I've read that OEM licenses aren't suitable for end user own builds. Is this true?

[ThrashTilDeth]

I'm ready to buy windows 7 professional, but apparently OEM is not what I should be looking for. Can someone shed some light on this?

 

[Groveling_Wyrm]

For Windows 7, the OEM license is tied to the hardware, more specifically, the motherboard. If your motherboard dies, then you either need to buy an exact copy of that same motherboard or a new copy of Windows, to be compliant. (Done with the legal aspect there....now, there are some other facts.....)

Microsoft only seems to be really recording them for a few months, if that. So If you have an OEM product on the same computer and you wanted to re-use it and activate it, then you have a good change that Microsoft can re-activate that copy. But it can be a crap-shot. May work or may not.

 

[ThrashTilDeth]

For Windows 7, the OEM license is tied to the hardware, more specifically, the motherboard. If your motherboard dies, then you either need to buy an exact copy of that same motherboard or a new copy of Windows, to be compliant. (Done with the legal aspect there....now, there are some other facts.....)

Microsoft only seems to be really recording them for a few months, if that. So If you have an OEM product on the same computer and you wanted to re-use it and activate it, then you have a good change that Microsoft can re-activate that copy. But it can be a crap-shot. May work or may not.

I'm building a new computer. There is no existing license. I have no idea what licensing for windows I need.

 

[hang-the-9]

For Windows 7, the OEM license is tied to the hardware, more specifically, the motherboard. If your motherboard dies, then you either need to buy an exact copy of that same motherboard or a new copy of Windows, to be compliant. (Done with the legal aspect there....now, there are some other facts.....)

Microsoft only seems to be really recording them for a few months, if that. So If you have an OEM product on the same computer and you wanted to re-use it and activate it, then you have a good change that Microsoft can re-activate that copy. But it can be a crap-shot. May work or may not.

I'm building a new computer. There is no existing license. I have no idea what licensing for windows I need.

You can buy an OEM copy but keep in mind if you want to build a new system you will need to get a new copy of Windows for that new build. If you get a regular retail copy you can re-use it as many times as you want, as long as it's only installed on a single system at a time.

 

[Wayfall]

Hi

I bought an SSD so I can put an OS on it (My WD HDD had the OS on it at the time and was very slow)

This is what I could find on OEM:

- 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

I bought an OEM copy from here :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GYT0OAM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

When it came the case was very basic and the windows print was squashed on the cover, my first thought that it was a pirated version but it wasn't it is just an official windows 7 disc that desktop and laptop manufactures send with the computer.

You just have to remember to pick the right windows 7 when install so it would be Window 7 x64 not 86 which is 32bit. You can reinstall the copy as much as you want as long as it is with the same board your first installed and verified it on.
I crossed my fingers when I put the code in (its behind the disc in the case) it verified and I have been using it flawlessly for about 2 months.

I will also add that you install the updates 10 at a time as when I did them all together windows update kept failing, this is Microsoft's fault. There are a few updates that are incompatibly and in so will fail then will be removed from the list of downloadable updates.

 

[hang-the-9]

That copy is really not legal to sell if it is what I am reading it as. If it came from an OEM system box (say you buy a Dell PC and the disks are with that), you cannot use that license. A lot of times the sellers that offer cheap Windows licenses do that. Since many businesses and some regular users don't use the OEM disks or even the license keys and use their own volume keys or maybe a different OS, all these OEM disks and keys float around and end up for sale at times. Those are not legal to sell by the license agreements with the vendors of the computers.

If you buy a clean OEM copy like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416804&cm_re=windows_7_oem-_-32-416-804-_-Product it's one thing, selling a bundled copy and license of Windows from an OEM boxed system is a no-no and can lead to issues with activating.

 

[Wayfall]

That copy is really not legal to sell if it is what I am reading it as. If it came from an OEM system box (say you buy a Dell PC and the disks are with that), you cannot use that license. A lot of times the sellers that offer cheap Windows licenses do that. Since many businesses and some regular users don't use the OEM disks or even the license keys and use their own volume keys or maybe a different OS, all these OEM disks and keys float around and end up for sale at times. Those are not legal to sell by the license agreements with the vendors of the computers.

If you buy a clean OEM copy like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416804&cm_re=windows_7_oem-_-32-416-804-_-Product it's one thing, selling a bundled copy and license of Windows from an OEM boxed system is a no-no and can lead to issues with activating.

Well it has been working fine and I see no reason for their to be a problem as Microsoft won't be able to tell the difference (by in meaning the license being put on a prebuilt pc or a home built one), it works and I'm happy.