Windows 7 OEM vs Retail

[Klosteral]

Hello Toms Hardware,

I have decided to buy a version of Windows 7, though I do not know wether to buy an OEM version or a retail version. Are there any differences between the two? Why is one so much cheaper?

On one particular website, it says the following: "Conditions Apply: You can only purchase OEM Windows with system order or if only you are a system builder. Please contact your nearest branch for more information."

I am building my computer myself, so theoretically I am a system builder. Does that mean I can buy this OEM version of Windows 7 and save hundreds of dollars ($180 vs $400~). I want to get the most out of my version of Windows 7 (be it Ultimate, Professional or Home Premium) and I want fully functional recovery disks should I need them.

Put simply, what is the difference between the OEM and Retail versions of Windows 7?

Thanks,
-Klosteral

 

[Outlander_04]

This may be an old post but its still valid in 2015. I thought I would add another reason to go with OEM that was not mentioned.

I built a new computer with gigabyte MB. I installed OEM windows 7 64 and found some nice additions not in the retail copy of windows.

The OEM windows installation must have information from gigabyte, asus, asrock and other MB companies.

It installs a custome Gigabyte log in screen and also gigabyte graphic under computer system properties. Normally you just get a windows icon. You also get custom Gigabyte 3D looking wallpaper giving the computer a more polished looked over standard plain jane windows standard.

Ill give an example of whats diff comparing standard and OEM.

OEM/Standard

System
============ OEM============Standard
Manufacturer Gigabyte === / === Blank no info
Model H61N-USB3 === / === Blank no info
Rating 6.1 === / === 6.1
Processor (same on both versions)

Giganbyte support
Website (clickable link to gigabyte) No info with std windows installation.

To the right of windows experience score the OEM has a huge cool looking Gigabyte Icon the Standard windows is totally void of icons.

So a nice little perk for choosing OEM vs Standard. A little more personal to your system MB. I did it with my alienware and it included the little Alien Icon in system properties. So probably any MB company has included a custom wallpaper, webiste, logo on the windows OEM disks.

No doubt this installs as part of the motherboard driver software and would appear on either retail or OEM which are identical apart from licensing

 

[jgbalanon]

Wow, thanks for all the rapid responses!

Here is my situation. I am currently running Windows 7 x86 (32-Bit) on my first build. It came with two disks in the package (32 bit and 64 bit) so I assume I have the retail version.

My second build is sitting - still in boxes - on the floor behind me. The only things I did not buy are monitor, keyboard + mouse, DVD drive, HDDs and PSU. I want to install a x64 version of Windows onto my "new" computer but with my "old" hard drive.

I am wondering wether I can re-activate Windows on a completely different computer in a completely different version (64-Bit). If I can do it with my retail disks, I will be happy. If not, I will have to buy a new version of Windows, hence the OEM question.

Question 2: Can I reuse my current retail version of Windows 7 Home Premium? Does it matter that I have reinstalled this on my current system multiple times in 32-Bit form?

 

[jgbalanon]

Sorry for my bad english but let me share my experience which when i bought my medion laptop here in dublin it comes whit two oem home premium windows 7 a 64 and 32 bit. And because i dont like the system of my other laptop a vaio that full of software running on the background i try to reformat my vaio system using my medion backup cd and it successfully activated using the serial attached on my medion and again i use the same os and same serial to other two machine in the Philippines and they are successfully activated too. On my observations this 4 machine that running in one OS cd and with same serial are all intel processors. And when i try again to use the same os cd and serial to the 5th machine with amd processor it was failed. Hope i did not violate the law and my experience can help other to resolve about os problem.

 

[Justink729]

Sorry I'm late to the party. I want to be completely sure. So I have a custom-built pc running OEM windows 7 professional 64 bit. I'm building a new pc but want to take advantage of the free upgrade. So despite the licensing rules, I can install the same OEM software and then, according to Joelmartinez and Nerdbox87, just give microsoft a call to have them activate it? Then I can upgrade to windows 10 on the new pc? Thanks.