Activate RTM using OEM/Systembuilder license?

First of all, thank you all for your great inputs. I've been monitoring this forums for quite some time now and all questions I had, have been answered... until now I have been using practically every W7 build "available" and a very satisfied user of 7600.16385 at the moment

Forgive me if this has already been asked before, but here it goes:

From what I understand RTM = Retail and so I will be able to activate it with a key supplied with the retail versions coming in October. For Vista I bought a relatively cheap OEM/Systembuilder license (don't know if they sell this everywhere) and I'm planning to do the same for W7. Will I be able to activate my RTM install using the key supplied with this version?

My guess is no.. If indeed not possible, will this OEM version be available (or "available" for that matter) anytime soon or would this mean I'd have to wait till I get my copy from the stores in October?

Thank you in advance :)

yes u r able to that. if u cant there r many other alternative


way, which can not be say in this forum.

OEM copies will be available early for the big ones (HP, Dell etc) and small ones (microsoft gold partners). I very much doubt OEM copies will enter the retail channel for non partners, i.e. sold on amazon etc, until after General Availability on October 22nd.

Assuming 7 activates like vista, and it's pretty similar so far, you'll be able to use OEM, boxed full and boxed upgrade keys all on the same physical disc/install (though upgrade keys requires the key to be used during the install, not after). You can even switch between volume licence KMS, retail keys and MAK keys all on the same install.

The downside of OEM copies is you're only licenced to install on one PC, ever. But they are way cheaper. Retail copies can be installed on a succession of computers, as long as it's on only one at a time.

Great news, no need for reinstall then. I thought the keys were only for specific versions (OEM, Boxed etc). Thanks for clearing this up guys Currently running Ultimate version, and will buy Ultimate OEM license for approx. €160 when available.

And yes, I'm aware I will be licensed to install on one PC only. This has however never given me any problems in the past. MS has already supplied me with an activation code by phone about 4 times now After I made some big hardware changes. The only thing they ask is if the install you're trying to activate is the only one being used with the license, lol

Arkhan said:

OEM copies will be available early for the big ones (HP, Dell etc) and small ones (microsoft gold partners).

No, just the big ones (the "royalty") like Dell and HP. They are the only ones who get them early. OEMs who are MSFT "gold" partners actually get them after MSDN (or TechNet).

DataMan47 said:

No, just the big ones (the "royalty") like Dell and HP. They are the only ones who get them early. OEMs who are MSFT "gold" partners actually get them after MSDN (or TechNet).

Still get them earlier than general availability though. And the gold partners can use those to build their final deployment images, which you can't officially do with a technet copy...

Guys, I need to come back to this matter. Our russian friends just posted an OEM version with the following remark:


"OEM has a different key base than retail, OEM uses OEM keys and can use the SLP activation, Retail uses Retail keys"

So my question is: are some of you really sure it will be possible? Is there any proof you can give me for this?
Myself I have always used OEM versions on my system and activated them with my OEM systembuilder license. Also when searching Google, most people are certain it is NOT possible to activate Retail with OEM keys.

EDIT: People say it is being determined by the Product ID of the installed version, but there is very little info on Product IDs of Win7 yet.