Windows 7 OEM?

[klugminecraft]

Hi, I am building a gaming pc so I want to get windows 7 oem since it is much cheaper than the full version. I was wondering, with the oem version (buying from newegg) what will i receive? Will it be the disk and a coa, or what? Secondly, will i need to install my own drivers? If so, what drivers will I need? If you think there is something else I should know, please tell me.
Thanks
-Matt

 

[aldan]

the problem with this is (read the description) you will have to provide all support for your computer. ie drivers etc.oem is intended for installation on new computers for sale.i think you will regret not ponying up for the retail version.

 

[HEXiT]

oem versions come with just the basics, a key and an install disk with the bare minimum of instructions. there also limited to the hardware its first registered with there also limited to 5 installs. you can get round this by phoning microsoft and telling them that you haver upgraded the hardware but if you get a jobsworth on the phone it wont get activated again as there not really supposed to allow more than 5 activations or allow activation on a system that has been upgraded and is now outside warranty because of it.
is it worth it? yes in my opinion as i have only installed win 7 twice in 4 years.

 

[julienPC]

the problem with this is (read the description) you will have to provide all support for your computer. ie drivers etc.oem is intended for installation on new computers for sale.i think you will regret not ponying up for the retail version.

I was about to ask the same question about Windows Pro 64bit.
I installed a Windows 7 home edition for the first time 3 month ago (I had Macs before) and I got the OEM edition. I had no idea this was different from the regular edition except that it was cheaper. I got to go check the missing drivers in the Device Manager and it took me a few hours to get everything running.
Is the retail edition doing all of this for you? If this is the difference then the OEM version isn't that much of a hassle, except maybe the cap on how many reinstall can be done with the same serial number.

 

[aldan]

if you happen to need support for a problem after install.ie no sound.problem with windows update etc,you are on your own with oem.retail gives a period of free support.

 

[HEXiT]

the problem with this is (read the description) you will have to provide all support for your computer. ie drivers etc.oem is intended for installation on new computers for sale.i think you will regret not ponying up for the retail version.

I was about to ask the same question about Windows Pro 64bit.
I installed a Windows 7 home edition for the first time 3 month ago (I had Macs before) and I got the OEM edition. I had no idea this was different from the regular edition except that it was cheaper. I got to go check the missing drivers in the Device Manager and it took me a few hours to get everything running.
Is the retail edition doing all of this for you? If this is the difference then the OEM version isn't that much of a hassle, except maybe the cap on how many reinstall can be done with the same serial number.

dunno why you had this issue mate there is no actual difference in the data on the disk. the only real difference is the support as mentioned and the install cap. but like i said the actual data on the disk is identical so you would have had to find the drivers yourself for the 1s that were missed.
my win 7 is oem and when it installs it immediately detects the hardware and installs the drivers the 1s that arnt on the disk it gets from the web. yours should do the same. if it doesnt your either trying to connect via wireless or you dont have an active Internet connection that the pc can see (maybe due to none standard Ethernet card). but in general win 7 should find and install all required drivers automatically regardless of oem or retail status.

 

[julienPC]

the problem with this is (read the description) you will have to provide all support for your computer. ie drivers etc.oem is intended for installation on new computers for sale.i think you will regret not ponying up for the retail version.

I was about to ask the same question about Windows Pro 64bit.
I installed a Windows 7 home edition for the first time 3 month ago (I had Macs before) and I got the OEM edition. I had no idea this was different from the regular edition except that it was cheaper. I got to go check the missing drivers in the Device Manager and it took me a few hours to get everything running.
Is the retail edition doing all of this for you? If this is the difference then the OEM version isn't that much of a hassle, except maybe the cap on how many reinstall can be done with the same serial number.

dunno why you had this issue mate there is no actual difference in the data on the disk. the only real difference is the support as mentioned and the install cap. but like i said the actual data on the disk is identical so you would have had to find the drivers yourself for the 1s that were missed.
my win 7 is oem and when it installs it immediately detects the hardware and installs the drivers the 1s that arnt on the disk it gets from the web. yours should do the same. if it doesnt your either trying to connect via wireless or you dont have an active Internet connection that the pc can see (maybe due to none standard Ethernet card). but in general win 7 should find and install all required drivers automatically regardless of oem or retail status.

it was the first time I was installing windows (20 years of Macs before). And I jumped head first in building up my computer so I had to install all the drivers for the motherboard, then for all the device. Windows didn't install them for me, just highlighted the missing drivers and I think it found some of them on its own. However, it was more time consuming than complicated.

 

[HEXiT]

your not wrong there... last time i did a build it took longer to install windows than build the pc.