Windows 7: OEM?

I paid $189 form Amazon for the full version of Windows 7 saving myself about $30 all together and when I wanted to ask Microsoft a question they said they couldn't help me because I didn't have the right one. I never need tech support for any windows I've ever bought so why not save a hundred dollars and buy the OEM version. If I buy the OEM and my computer blows up I was told I couldn't use that OS on another computer so I just have to throw it away?

Hello lostsoul62.



That's correct, once installed, OEM cannot be moved to another PC as it's forever tied to the first motherboard that it's installed to.

Unfortunately, yes. OEM license is tied to the computer, it is first installed on. Legally, it cannot be transferred, it lives and dies with its first computer.

Thats the reason OEM copies are cheaper than Retail ones. And remember, MS is obliged to provide tech support only on Retail copies, not on OEM ones.

However, you can make small hardware changes without requiring reactivation. E.g. if you only replace memory or only replace a hard drive. For MS, motherboard is the computer. Changing it will definitely deactivate you, unless maybe you are able to replace it with the same, identical model.

Have a read:

A "Must Read" for OEM license users

It is my understanding from a recent German high court case that in Europe it is perfectly legal to unbundle the software from the hardware.

Getting it to activate is another matter.

MS are pretty good , I hear , if you need to change the mobo. Apparently they will give a new key for that.

Of course they keep a record and will only do it once.

There seems to be perfect contradiction here between theory and practice. In previous versions of windows, it was legal for an end user to build a computer with an OEM license since in that case, the end user himself was considered a System Builder. But in the Windows 7 EULA, that clause has been omitted which means that unless you intend to resell that computer, you cannot legally use OEM. So the restrictions have actually been tightened. But OEM copies continue to be sold by Newegg, Amazon et. al.

This is a little like getting a Technet subscription. As per the Technet web site, it's intended for "IT Professionals". Yet anyone can pay for a subscription without having to submit any credentials or answer any questions. It may be INTENDED for IT Professionals, but Microsoft is happy to sell a subscription to anyone who'll pay for it.

How can you tell if you have an OEM version? I go to computer right mouse click and go to properties and it tells me I have Windows 7 but will it tell me if I have an OEM version?

Try opening a command prompt as administrator. (type cmd in the search box, right click on it, run as administrator).

Type A window will open in a few seconds, and if it says anything other than RETAIL channel it means you have either an OEM or an enterprise license.

Hello lostsoul62.


Did you get Windows 7 installed on a "ready built" PC, if so then it's OEM.

You can download the MS diagnostics tool.

Run the tool, it'll show a report. Look for an entry called "Windows License Type" (about 9-10 lines down from the top). If it says "Retail", its a retail license, if it says "OEM SLP" its a OEM preinstalled license, if it says "OEM non slp" its an OEM System builder.