Frequently Asked Questions  ????

IT Hardware and Software

IT Hardware

IT Software

Q:  What is the minimum hardware requirements to run Windows XP ?

A:   PC with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 MHz minimumrequired (single or dual processor system); Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended

• 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)

• 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space

• Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor

• CD-ROM or DVD drive

• Keyboard and Mouse or compatible pointing device

Q:  What does "OEM" mean?

A:  OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer. OEM software is used by computer system builders, large and small. Large manufacturers have their own branded Microsoft OEMs which are tied to the BIOS settings of their hardware, so those OEM CDs cannot be used on competitor manufacturer computers. Beware of buying those branded OEM CDs - Dell branded Microsoft OEM Windows XP can only be used on Dell machines (conversely, unbranded OEM software can be used on a Dell or Compaq machine).  The OEMs sold from this website are unbranded Microsoft, and can be used on any PC or laptop.

OEM: WHAT REALLY MATTERS
The primary difference between OEM and retail (aside from the price) is the licensing: An OEM license lives and dies with the computer it is installed onto. You cannot transfer an OEM license to another computer at the end of the life of your machine. On the other hand, a retail license can be transferred to another machine once you have satisfied Microsoft that you have uninstalled it from the original machine. Sometimes it can be smarter to buy a retail license if you're installing onto an old machine on it's last legs - though with the recent rise in retail prices, there has never been a better time than now to buy OEM.

OEM software may only be sold to "system builders." We are not allowed to sell OEM software to end users. If you ever open the case of your machine to blow out the dust, or to plug extra RAM, that makes you a system builder. Microsoft want end users to buy retail licenses at twice the price which are "attractively packaged in a box designed to catch the eye of the End User." Smart people want to save money, not have their eye caught by a fancy box - smart people become "system builders."

Q: What does "OPK kit" mean?

A: OPK = OEM Pre-installation Kit. When Microsoft first released Office 2007, OEM versions of Office 2007 could only be installed by system builders with an OPK kit. Microsoft soon caved-in to pressure for OEM versions which didn't require an OPK kit so that people who build their own machines could install OEM Office 2007. These are the versions for sale on this website - you don't need an OPK kit.

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