Win7 Ultimate 64bit OEM, Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate - Retail, difference?

Andrew G · 24 Dec 2009 at 21:17

For the £25 what's the difference? Does the retail version come with both 32 bit and 64 bit or is it just the box and minimal instruction booklet?

RJC · 24 Dec 2009 at 21:20

The retail version allows you to install on another machine belongs you un-install from the original machine.
OEM is tied to the board it was installed / activated on.

Edit: Also comes with both discs.

theheyes · 24 Dec 2009 at 21:24

In other words the retail version is much better value.

Andrew G · 24 Dec 2009 at 21:49

theheyes said:
In other words the retail version is much better value.

But you wont use the 32 bit version? where is the value in that? :confused:

Andrew G · 24 Dec 2009 at 21:50

still trying to work out if ultimate is worth the extra over the pro. The security features of ultimate seems good.

BloodyL · 24 Dec 2009 at 21:56

Andrew G said:
still trying to work out if ultimate is worth the extra over the pro. The security features of ultimate seems good.

Not really, you can achieve the same results with freeware utilities such as TrueCrypt.

theheyes · 24 Dec 2009 at 22:03

The security feature worth having more than anything is Bitlocker to Go in my opinion. As said you can get full drive encryption with TrueCrypt which is great.

Andrew G said:
But you wont use the 32 bit version? where is the value in that?

I didn't mean as in two for one, I mean with a retail license you can transfer it to a new computer. An OEM version (which you shouldn't really be using anyway) is tied to the motherboard - if you wish you upgrade your computer you need a new copy, and therefore pay again.

You may as well spend the little bit extra and have the flexibility in the future and be correctly licensed.

Andrew G · 25 Dec 2009 at 01:27

these reactivations work in the same way as WinXP Pro did or have they totally redone that system. I only ask since I have had the same OEM copy of winXP pro and reinstalled it after cpu, mobo change and it reactivated with no problem and after hard drive failure. I think I am missing something here, surely with OEM you can update the computer and still use the OEM disc? You just lack MS support for a year free and a nice box with basic manual? what's occurring?

Mattus · 25 Dec 2009 at 03:08

Andrew G said:
these reactivations work in the same way as WinXP Pro did or have they totally redone that system. I only ask since I have had the same OEM copy of winXP pro and reinstalled it after cpu, mobo change and it reactivated with no problem and after hard drive failure. I think I am missing something here, surely with OEM you can update the computer and still use the OEM disc? You just lack MS support for a year free and a nice box with basic manual? what's occurring?

If you move the OEM version to another motherboard (unless it's a like-for-like swap-out for a defective board) then it'll probably activate, but you're not licensed any more. As soon as you run it on a different system, it's no more legal than just downloading a copy from the net.

Andrew G · 25 Dec 2009 at 13:28

Thanks for that I must admit I never really 100% knew but I honestly never really looked in to it. From an end users point of view I had thought it was more akin to the AA that the computer as a whole was the licence holder and not a specification in a moment in time.

edit: Although thinking about it you have to concede at what point does an upgrade turn into a new machine? As Mattus said replacing like for like on component failure however in this fast moving industry it is not always possible or even economical to do that.