MENTAL WINDOWS 7 PRICES!

banja said:
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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Indeed. And its fully automated with just 3 simple questions to answer:

1) Did this version of windows come with the PC you are installing it on?

- If OEM answer yes.

2) Are you installing it on the same PC it came with?

- Yes for OEM ofc.

3) Finally, on how many computers is this copy of Windows being installed on?

- 1 for both OEM and Retail.

Thank you, here is your reactivation key, either write this number down, or type it into the reactivation wizard on your PC.

You would have to be mentally handicapped to brick your copy of OEM windows through the reactivation phone line, and even then you would still have to try very hard to manage. I have no idea what happens if you answer the questions wrong, and I doubt anyone does.

I read somewhere that the questions are actually like this to allow people who upgrade their PCs easy reactivation, and Microsoft dont actually disallow an OEM copy to be reactivated on an upgraded computer, its just not allowed to be sold to another user or used on an entirely new PC.

People who say that an OEM cant be reactivated on a new mobo or hard drive are completely wrong. Microsoft make no effort at all to stop you from doing so.
 
It's technically not legit, but it simply doesn't matter in any way that well...matters.

Some people will go on about how it's no more legal than pirating it and that may be true but Microsoft are never going to do anything about it or care.
 
Legal or not, no one in their right mind is going to dial the reactivation number and answer those questions correctly.

I cant see it as the same thing as piracy, because you have paid for your copy, whether its OEM or not.

Technically its not legit to sell OEM copies on their own, they are only meant to come pre installed on PCs, but Microsoft dont do anything and havnt made a single statement against either of these things, so I do assume that both are completely fine.

Back when I bought OEM Vista, I didnt even know anything about this stuff and I upgraded my mobo 4 times, and my hard drives 3 times while using it and reactivated it everytime.

I havnt even seen a single thing written by Microsoft that actually says I cant do this, the only information I hear regarding it apparently illegal is from other users who would do exactly the same thing themselves anyway.

I'm much better off with retail win 7 pro though, I have reinstalled it once onto a new SSD, and didnt need to reactivate when changing my mobo. I can actually have a retail copy installed onto one SSD, and use that with any hardware and in any computer if I want to, far more convenient for upgrade-aholics :).

I got the Professional version for the XP mode, and it has helped me to run a few old games, but its actually rather terrible because it doesnt support direct draw and can barely run a lot of older games that need a video card.
 
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microsoft understand that there are system builders who are more than competant at building computers, and want a cheap oem software to isntall, the oem is low priced for a reason, microsoft doesn't support it, if you need technical support you have to contact the person who sold you the computer, e.g. hp, asus, dell etc.

i dunno if you have to fib and tell the activation people that it did come preinstalled on a computer or not, but i remember reading on a blog post interviewing a ms person who basically said something to that effect, bbut don't hold me to account because my memory is quit vague.
 
According to the activation questions, OEMs have to come with the PC you are installing it onto, can only be reinstalled on the same PC, and only on one PC at a time.

Theres no mention of not being able to reinstall it if you change any components in the same PC. Even if you change the motherboard or hard drive, it doesnt care as long as its going in the 'same PC'. They cant really disallow you from reinstalling it on new hardware anyway because something can break at any time and require replacing. Its straightforward common sense.

The activation number is fully automated, you dont talk to anyone and its been the same for years.
 
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I got windows 7 professional 64 bit from University for free :-D. The perks of being a computer science student :-D.
 
I have 16* free Windows 7 licences from my university and I don't even do computer science. :p

*includes Windows Server 2008 R2 licences, which can be made to behave exactly like Windows 7 with a couple of setting changes.
 
DragonQ said:
I have 16* free Windows 7 licences from my university and I don't even do computer science. :p

*includes Windows Server 2008 R2 licences, which can be made to behave exactly like Windows 7 with a couple of setting changes.
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TBH they should hand out free windows to all students across the world .....

A version that cant be used to play a single game on, and can only be used for web surfing and internet that is :p

Do your work and stop playing Guild Wars for 6-8 hours a day while at Uni, and you might actually get a 1st! ... :(
 
I got my Windows 7 Ultimate x64 for £0.00 from my student college! I was lucky. I think Microsoft was limit to 5 times re-activated on the same key otherwise had to purchase new one if the same key was re-activated 5 times over the phone.
 
While to my knowledge you can reinstall/reuse OEM via a automated phone call it's still sucky m$ only want £10 less than retail for what they are trying to pull (locking to 1 machine).
If I was asked to price it would be £100 a HOUSE HOLD or £50 max retail. Great OS though..
 
bhavv said:
TBH they should hand out free windows to all students across the world .....

A version that cant be used to play a single game on, and can only be used for web surfing and internet that is :p

Do your work and stop playing Guild Wars for 6-8 hours a day while at Uni, and you might actually get a 1st! ... :(
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I did get a 1st, with honours, thanks very much. :p
 
I think I've got about 20 free keys from my Uni because I just kept submitting more requests for them for "my other machines".
 
Will all the people waffling on about how they got free copies through uni please goive it a rest. It's not in the least bit relevant to this discussion.
One day I'll pay for an OS. Given these prices that day is not today!
 
bhavv said:
TBH they should hand out free windows to all students across the world .....

A version that cant be used to play a single game on, and can only be used for web surfing and internet that is :p

Do your work and stop playing Guild Wars for 6-8 hours a day while at Uni, and you might actually get a 1st! ... :(
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Lets just say I wouldn't be using that :p
 
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