Help with taking my windows 7 and reinstalling it

[robthatguyx]

Ok, so lets start from square one.A little over a year ago i bought a acer computer with a quadcore in it and a 1tb westerndigital hdd.I eventually switched out the hdd to another computer with is the one i have now 100$ custom except my os . i have the serial key for my operating system. im hoping to be able to use that serial key to download my os onto a flash drive so i can have a fresh install of windows because i play alot of modded games like dayz and gmod and they fill my pc up with random files i don't need also i think a new fresh install would be nice for my computer. is this possible to do? I do not have the money to buy a whole new windows 7 disk witch is why i need to be sure this will work and not be some half half thing.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

OEM versions of Windows 7 are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:

- OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel

- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on

- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard

- OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system

Microsoft.com ^

You need to buy a new license,because the acer is OEM and tied to that motherboard.

 

[robthatguyx]

..- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard. the hdd came from an acer am3 based platform and i switched it to a z68 all i did was re enter the code that was on the case and it stopped saying my windows 7 wasn't genuine?Was that illeagal or supposed to just not be able to happen?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

OEM versions of Windows 7 are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:

- OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel

- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on

- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard

- OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system

Microsoft.com ^


OEM vs. Retail

OEM Windows 7 comes preinstalled on computers. This is the cheapest way to buy windows. Large PC manufacturers like Dell, HP etc. (collectively called royalty OEMs) install windows on millions of such PCs. The main characteristics of such systems are:

The license agreement and support agreement is between you and the PC maker, not MS.

Activation by the end user is not required. Windows is preactivated at the factory by the OEM using images and standard SLP keys.

Your copy of windows is locked to that PC. The license is not transferable.

OEM system builder is what you get when you buy from say Newegg or from a local "white box" vendor. It too has the characteristics of Royalty OEM windows. Although it is possible for an individual to buy a System Builder copy, the license requires that the software be installed using the OPK (OEM preinstall kit) and then resold.

Retail version is what you buy from a retailer like Amazon or Bestbuy. Its a full price version that comes packaged in a retail box with a retail product key. It has to be activated online via MS servers using the key on the box, it is not tied to the PC it was first installed on, though it can only be used on a single computer at a time. And, MS directly provides the support for it. It is also more expensive than OEM copies.

As far as functionality is concerned, theres no difference between any of the versions above, given any specific edition (i.e. between OEM pro and retail pro, or between OEM ultimate and retail ultimate).

sevenforums.com

Windows 8 OEM is a whole different ballgame.

License agreement for the transfer of a Windows 8 license
http://personaluselicense.windows.com/en-US/default.aspx

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

OEM licenses can't be moved to a new build.

 

[robthatguyx]

But if oem cant be moved to new builds than how did i switch motherboards and have been fine for 6 months now..