Windows 7: Can you switch PCs with an upgrade version?

Hi,

If you upgrade your OEM version (that can only be used with 1 computer, right?), to a retail Windows 8 for example (or any other retail upgrades), will you then be able to switch the Windows installation between different PC's?



ty

Hello mibaup, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You will not be able to install and activate the OEM copy to another computer since it is permanently tied to the motherboard of the first computer it was activated on.

You will be able to install and activate a retail Windows 8 on any computer you like so long as it's only on one computer, and removed from any other.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi and thanks for reply, but I saw that there are so called "Retail Upgrades" - does that mean that you are going to get a retail version but that can only be installed on computers with Windows installed on them first? that makes more sense

No problem.

The Windows 8 upgrade could be installed in two different methods.

One way is to upgrade from say Windows 7 to Windows 8.

The other way is to do a clean install with the Windows 8 upgrade without having anything installed first.

I don't get it, will it be considered a retail version that can be switched between pc's? because it is then much cheaper it doesn't make sense

Any retail copy of Windows besides Builder's OEM can migrate to any PC you want, as long as if it's Upgrade it has a qualifying previous version which either came with that PC or a retail copy of it that qualifies you to use Upgrade version.

Only OEM versions - retail Builders OEM or preinstalled factory OEM - cannot migrate beyond the first mobo they're installed upon, although there are reports that MS phone activation makes exceptions for good cause.

So retail upgrade is like retail but that can only be installed on PC's with Windows previously installed on them? (for example, retail upgrade of Windows 7 Home Premium cannot be installed on a new empty hard drive but can be installed on a pc with Windows XP on it?)

Mibaup,

You can do a clean install of an upgrade on a computer with nothing on it.

It's just that you must already own a legal copy of a previous Windows to qualify to legally use the upgrade.

If you do not own a legal previous Windows with it's key, then you would need to purchase a "full" (Windows 7) or "system builder" (Windows 8) instead since you do not qualify for an upgrade.

An upgrade is a discount for customers that already own a previous version of Windows, and would like to either upgrade or clean install to the newer version of Windows.