Windows 7 OEM

Hi all,

I'm looking into the Windows 7 OEM, just wondering how does it differ from the retail version? I know microsoft doesn't provide support for it, but will it at least still do things like security updates?

What support aren't they providing for it?


Thanks!

 

OEM licenses are permanently tied to the computer on which they were first installed, and support for the OEM copy of Windows must be provided by the vendor providing it (if they choose to...).

Functionally speaking it is the same as retail. Just a few legal differences.

 

So, it'll perform security updates from microsoft and keep up to date all the same as the retail version?

If I reformat my computer, can I re-install Windows 7 with the OEM version?

 

Cant you use OEM windows 7, if you get the serial key and download the the verision that was installed as long as your not using the computer that came with the OEM?

 

So, it'll perform security updates from microsoft and keep up to date all the same as the retail version?

If I reformat my computer, can I re-install Windows 7 with the OEM version?

 

You can re-install it on the same computer (motherboard) as many times as you want. What you can't do with the OEM version is transfer the license to a different computer/motherboard. Technically, you cannot even upgrade your own motherboard without buying a new Windows license.

For laptop use, this should not be a problem. For a desktop where there is a possibility that you will be changing/upgrading motherboards, I would recommend against it.

If you already have a version of Vista or XP on the machine, I would strongly recommend buying the upgrade edition as opposed to the OEM version. That one comes with all the rights and privileges of the full retail version.

 

Yup, as long as it is on the same computer you can keep installing as many times as you need. You just can't take it to another computer.

 

I've had a laptop with OEM Windows get multiple motherboard and CPU replacements with no issue, legal aspects aside. It may be against the terms of service, but there's really nothing stopping anyone from installing the same OEM copy on different computers.

And yes, it gets the exact same updates as the retail version.

 

That's interesting, because I definitely recall a friends of mine buying OEM licenses that would literally link your key to your motherboard. If you swapped motherboards, then the key wouldn't activate. Wasn't so much a legal thing as a set-in-stone sort of limitation. Perhaps Microsoft doesn't do this anymore as a result of the bajillion things they've been sued for? I really haven't the slightest clue.

 

lol maybe microsoft doesn't even know how it works anymore

 

If you make any serious hardware changes with a OEM license you will most likely have to explain it to Microsoft over the phone in order to reactivate.

 

In the past if you made 3 (or more than 3, don't remember which) changes in hardware (HDD, motherboard, etc.) to the computer, reinstalling windows would require a phone call to tell them what/why you needed a new key to activate windows. With windows 7 I have not done anything except change a drive and add a SSD, so I haven't had to do this. But I did with xp after making several hard drive changes and installing windows on it. Also, if you add or reinstall windows, there is a free program called winkeyfinder that will find your windows key so you can save it and use it to reinstall if for whatever reason you don't have yours.

 

I have had to use the phone activation system on two computers after swapping motherboards, but have never actually had to talk to a customer service rep. Each time, the automated phone system did it for me. Granted, these are retail licenses, not OEM.

I have also had XP tell me that I needed to reactivate due to hardware changes, but it went ahead and validated successfully online. Perhaps something to do with the fact that it was originally activated over 7 years ago, and had not even been turned on for over a year.

I had heard stories about OEM licenses refusing to activate after a mobo swap as well.

 

Usually for an OEM license you can't use Microsoft's automated service to activate and instead need to contact your system retailer as Microsoft is not obligated to help the end-user in any way. I've actually had one instance where a customer had difficulty re-activating his copy of Vista installed on a new hard drive to which I had to call up Microsoft and pay $18 for them to help solve a problem that was their fault. However, they said that if the problem wasn't on their end, they would have helped through the OEM hotline for free. Weird, eh?

 

Without too much technical details:

There is two (2) different kinds of OEM licenses. All major manufacturers use activation that ties into brand itself that is marked on the motherboard, not in one particular serial number of motherboard like regular OEM.

That allows quick part replacements without activation troubles.

 

True, I never thought to specify which type I was referring to. In the cases of the friends that I mentioned, I was referring to that second type that is tied to the serial number.