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Windows 7 OEM vs Retail
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HK308
Sun Apr 25 2010, 07:20PM Print
HK308
Level 5 Registered Member #19 Joined: Mon Nov 23 2009, 04:59PM
Posts: 235
So I'm thinking about moving onto Windows 7. If I understand correctly the difference between OEM and retail is that an OEM version permanently binds itself to one specific BIOS thus limiting you to using it on that one pc only? And retail can be moved from one pc to the next providing that that key isn't being used on another pc?

If I was upgrading or building a new pc then I wouldn't care about this and just buy an OEM version but I have no plans as of now to do so.
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Unsungx
Sun Apr 25 2010, 09:31PM
Unsungx
Level 3 Registered Member #11 Joined: Fri Nov 20 2009, 09:42PM
Posts: 175
Hey HK, I don't know anything about that whole OEM business, but I did dl a disc with EVERY version of 7 activated, and when you install it asks you to choose a retailer's logo(Dell, ACER, Alienware... that kinda shit). So far its installed flawlessly on 2 computers and I haven't encountered any problems. Other than that, I must say that I'm rather impressed with 7's versatility, and its low resource hogging. I scored better in 7 than I did in Vista.
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HK308
Mon Apr 26 2010, 05:16AM
HK308
Level 5 Registered Member #19 Joined: Mon Nov 23 2009, 04:59PM
Posts: 235
I briefly scanned over an article explaining the differences and that was what I got out of it. It also explains why OEM is cheaper than retail. If I was building a new rig then I wouldn't hesitate to go OEM.

I'm still running XP. It has served me well but it's soon going the way of the dodo and I have heard many good things about 7. I never used Vista. In fact I've never even been in contact with a Vista machine.

Just thinking is all. With a few upgrades (cpu, gpu, ram) I think I could get quite a few more miles out of this mobo. 680i btw.

Where did you get that disc btw? Edited Mon Apr 26 2010, 05:17AM
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Antilogic81KGB
Mon Apr 26 2010, 05:51AM
Antilogic81KGB
Level 6 Registered Member #17 Joined: Sun Nov 22 2009, 11:27PM
Posts: 355
HK308 wrote ...

So I'm thinking about moving onto Windows 7. If I understand correctly the difference between OEM and retail is that an OEM version permanently binds itself to one specific BIOS thus limiting you to using it on that one pc only? And retail can be moved from one pc to the next providing that that key isn't being used on another pc?

If I was upgrading or building a new pc then I wouldn't care about this and just buy an OEM version but I have no plans as of now to do so.


That is correct, OEM only works for the machine that it is installed on. Interestingly enough, I did that with XP and had to reinstall because of new parts more than once...but each time I had to call Microsoft to reactivate windowsxp.


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HK308
Mon Apr 26 2010, 06:20AM
HK308
Level 5 Registered Member #19 Joined: Mon Nov 23 2009, 04:59PM
Posts: 235
Hmm...Got me thinking again Logic. If that's the case then I see no reason not to get OEM. I have reinstalled XP multiple times. Just for peace of mind mostly and to have that feeling of a squeaky clean machine again lol Edited Mon Apr 26 2010, 06:20AM
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