I am currently running XP 32-bit OEM. I had intended to buy the Win 7 OEM, but understand that the Upgrade Disk can be used to do a clean install also. Is there any advantage to buying one over the other? If the OEM is more straight forward in the install, that would be the deciding factor for me. I have not seen any discussion on here comparing the two. This leads me to believe that the Upgrade is the way to go. Help me out on this please.
The upgrade still requires an activated, qualifying OS to be installed on the computer already, before allowing you to do the clean install. The OEM, does not, but then you are subjected to the OEM licensing restrictions, which are getting foggier and foggier all the time.
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/oem.asp
I'd probably go the route of the OEM disc, just for the sake of doing simple clean installs, but to each his own. As far as the legality....if places like Newegg will still sell it, then I'm going to consider it legit.
The OEM is locked to your hardware, while the Upgrade can migrate and isn't tracked except to make sure it isn't on more than one computer.
I wanted a clean install so I done the checkdisk and formated the C: drive . Poped in the Win 7 64 bit upgrade wnet to to repair option picked the partion and am now running Win 7. Duker
Quote