Hello Vanessa,

Short answer: You, as an individual installing Vista on a computer for your 
own use, do not need to use the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK). The 
Preinstallation Requirement of the OEM System Builder license states in 
part, "When you distribute an individual software license...". You, as an 
individual user, will not be distributing the software license.

Longer answer: If your package specifies it is an "OEM System Builder Pack", 
it should contain a copy of the OPK. With previous versions of Windows, the 
OPK was only packaged with OEM 3-packs and above. The OPK is intended for 
those system builders who want/need to customize their installations with 
additional software, etc., for distribution (to sell) as complete systems. 
It includes tools to allow the builder to customize the installation to the 
point where the end user will have an "out of the box" experience when 
Windows is first used, to include things like the Windows Welcome and setup 
of Windows for your use... choosing a password, setting time and display 
properties and Windows Activation, among others.

This information is based on personal experience and research of the subject 
on various Web sites. References to long to list but will send to anyone on 
request.

Sven Swanson, Sr.
The NoSpin Group, Inc.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vanessa Henderson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 6:56 PM
Subject: [PCBUILD] Windows Vista OEM Help Needed


  I purchased an OEM copy of Vista because I it was only $95.
After reading the package, I learned that I must have an OPK (OEM
Pre-installation Kit) to load VISTA on my computer. To get an OPK you
must
become a member of Microsoft's Partner Program.  But I don't think
that I,as
an individual home user, am eligible to become a partner.  I don't
have a
home business or anything like that, I'm just an enthusiast.  I haven't
opened the VISTA package yet and would like to return it if the OPK is
something that I can't use.  Does anyone know anything about this
OPK?

Thanks,
Vanessa 

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