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