Windows 7 OEM question

GazEaton

GazEaton

GazEaton

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Location
Gutersloh, Germany
Morning all

I'm in the process of building my first rig, and was curious about the OS.

I've noticed on Amazon, that Windows 7 64bit SP1 OEM is far cheaper then Retail.

QUESTION:

Does this version of Win7 OEM stop me from upgrading to SP2?, SP3 etc etc etc?

Cheers

Gaz
 
nope, will work the same, oem is usually a white box product without all the retail packaging so you end up with a cardboard wallet for your discs instead of a plastic dvd type box
 
but it will stop you from installing a new motherboard down the line.

Get Win8. Even though it says OEM, the activations work the same as the Win7 retail version does. and after 8.1 is released you get a start menu and everything. :cool:
 
You'll be able to swap a motherboard and re-activate it ok. Whether thats permissable within the licence agreement is another matter though but it will re-activate, normally with a call to the automated activation line.
 
tribz said:
You'll be able to swap a motherboard and re-activate it ok. Whether thats permissable within the licence agreement is another matter though but it will re-activate, normally with a call to the automated activation line.
Click to expand...

although if you tell them you swapped a motherboard they WON't activate it as that would count as a new PC.

normally, MS software (unless brought with SA which give you complete freedom) will allow you to move it from one machine to another every 90 days.

OEM is designed to be installed by the manufacturer of the hardware NOT a user so the rules are different.

example, if you install OEM on your box. the windows licence you have used will be valid on that box only! NO transferring allowed!! no changing mobo's!!

you'll get away with a hdd swap out but you'll have to call ms to explain why your trying to active a product that has already been activated.



to answer your OP, yes installing OEM will give you a full copy of windows with full updates rights for any SP's they decide to release.
 
^^You can technically change motherboards to a similar one if your main one breaks. To be honest it will probably just reactivate anyway whatever you do, but it is against the agreement.

Windows 7 Retail is your best option as this allows multiple use (taking off old hardware first) and you can even get away with reselling it. Or go with Windows 8 OEM, which is the same licence as Windows 7 Retail.
 
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