Startup boot disc for ME -full version

Anyone know where i can get a startup floppy for ME .Now this is NOT a
recovery disc but the one that comes with the full version . Mine.the lock
slid to unlock and i erased it by accident . I need to install Windows ME so
i can install XP Home Upgrade over ME . These are both retail versions .
Dave

webster72n
Thu Jul 26 20:54:55 CDT 2007


WinME doesn't fit on a floppy, it should be a CD.
Any idea what you did with it?

Harry


"Dave in Pgh." <Dave from Pgh.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3D230FFB-1191-4776-A259-AD1060CC4A0C@microsoft.com...
> Anyone know where i can get a startup floppy for ME .Now this is NOT a
> recovery disc but the one that comes with the full version . Mine.the lock
> slid to unlock and i erased it by accident . I need to install Windows ME
so
> i can install XP Home Upgrade over ME . These are both retail versions .
> Dave

DavefromPgh
Thu Jul 26 21:06:02 CDT 2007

Guess you never bought a retail version of ME .2 items are in the box .
1-Windows me OS . 2-Boot disc . Without the boot disc you can't install ME .

"webster72n" wrote:

>
> WinME doesn't fit on a floppy, it should be a CD.
> Any idea what you did with it?
>
> Harry
>
>
> "Dave in Pgh." <Dave from Pgh.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:3D230FFB-1191-4776-A259-AD1060CC4A0C@microsoft.com...
> > Anyone know where i can get a startup floppy for ME .Now this is NOT a
> > recovery disc but the one that comes with the full version . Mine.the lock
> > slid to unlock and i erased it by accident . I need to install Windows ME
> so
> > i can install XP Home Upgrade over ME . These are both retail versions .
> > Dave
>
>
>

Alias
Thu Jul 26 21:18:19 CDT 2007

Dave in Pgh. wrote:
> Anyone know where i can get a startup floppy for ME .Now this is NOT a
> recovery disc but the one that comes with the full version . Mine.the lock
> slid to unlock and i erased it by accident . I need to install Windows ME so
> i can install XP Home Upgrade over ME . These are both retail versions .
> Dave

www.bootdisk.com

Alias

webster72n
Thu Jul 26 21:22:54 CDT 2007


Can't say that I'm familiar with such a boot disk.
The only way to replace it in your case, would be someone supplying you with
it, because MS quit support over a year ago.
Don't know about the legality of it either.
Wish you luck. <H>.


"Dave from Pgh." <DavefromPgh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:10526A08-C49E-4FC0-A6BE-33AD4A3705D8@microsoft.com...
> Guess you never bought a retail version of ME .2 items are in the box .
> 1-Windows me OS . 2-Boot disc . Without the boot disc you can't install ME
.
>
> "webster72n" wrote:
>
> >
> > WinME doesn't fit on a floppy, it should be a CD.
> > Any idea what you did with it?
> >
> > Harry
> >
> >
> > "Dave in Pgh." <Dave from Pgh.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message
> > news:3D230FFB-1191-4776-A259-AD1060CC4A0C@microsoft.com...
> > > Anyone know where i can get a startup floppy for ME .Now this is NOT a
> > > recovery disc but the one that comes with the full version . Mine.the
lock
> > > slid to unlock and i erased it by accident . I need to install
Windows ME
> > so
> > > i can install XP Home Upgrade over ME . These are both retail versions
.
> > > Dave
> >
> >
> >

webster72n
Thu Jul 26 21:37:56 CDT 2007


"Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.li> wrote in message
news:eNR3oR$zHHA.5484@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Dave in Pgh. wrote:
> > Anyone know where i can get a startup floppy for ME .Now this is NOT a
> > recovery disc but the one that comes with the full version . Mine.the
lock
> > slid to unlock and i erased it by accident . I need to install Windows
ME so
> > i can install XP Home Upgrade over ME . These are both retail versions .
> > Dave
>
> www.bootdisk.com

Don't know why this simple solution didn't occurr to me, Alias. Thanks. <H>.

>
> Alias

John
Fri Jul 27 06:18:59 CDT 2007

Dave in Pgh. wrote:
> Anyone know where i can get a startup floppy for ME .Now this is NOT a
> recovery disc but the one that comes with the full version . Mine.the lock
> slid to unlock and i erased it by accident . I need to install Windows ME so
> i can install XP Home Upgrade over ME . These are both retail versions .
> Dave

1.- The Windows ME cd is bootable and on modern computers you don't
need a floppy startup disk to install ME.

2.- You don't have to install Windows ME to install an upgrade version
of Windows XP. You can use the XP upgrade cd to do a clean
installation, you just need proof of previous ownership of a qualifying
Windows version. Just boot the computer with the XP cd and proceed to
install XP. When it tells you that it found no Windows installation to
upgrade you will be asked to insert the cd of a previous Windows version
in the cd drive. When the XP setup program is satisfied that you have a
qualifying Windows version it will proceed and install XP cleanly.

John

Mike
Fri Jul 27 07:21:58 CDT 2007

> 1.- The Windows ME cd is bootable

Unfortunately that is very often not the case. _Some_ OEM Win Me CDs are
bootable but the majority if not all of those sold by Microsoft were not.

> 2.- You don't have to install Windows ME to install an upgrade
> version of Windows XP.

Indeed but only true where the user has a Win Me CD (OEM or Microsoft).
Those who only have OEM Restore disks have to follow the install and
upgrade route.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com


John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

> 1.- The Windows ME cd is bootable and on modern computers you don't
> need a floppy startup disk to install ME.
>
> 2.- You don't have to install Windows ME to install an upgrade
> version of Windows XP. You can use the XP upgrade cd to do a clean
> installation, you just need proof of previous ownership of a
> qualifying Windows version. Just boot the computer with the XP cd
> and proceed to install XP. When it tells you that it found no
> Windows installation to upgrade you will be asked to insert the cd of
> a previous Windows version in the cd drive. When the XP setup
> program is satisfied that you have a qualifying Windows version it
> will proceed and install XP cleanly.

John
Fri Jul 27 07:47:58 CDT 2007

Mike M wrote:

>> 1.- The Windows ME cd is bootable
>
>
> Unfortunately that is very often not the case. _Some_ OEM Win Me CDs
> are bootable but the majority if not all of those sold by Microsoft were
> not.

What were the boneheads at Microsoft thinking of! Being that Windows 98
and NT4 cd's were bootable what ever possessed Microsoft to make ME cd's
that can't be booted? Boneheads! Real boneheads!


>> 2.- You don't have to install Windows ME to install an upgrade
>> version of Windows XP.
>
>
> Indeed but only true where the user has a Win Me CD (OEM or Microsoft).
> Those who only have OEM Restore disks have to follow the install and
> upgrade route.

Yes, that is true. I didn't bother to add that because the op said he
had a full retail version.

John

Mike
Fri Jul 27 09:52:39 CDT 2007

John,

Microsoft sourced Win 98 and Win98SE CDs weren't bootable either, or so as
to cover any that I haven't encountered, I've never personally come across
a bootable Microsoft Win9x CD and I have quite a few copies here. I don't
know why but for some reason Microsoft simply didn't include this
functionality whereas most OEMs jumped on the opportunity to make life
easier for those using their media.

> Yes, that is true. I didn't bother to add that because the op said he
> had a full retail version.

Point taken, my fault for being the one not reading the complete thread
before posting.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com


John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

>> Unfortunately that is very often not the case. _Some_ OEM Win Me CDs
>> are bootable but the majority if not all of those sold by Microsoft
>> were not.
>
> What were the boneheads at Microsoft thinking of! Being that Windows
> 98 and NT4 cd's were bootable what ever possessed Microsoft to make
> ME cd's that can't be booted? Boneheads! Real boneheads!
>
>
>>> 2.- You don't have to install Windows ME to install an upgrade
>>> version of Windows XP.
>>
>>
>> Indeed but only true where the user has a Win Me CD (OEM or
>> Microsoft). Those who only have OEM Restore disks have to follow the
>> install and upgrade route.
>
> Yes, that is true. I didn't bother to add that because the op said he
> had a full retail version.

John
Fri Jul 27 10:21:30 CDT 2007

I didn't know that. I have a Genuine Microsoft Windows 98 SE OEM here
and it is bootable. The cd is a generic OEM and it is definitely from
Microsoft, says 0499 Part No. X05-29162 on it. I wonder why this OEM cd
from Microsoft is bootable yet retails would not be. Strange...

John

Mike M wrote:
> John,
>
> Microsoft sourced Win 98 and Win98SE CDs weren't bootable either, or so
> as to cover any that I haven't encountered, I've never personally come
> across a bootable Microsoft Win9x CD and I have quite a few copies
> here. I don't know why but for some reason Microsoft simply didn't
> include this functionality whereas most OEMs jumped on the opportunity
> to make life easier for those using their media.
>
>> Yes, that is true. I didn't bother to add that because the op said he
>> had a full retail version.
>
>
> Point taken, my fault for being the one not reading the complete thread
> before posting.

Mike
Fri Jul 27 12:13:07 CDT 2007

John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

> I didn't know that. I have a Genuine Microsoft Windows 98 SE OEM here
> and it is bootable. The cd is a generic OEM and it is definitely from
> Microsoft, says 0499 Part No. X05-29162 on it. I wonder why this OEM
> cd from Microsoft is bootable yet retails would not be. Strange...

Because it's an OEM CD with support and added functionality provided by
the OEM although the actual disk would still be marked as Genuine
Microsoft. It probably contains additional text such as to only be used
with the PC with which it was sold although OEM system disks are also
available through the builder channel including many component shops. To
the best of my knowledge no Win 9x CDs marketed by Microsoft were
bootable. I have heard rumours of there being one exception but from the
sparse details I was given feel it was in fact an OEM CD.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com

John
Fri Jul 27 12:58:47 CDT 2007

Mike M wrote:

> John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:
>
>> I didn't know that. I have a Genuine Microsoft Windows 98 SE OEM here
>> and it is bootable. The cd is a generic OEM and it is definitely from
>> Microsoft, says 0499 Part No. X05-29162 on it. I wonder why this OEM
>> cd from Microsoft is bootable yet retails would not be. Strange...
>
>
> Because it's an OEM CD with support and added functionality provided by
> the OEM although the actual disk would still be marked as Genuine
> Microsoft. It probably contains additional text such as to only be used
> with the PC with which it was sold although OEM system disks are also
> available through the builder channel including many component shops.
> To the best of my knowledge no Win 9x CDs marketed by Microsoft were
> bootable. I have heard rumours of there being one exception but from
> the sparse details I was given feel it was in fact an OEM CD.

I don't know Mike, it looks like a real Microsoft OEM cd. It's
hologramed and marked Microsoft all over. It looks like the kind of OEM
cd that Microsoft sells for small system builders. I will take a look
at the files on it later and see if I can find anything from them.

John

Mike
Fri Jul 27 15:48:42 CDT 2007

John,

Yes, it's still a real CD and carries the name Microsoft but it's an OEM
CD. Those sold by Microsoft to the public make are better called retail
media and make no mention of OEM nor do they carry restrictive text such
as that saying only for sale with a new PC or similar. This doesn't mean
an OEM CD isn't genuine and will still have a holograph or whatever on its
surface however the EULA is somewhat more restrictive than that on a
retail CD. Some OEM CDs (although I think not for 9x systems) are also
bios locked to a specific OEM bios version.

Here in the UK I can purchase from a first class reputable e-tailer (dabs)
both retail and OEM DVDs for Vista Premium with the OEM copy costing
UKP62.35 including tax and the retail Microsoft copy costing 3x more
UKP182.27 (yes we pay a real premium over here for much of our software).
What's the difference? Firstly the OEM copy comes with no support as that
is provided by the system builder and if you buy and build your own PCs
that means you. Secondly and more important is that the OEM copy is
permanently "bound" to the hardware on which it was first installed
whereas the Microsoft retail copy can legally be moved from PC to PC
provided that you warrant to Microsoft that the operating system has been
removed or the machine no longer exists on which the OS was previously
installed. The same was true of OEM Win 9x systems but in those days
Microsoft "trusted" its customers and hadn't yet resorted to product
activation and "Windows Genuine Advantage" to try and protect its
products.

Trivial I know but for Win Me, but not any other Win 9x system, when Win
Me is installed from OEM media the Win Me setup/cab files are by default
placed in the folder C:\Windows\Options\Cabs whereas if the system is
installed from retail media the setup and cab files are placed in the
folder C:\Windows\Options\Install although it is not unknown for some OEMs
to place them elsewhere on the system - even in a different partition.

See for example KB305666 which contains the text "NOTE: Use
C:\Windows\Options\Install if you installed a Windows Me retail product,
or C:\Windows\Options\Cabs if your computer manufacturer installed Windows
Me."
--
Mike M


John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

> Mike M wrote:

> I don't know Mike, it looks like a real Microsoft OEM cd. It's
> hologramed and marked Microsoft all over. It looks like the kind of
> OEM cd that Microsoft sells for small system builders. I will take a
> look at the files on it later and see if I can find anything from
> them.

Eric
Fri Jul 27 15:58:07 CDT 2007

This has been discussed here before. I have a WinME CD that looks all
official like it's straight from MS, with the hologram on it, but it is
bootable and apparently OEM. Apparently if you actually bought it
separately packaged straight from MS it wasn't bootable. Mine came with a
computer, just not as I normally think of as OEM, that is the system restore
disks that only work on the system they come with.
Now they're getting cheap and don't even sell you system restore disks. You
have to buy as many as 14 blanks and make your own restore disks.

"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:uKHrFfH0HHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> I don't know Mike, it looks like a real Microsoft OEM cd. It's hologramed
> and marked Microsoft all over. It looks like the kind of OEM cd that
> Microsoft sells for small system builders. I will take a look at the
> files on it later and see if I can find anything from them.
>
> John
>

Mike
Fri Jul 27 16:48:57 CDT 2007

Eric.

Check the EULA on the disk. Does it make any reference to OEM and/or any
restrictions on moving the OS between computers? In addition where does
it place the Win Me cab files when used to install the OS? If
C:\Windows\Options\Cabs it's an OEM CD and if C:\Windows\Options\Install a
retail copy.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com


Eric <someone@microsoft.com> wrote:

> This has been discussed here before. I have a WinME CD that looks all
> official like it's straight from MS, with the hologram on it, but it
> is bootable and apparently OEM. Apparently if you actually bought it
> separately packaged straight from MS it wasn't bootable. Mine came
> with a computer, just not as I normally think of as OEM, that is the
> system restore disks that only work on the system they come with.
> Now they're getting cheap and don't even sell you system restore
> disks. You have to buy as many as 14 blanks and make your own
> restore disks.

Shane
Fri Jul 27 19:25:53 CDT 2007

I'm pretty sure my old Systemax ME cd was bios-locked, Mike. In latter years
try as I might I could not get the original cd to run. It did work fine but
I made my faux-retail copies - initially specifically in order not to wear
out or scratch to shreds the original - then put it away in a safe place.
The only thing I could think was that I flashed the bios meantime.


Shane


"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:uI5YE%23I0HHA.3788@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> John,
>
> Yes, it's still a real CD and carries the name Microsoft but it's an OEM
> CD. Those sold by Microsoft to the public make are better called retail
> media and make no mention of OEM nor do they carry restrictive text such
> as that saying only for sale with a new PC or similar. This doesn't mean
> an OEM CD isn't genuine and will still have a holograph or whatever on its
> surface however the EULA is somewhat more restrictive than that on a
> retail CD. Some OEM CDs (although I think not for 9x systems) are also
> bios locked to a specific OEM bios version.
>
> Here in the UK I can purchase from a first class reputable e-tailer (dabs)
> both retail and OEM DVDs for Vista Premium with the OEM copy costing
> UKP62.35 including tax and the retail Microsoft copy costing 3x more
> UKP182.27 (yes we pay a real premium over here for much of our software).
> What's the difference? Firstly the OEM copy comes with no support as that
> is provided by the system builder and if you buy and build your own PCs
> that means you. Secondly and more important is that the OEM copy is
> permanently "bound" to the hardware on which it was first installed
> whereas the Microsoft retail copy can legally be moved from PC to PC
> provided that you warrant to Microsoft that the operating system has been
> removed or the machine no longer exists on which the OS was previously
> installed. The same was true of OEM Win 9x systems but in those days
> Microsoft "trusted" its customers and hadn't yet resorted to product
> activation and "Windows Genuine Advantage" to try and protect its
> products.
>
> Trivial I know but for Win Me, but not any other Win 9x system, when Win
> Me is installed from OEM media the Win Me setup/cab files are by default
> placed in the folder C:\Windows\Options\Cabs whereas if the system is
> installed from retail media the setup and cab files are placed in the
> folder C:\Windows\Options\Install although it is not unknown for some OEMs
> to place them elsewhere on the system - even in a different partition.
>
> See for example KB305666 which contains the text "NOTE: Use
> C:\Windows\Options\Install if you installed a Windows Me retail product,
> or C:\Windows\Options\Cabs if your computer manufacturer installed Windows
> Me."
> --
> Mike M
>
>
> John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:
>
>> Mike M wrote:
>
>> I don't know Mike, it looks like a real Microsoft OEM cd. It's
>> hologramed and marked Microsoft all over. It looks like the kind of
>> OEM cd that Microsoft sells for small system builders. I will take a
>> look at the files on it later and see if I can find anything from
>> them.
>

John
Fri Jul 27 19:41:04 CDT 2007

I understand the difference between retail and OEM, the Windows 98 SE cd
that I have here is an OEM cd. My point is that this cd appears to have
been made or "pressed" by Microsoft, it is not specific to any
particular make of pc, it's a plain generic OEM cd and it is bootable.
I am just wondering why Microsoft would make plain OEM cd's bootable and
not the retail versions, I find that odd.

About the cost of software in the UK, yes it is expensive compared to
most other countries. We have had discussions about this in the XP
groups and no one could offer a good reason for the large price
differences. We know that it isn't taxes, tariffs or duty because
software has a zero rated tariff. The prices before VAT are way out of
line with what consumers are paying in other countries, someone is
pocketing excess profits somewhere.

John

Mike M wrote:

> John,
>
> Yes, it's still a real CD and carries the name Microsoft but it's an OEM
> CD. Those sold by Microsoft to the public make are better called retail
> media and make no mention of OEM nor do they carry restrictive text such
> as that saying only for sale with a new PC or similar. This doesn't
> mean an OEM CD isn't genuine and will still have a holograph or whatever
> on its surface however the EULA is somewhat more restrictive than that
> on a retail CD. Some OEM CDs (although I think not for 9x systems) are
> also bios locked to a specific OEM bios version.
>
> Here in the UK I can purchase from a first class reputable e-tailer
> (dabs) both retail and OEM DVDs for Vista Premium with the OEM copy
> costing UKP62.35 including tax and the retail Microsoft copy costing 3x
> more UKP182.27 (yes we pay a real premium over here for much of our
> software). What's the difference? Firstly the OEM copy comes with no
> support as that is provided by the system builder and if you buy and
> build your own PCs that means you. Secondly and more important is that
> the OEM copy is permanently "bound" to the hardware on which it was
> first installed whereas the Microsoft retail copy can legally be moved
> from PC to PC provided that you warrant to Microsoft that the operating
> system has been removed or the machine no longer exists on which the OS
> was previously installed. The same was true of OEM Win 9x systems but
> in those days Microsoft "trusted" its customers and hadn't yet resorted
> to product activation and "Windows Genuine Advantage" to try and protect
> its products.
>
> Trivial I know but for Win Me, but not any other Win 9x system, when Win
> Me is installed from OEM media the Win Me setup/cab files are by default
> placed in the folder C:\Windows\Options\Cabs whereas if the system is
> installed from retail media the setup and cab files are placed in the
> folder C:\Windows\Options\Install although it is not unknown for some
> OEMs to place them elsewhere on the system - even in a different partition.
>
> See for example KB305666 which contains the text "NOTE: Use
> C:\Windows\Options\Install if you installed a Windows Me retail product,
> or C:\Windows\Options\Cabs if your computer manufacturer installed
> Windows Me."

Mike
Sat Jul 28 03:13:49 CDT 2007

> someone is pocketing excess profits somewhere.

That someone being Microsoft and Adobe since they are the ones setting the
prices to their distributors. As to why, Bill Gates was unable to give an
answer instead just mumbled when asked this very question by a BBC
reporter at the launch of Vista in the UK at the British Library. It is
for that reason that I always strongly urge users wherever possible to buy
legal OEM copies rather than rip-off Microsoft retail copies.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com


John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

> I understand the difference between retail and OEM, the Windows 98 SE
> cd that I have here is an OEM cd. My point is that this cd appears
> to have been made or "pressed" by Microsoft, it is not specific to any
> particular make of pc, it's a plain generic OEM cd and it is bootable.
> I am just wondering why Microsoft would make plain OEM cd's bootable
> and not the retail versions, I find that odd.
>
> About the cost of software in the UK, yes it is expensive compared to
> most other countries. We have had discussions about this in the XP
> groups and no one could offer a good reason for the large price
> differences. We know that it isn't taxes, tariffs or duty because
> software has a zero rated tariff. The prices before VAT are way out
> of line with what consumers are paying in other countries, someone is
> pocketing excess profits somewhere.

John
Sat Jul 28 07:32:00 CDT 2007

Mike M wrote:

>> someone is pocketing excess profits somewhere.
>
>
> That someone being Microsoft and Adobe since they are the ones setting
> the prices to their distributors. As to why, Bill Gates was unable to
> give an answer instead just mumbled when asked this very question by a
> BBC reporter at the launch of Vista in the UK at the British Library.
> It is for that reason that I always strongly urge users wherever
> possible to buy legal OEM copies rather than rip-off Microsoft retail
> copies.

Yes, indeed. When the WTO's Information Technology Agreement was
reached Microsoft had this to say:

" This agreement will mean lower costs and greater access to
innovation and technology for consumers in every nation around the world.

"Eliminating tariffs on information technology products will be a
win-win for every country and every consumer..."
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1996/dec96/ita.mspx

I guess on Microsoft's map the UK is not a part of the "world". In view
of the outrageous prices being charged by some companies the UK should
review it's implementation of the ITA. It could allow firms that play
fair to benefit from the zero tariffs and it should imposed hefty
tariffs on those who would seek to fleece the consumers. By hefty I
mean something like 1000%!

John

Mike
Sat Jul 28 10:18:29 CDT 2007

John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

> Yes, indeed. When the WTO's Information Technology Agreement was
> reached Microsoft had this to say:
>
> " This agreement will mean lower costs and greater access to
> innovation and technology for consumers in every nation around the
> world.
> "Eliminating tariffs on information technology products will be a
> win-win for every country and every consumer..."
> http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1996/dec96/ita.mspx
>
> I guess on Microsoft's map the UK is not a part of the "world". In
> view of the outrageous prices being charged by some companies the UK
> should review it's implementation of the ITA. It could allow firms
> that play fair to benefit from the zero tariffs and it should imposed
> hefty tariffs on those who would seek to fleece the consumers. By
> hefty I mean something like 1000%!

Whilst I'd like to see the UK taking such action it will never happen with
our current crop of spineless politicians (of all hues). As it is
Microsoft and the others simply laugh at us all the way to the bank.
Whilst I don't condone the use of illegal copies of software I'm one who
strongly recommends users to look to cheaper alternatives when considering
new software including flavours of Linux where appropriate, Open Office
and if they have to use Microsoft to go the OEM route. Microsoft's
limited "free" telephone support for their retail products simply isn't
worth the premium given the free public access to their KB and the
newsgroups. Similarly I recommend users to ask themselves whether they
really need or want Vista or Office 2007 and if not to stick with XP and
their earlier Office version.
--
Mike M

Mart
Sat Jul 28 13:56:17 CDT 2007

Mike wrote :-

> ... Similarly I recommend users to ask themselves
> whether they really need or want Vista or Office 2007
> and if not to stick with XP and their earlier Office version.

Amen to that Mike.

Mart


"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:%23n1ONqS0HHA.3536@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:
>
>> Yes, indeed. When the WTO's Information Technology Agreement was
>> reached Microsoft had this to say:
>>
>> " This agreement will mean lower costs and greater access to
>> innovation and technology for consumers in every nation around the
>> world.
>> "Eliminating tariffs on information technology products will be a
>> win-win for every country and every consumer..."
>> http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1996/dec96/ita.mspx
>>
>> I guess on Microsoft's map the UK is not a part of the "world". In
>> view of the outrageous prices being charged by some companies the UK
>> should review it's implementation of the ITA. It could allow firms
>> that play fair to benefit from the zero tariffs and it should imposed
>> hefty tariffs on those who would seek to fleece the consumers. By
>> hefty I mean something like 1000%!
>
> Whilst I'd like to see the UK taking such action it will never happen with
> our current crop of spineless politicians (of all hues). As it is
> Microsoft and the others simply laugh at us all the way to the bank.
> Whilst I don't condone the use of illegal copies of software I'm one who
> strongly recommends users to look to cheaper alternatives when considering
> new software including flavours of Linux where appropriate, Open Office
> and if they have to use Microsoft to go the OEM route. Microsoft's
> limited "free" telephone support for their retail products simply isn't
> worth the premium given the free public access to their KB and the
> newsgroups. Similarly I recommend users to ask themselves whether they
> really need or want Vista or Office 2007 and if not to stick with XP and
> their earlier Office version.
> --
> Mike M
>
>

Ogg
Mon Jul 30 22:46:36 CDT 2007

> ...........It is for that reason that I always strongly urge
> users wherever possible to buy legal OEM copies rather than rip-off
> Microsoft retail copies.


But there is one distinct advantage to the retail copy: it allows
undestructive re-installs or restore - that is, preserving personal files
and data. On the other hand, OEM versions install from scratch and
overwrite everything.

But I'm with your regarding the cheaper OEM. Armed with a good
clone/imaging software, an OEM version would be just fine.