Full or OEM?

[RTHolmes]

MS OS does not track hardware changes on some conspiratorial point system...

isnt that exactly what their activation system does? registers 5 or 6 hardware components, then checks this every time the OS boots. if you change more than a couple of them you have to reactivate.

[Ghastly]

15 posts and none of you even mentioned the biggest reason to buy Retail over OEM (or if so, I missed it!)

The OEM version is somewhat cheaper, but must be purchased as 32 bit or 64 bit.  
The Retail version comes with both 32 and 64 bit media, and can be installed either way.

If you know which one you are going to run for sure and only plan to run it on a single system for the lifetime of the license, then buy OEM and save a few bucks.  If you're not sure if your hardware will run 64 bit, hedge your bet by spending a few dollars more for the Retail version, so you can back off to 32 bit if necessary.


With respect to the licensing....

As has been mentioned, the OEM version is legally limited to the original computer system, and moving it to another system is a violation of the licensing terms you agreed to when you first installed it.  Legally, installing it on another system even if it's no longer on the original is software piracy.

The Retail version is legally limited to being installed on a single computer system at any one time, so you can legally buy a new computer, and install the retail version on it instead of the original without violating the terms of the license agreement, and without committing software piracy.

And I do know someone who installed the OEM license on so many configurations that MS refused to re-activate, so it DOES happen. (What I don't know is whether or not they were using it on more than one machine concurrently, which is of course also piracy - but of a "more serious" sort.)

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[Getback]

15 posts and none of you even mentioned the biggest reason to buy Retail over OEM (or if so, I missed it!)

The OEM version is somewhat cheaper, but must be purchased as 32 bit or 64 bit.  
The Retail version comes with both 32 and 64 bit media, and can be installed either way.

If you know which one you are going to run for sure and only plan to run it on a single system for the lifetime of the license, then buy OEM and save a few bucks.  If you're not sure if your hardware will run 64 bit, hedge your bet by spending a few dollars more for the Retail version, so you can back off to 32 bit if necessary.


With respect to the licensing....

As has been mentioned, the OEM version is legally limited to the original computer system, and moving it to another system is a violation of the licensing terms you agreed to when you first installed it.  Legally, installing it on another system even if it's no longer on the original is software piracy.

The Retail version is legally limited to being installed on a single computer system at any one time, so you can legally buy a new computer, and install the retail version on it instead of the original without violating the terms of the license agreement, and without committing software piracy.

And I do know someone who installed the OEM license on so many configurations that MS refused to re-activate, so it DOES happen. (What I don't know is whether or not they were using it on more than one machine concurrently, which is of course also piracy - but of a "more serious" sort.)

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Good info. If you buy an OS from a college you can install it on several PC's. However, I think after school is over you are suppose to delete it.

[Tigger29]

You know what we call this in my neck of the woods?

FUDD...Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt, Disinformation...

aka Nonsense...total and complete nonsense....in other words total BS

MS OS does not track hardware changes on some conspiratorial point system...

I have never had a problem with swapping out dozens and dozens of hardware elements using the same OS over and over again...OEM versions purchased from Newegg...

I had one version of XP OEM that went through dozens of vid cards, a handful of sound cards...all manner of other cards and four mother boards...and never ever had an issue on a new OS install at the Win activation screen...

Many years ago (Pre service pack 2) I did a few 'phone' activations on XP OEM stuff where I simply told the tech I popped in a new mobo...and it was no problem...that was many years ago...

Nowadays you can swap your mobo out and do a fresh install every other day and you will have ZERO problems using the automated system...

BUY THE OEM VERSION AND SAVE YOUR MONEY

Oneway

WOW Oneway, talk about FUDD.. you seem a bit paranoid over why one would recommend a retail version over OEM.

Anyways.. yes you do make some valid points, but if you take the time to read the license agreement, you are NOT SUPPOSED TO transfer an OEM operating system from one computer to another.  Now, this doesn't mean that you CAN'T...  it's kind of like speed limits... yes you can exceed them and you can probably get away with it, but that doesn't make it any more legal...

Personally, I would almost ALWAYS recommend an OEM version over retail (except in the rare cases where you find a retail version to actually be cheaper... it happened to me when I purchased my 3-pack of win7 home premium), but if one doesn't want to break the rules.. then they may decide to spend the extra money for retail... for piece of mind if for no other reason.

And yes they *DO* use a point system to determine any hardware changes.  No this doesn't mean they send SPECIFIC HARDWARE INFORMATION to Microsoft... but it DOES mean that it may require you to re-activate the operating system should it feel like enough hardware is different.  If this won't work automatically, I've NEVER HAD A PROBLEM using a phone call to Microsoft (India).  I just simply tell them that I replaced the motherboard on the computer, and I'm golden.

It's simply one extra safeguard against piracy... but I have to say, Microsoft is at least easier to deal with than the music industry...

[633DH98]

I guess I should have put "legally" at the end of my post.   

I would like to know how ecraters and ebayers are selling Product Keys for such small fees ($30 and less)?

[Reschke]

Just but Win 7 Ultimate 64bit OEM and be done with it. It works great and AH plays nicely on it. All else is a waste of time.

[humble]

Windows7 will register the original MB on an OEM installation. Yes you can install it on a sequential system but who knows. I always buy OEM and have never had a problem with calling and having it activated. By law they can not restrict your use of the software to a single system unless you purchase an OEM that is resold and was subject to further restrictions as part of that sale (fortune 500/large OEM etc)...

[bustr]

Let me apologise for the cryptic manner in which I started this post. But, I wanted the range of opinions that were tendered. Here are the two article links that prompted me to start this post. What do you think? I suspect I will purchase Windows 7 64bit OEM because that is what I built my PC to run when I decided to move off of XP sp3 as the community found favor with Windows 7.

Is it OK to use OEM Windows on your own PC? Don't ask Microsoft by: Ed Bott

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/is-it-ok-to-use-oem-windows-on-your-own-pc-dont-ask-microsoft/1561

No OEM For You: Windows 7 OEM Packaging is Not For Individuals by: Paul Thurrott

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/oem.asp

[Tigger29]

bustr.. that has been my point exactly.  Per Microsoft's rules.. no you're not supposed to use OEM versions on your own computer.  Can it be done?  Of course.  Should you tell Microsoft you did it?  Of course not.

If I had to choose, I would go OEM anyway.

I purchased a retail three pack of Win 7 Home Premium upgrades through Amazon.com a while back for $149.  The very next day I noticed the price had jumped up to $249.  Possibly an error?  Maybe so but I still got it for the $149 price.

I have installed these on my desktop, my g/f's desktop, and my dad's desktop as fresh installs with no problem.  Mine got 64 bit and just installed like nothing.  My dad got the 32 bit (he's not real computer literate and I didn't want him to run into potential 64bit incompatibilities) and I had to do a slight registry hack to get it to work.  My g/f also got the 64 bit and I had to do the registry hack on hers as well.  Why it wasn't required on mine is beyond me.

My point being that all three copies work and activated no problem, but the fact that I used them as a fresh install on all three systems could be questionable.  To be fair, all three computers DID have legitimate copies of XP on them (One Home, two professional), but I wanted to wipe and repartition my dad's hard drive (god knows how much malware he had and I wanted a fresh start with him).. and both me and my g/f had new hard drives that got 7 installed onto.

I wouldn't worry too much about Microsoft 'coming after you' though... just don't be surprised if sometime down the road you try to install it on another system and you can't get it activated.  Not likely to happen, but don't be surprised if it does.

[Ghastly]

And I do know someone who installed the OEM license on so many configurations that MS refused to re-activate, so it DOES happen. (What I don't know is whether or not they were using it on more than one machine concurrently, which is of course also piracy - but of a "more serious" sort.)

Just to be absolutely clear - the license that one of my co-workers was refused reactivation on was XP Professional, not Win 7.

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