, and an
Internet connection to Kodak for processing files to pictures. Talk about
being complicated. Sometimes it is just easier to keep Easyshare in the
computer and ignore it or, alternately, never allow it to get installed
in the first place.

 

[cf]

I wanted to thank everyone for their tips and hints and advice. I got the
disk out to reinstall Windows, realizing that I would probably lose
everything, but at that point I had no computer at all. Opened the disk from
its original packaging, turned on the computer and - everything started just
as it was supposed to. Of course, I still have the Kodak EasyShare problem,
but heck, I'll just buy a new camera. Thank you all.

cf