MENTAL WINDOWS 7 PRICES!

Rroff said:
OEM versions will be tied to the first motherboard they are installed on and can't be transferred - retail versions can be moved to a new PC - afaik you don't need to uninstall it from the old PC to install it on the new one - but the new one won't be able to authenticate with MS for updates and to install some software that requires uptodate WGA certification.
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How is this actually detected? E.g if you upgrade your motherboard, would MS know?
 
Rroff said:
Got my copies of Windows 7 Home Premium retail for £39 and £44 on pre-order :D I don't understand MS's pricing tbh - I'd happily pay £70 for home retail but no way I'd pay that for OEM - when the pre-order was on several people I know bought copies that have never paid for MS products in their life - one guy I know bought around 10 copies for his PC setup at the pre-order prices when in the past he always pirated all his previous OS (mind you I think he flogged 5 copies later on to make back most of what he spent).
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Previously to getting Win 7 pro retail, I had Win Vista OEM. Everytime I changed a component I had to ring up the automated service to activate it again which was far too annoying. I actually managed to reactivate it on new mobos and hard drives, just pick the right answers to the questions and it gets reactivated, easy.

Prior to vista I never had a single legal version of Windows - I had all my OSes provided to me by friends / relatives, and lets say that they were all huge fans of getting software for free rather than paying the ridiculous prices that MS charge.

Rroff said:
Yeah no way I'm paying £70 for an OEM license tied to one PC... £30 maybe.
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The OEMs can actually be reactivated using the automated service, they dont actually define what they mean by 'Is it being reinstalled on the same PC you got it with' when the question is asked ... hmmm, new motherboard and hard drive, same everything else, ok that to me means yes, its being installed on the same PC ...

'Thank you, here is your reactivation code'.

EdwardTeach said:
How is this actually detected? E.g if you upgrade your motherboard, would MS know?
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The OS detects the new components somehow, and says it will deactivate after a certain amount of time without a reactivation code, which you get from a free to call automated service.

With the retail versions though, you simply pop in whatever new hardware you want and it carries on working, it is a lot better than the crappy OEM versions if you upgrade your components.
 
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Paid £45 on preorder for retail Home Premium versions, that was a decent price, had to pay nearly twice that more recently. Sure they would make more $'s if they sold more copies at a lower price!
 
Rroff said:
OEM versions will be tied to the first motherboard they are installed on and can't be transferred - retail versions can be moved to a new PC - afaik you don't need to uninstall it from the old PC to install it on the new one - but the new one won't be able to authenticate with MS for updates and to install some software that requires uptodate WGA certification.
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OEM ones CAN be transferred. I've changed my motherboard (it doesn't just check the motherboard - try changing your GPU, CPU and a sound card all at the same time) and it deactivates. Then you just simple apply for a new registration. I did mine over the phone to Microsoft last time, and it took seconds. Just told them that I'd changed the motherboard (it was faulty) and it was activated straightaway.

I doubt you'd be able to resell an OEM copy (mainly because of misconceptions like the above) but you can certainly transfer it or components.

This isn't unique to 7. Vista had it too - not sure about XP (maybe XP 64).
 
The_Abyss said:
OEM ones CAN be transferred. I've changed my motherboard (it doesn't just check the motherboard - try changing your GPU, CPU and a sound card all at the same time) and it deactivates. Then you just simple apply for a new registration. I did mine over the phone to Microsoft last time, and it took seconds. Just told them that I'd changed the motherboard (it was faulty) and it was activated straightaway.

I doubt you'd be able to resell an OEM copy (mainly because of misconceptions like the above) but you can certainly transfer it or components.

This isn't unique to 7. Vista had it too - not sure about XP (maybe XP 64).
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You cant transfer them to a new PC, only the same one. I consider upgrading components to be the same PC, but not selling it on to someone else.

If you answer no to the question that asks if it is being installed on the same PC, you wouldnt be allowed to reactivate it.
 
Mental prices?

Mental staff :p There's really nothing at all mental about it, you're deluding yourselves to think otherwise! :o
 
So Microsoft rely on nothing more than the honesty of the customer when ringing up to get the OS reactivated?

Hahahahaha....
 
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