I am building a new computer and am going to need to get Windows 7. I am wondering is it worth saving money buying an OEM version or is there a benefit to buying the regular version? I do not know much about this so anyone with some info on the subject will be of big help, Thanks!
The stores are contractually obliged to only use OEM versions on new PC's and it's supposed to only be used on that specific PC, but some stores sell them anyway.
GoodBytes will probably answer in more detail, but... OEM copies of Windows are meant to be installed once and get tied to the mobo once installed. Retail copies of Windows can be installed as many times as you want but only on one PC at a time.
OEM versions come in one flavour eg 32 bit or 64 bit. Retail and Upgrade you get both 32 and 64 bit discs.
OEM ties it in with the motherboard if you ever replace or upgrade it you have to buy another windows again unless you can convience windows on the phone to release the key..upgrades however are not deemed by them to be good enough reasons its a battle i am going to have with them when i get a new sandybridge board to replace my rev 2 version my luck is they stated as its a replacement of a faulty board they should honor it.......but retail is less hassle in the long term...especially if you buy another pc in a few years time as window 7 will be here for the long run.
OEM is never a problem and ive never had to speak to anyone from MS about re-activating OEM windows all that happens is you fail automatic activation and you ring the automated phone punch in your code and it gives you the activation one. question to thelaw ? how can MS tell the difference between upgrading and faulty, answer = they cant so there is no issue. No need for any kind of battling. I reckon it might be an issue if you keep activating OEM lots of times with hardware changes over a short period of time but who does that ?
A lot of misunderstandings and misconceptions being bandied about here. Let's get to the truth: - When you buy OEM you have to choose 32 or 64 (You get both discs with the retail) - With an OEM MS doesn't support an "upgrade" to the existing OS - With an OEM you get no free telephone support from MS - An OEM is theoretically tied to "one computer", but you can of course swap out components to repair / upgrade - If you can't activate an OEM install online, you can do it via a computerised phone system. - You can re-install your OEM copies as many times as you like on the same computer, just be prepared to do the phone activation if needed Misconceptions: - MS will give you a hard time for upgrading a mobo / CPU etc. - Even if you have to phone activate, you'll be lucky to even get to speak to a human! - It'll illegal to sell OEM to the public - Nope, anyone can buy them Look at the simple fact that MS have enough grief dealing with those that use pirated / cracked software, what's in it for them to waste time dealing with hassles for those that bought a legit licence? If they pished off too many people with draconian OEM licences, then they'd just get more people pirating! MS want system builders to buy OEM versions, and we're system builders right? They won't give us support if we can't get our machines stable, but then who's asking them? Advice: If you like the £$ saving from the OEM, buy the OEM. If you think you'll want to phone MS during the install, or want to try out 32 vs 64 (Don't bother x64 Cheesecake) then buy the retail. Currently it's a £40~ difference between retail and OEM! When I bought my retail it was less than £10!
A answer i cannot give at this time because when i emailed microsoft support re sandybridge swap out they replied 'that it "shouldn't" be a problem if the board is like for like swap out as they were aware this was going to happen so it "SHOULD" active.....but if it does not i can call there customer service who i can explain it too and they "SHOULD" be able to sort it for me'. The email had too many "shouldn'ts and shoulds" and it was not a "yes no issue we are happy to re-active people who are having to swap out sandybridge boards " that i was hoping for..but until asus send me my new board it remains un-answered till i have to try it with my OEM and if it does not work until i ring them to ask/explain...
I haven't personally changed boards with my copy of Win7 OEM...but looking at Neweggs reviews basically everyone who has said they had no problems. The only people throwing out scare stories...never have switch boards, they are merely speculating because they know it is tied to the board. MS doesn't care. Heck I've heard plenty of people say that MS doesn't disable the old activation, so they had an OE license installed on several machine. I don't suggest that or support it (its piracy afterall, and it might get you in trouble down the line or see one of more of your installs deactivated at some point).
lets get the real facts from microsoft for hobbyist builders, by going to Microsoft licensing for Hobbyists oem licenses are not meant for home builders, they are meant for system builders to help them sell a machine with windows pre-installed, they are cheaper because the license makes it clear that the system builder provides any support needed,and it dies with the machine, but with retail licenses microsoft provide support, and it can be put on any number of machines, as long as it is only on one machine at time. oem dies with the machine, if you need to replace a motherboard, you can, but it must be like for like, or the equivelent of, but not an upgrade. you cannot transfer an oem license to a new machine. just because it activates does not mean you are licensed.
Might be true, but it looks like hundreds (or thousands) of Newegg customers have no problems with it. Nor has Microsoft hasseled them either during an activation or after the fact.
If you know anybody with a .edu email address you can download a $60 copy of Windows 7 Pro Upgrade (which can be installed on a fresh system with a quick, well documented - by the press- workaround). Of course it is a slight violation of the agreement you make with Microsoft but does Microsoft really expect you to install an old version of XP before you install Windows 7 if your hard drive crashes? I'd say no. Source: Calling Microsoft with this predicament, getting their help to activate the copy of Windows Upgrade on a fresh hard drive.
I am building a new computer with a fresh HDD, so I will not have an OS system to upgrade through my .edu address. I do how ever every year or so wipe my hard drive and re-install windows just to get rid of the junk on my comp from over the year. So I am assuming as people have said, doing that with OEM on the same computer should not be a problem? My current PC is from cyberpowerpc.com and they provided me with a "recovery CD-ROM" I have used to do this and I am also assuming that it is prolly OEM?
It is possible CyberPowerPC locked the install disk to only work with the board that was installed on your system. Certain manufacturer's do. That's okay, you can still go the upgrade route even though it's a fresh install and you want to reformat every once in a while. Explained below: Here is a quote from a MaximumPC article (titled How to Use Your Windows 7 Upgrade Disk on a Fresh PC): This method works on a brand new PC, or brand new hard drive, or as a fresh install method when you want to wipe everything clean. It takes less than a minute to change that 1 to a 0. So if you have a .edu account... get the upgrade! I'm really not in the business of giving Microsoft more money than I have to and I don't suggest it as a lifestyle of choice. It took me a second to find this on google. When you're installing just remember to leave the CD Key blank and hit continue. If you enter the CD Key at that point it will just say rejected (if you forget, just remove the cd key, and click continue and you can activate from within windows). Here is a link to the second page of the article but there are other options available on the first page as well (though they take too long imo). Here is a link for the upgrade version for $64.95 for Students. ------------------------------- If you think by changing the registry you are doing something 'wrong' I really would have to disagree. I mean, I suppose if you really have never purchased a version of Windows before then you don't qualify for an upgrade and you can ponder the morality of that. But I imagine most of the people on this forum have purchased not one but many copies of Windows in the past and are part of the reason Microsoft is successful. Also part of the reason an upgrade program exists. If you can agree that you qualify for an upgrade . . . then changing the registry is just a shortcut to the lengthy process of a double install. </rant>
