OEM vs Retail--How to tell?

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  1. Posts : 17,322
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #11

    Jambe said:
    No, Windows has not been activated but the PAC was entered during the install. That is not unusual. You have 30 days to go online to register.
    You have 30 days to activate.

    Activating Windows: frequently asked questions - Microsoft Windows Help

    I have still only seen "Initial Grace Period" when the product key has not been entered.

    I'm not questioning your ability or knowledge, simply what I have seen before.

    Like this one here that I know has not had a product key input,
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails OEM vs Retail--How to tell?-mga.jpg  
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  2. Posts : 107
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #12

    OEM going price is $99.
    I paid considerably less than that--but is it an upgrade. The point is that there were many options available. Some were identified as OEM. Mine was not.

    Depending on how things go tomorrow, I may post a link so you can decide if I am being unreasonable.
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  3. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #13

    Upgrade is just as well. For the installation it does not matter. I am always careful if the price is too good to be true. I usually abstain - unless it comes from a VERY reputable outfit.
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  4. Posts : 17,322
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #14

    I'm just curious why you chose to use a disc from another computer?

    Was that a branded disc?

    Now you say it was an upgrade, but they sent you a digital river link.

    There's really more questions than answers right now.
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  5. Posts : 107
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #15

    derekimo said:
    I'm just curious why you chose to use a disc from another computer?

    Was that a branded disc?

    Now you say it was an upgrade, but they sent you a digital river link.

    There's really more questions than answers right now.
    Why download an .iso when I already have the same files on my disk? I have never downloaded 3.4 GB--probably 200MB is my max and that took too long.

    Not sure what a branded disk is. This was an original Microsoft disk in the case with the rounded top corner.

    I assume Digital River has Upgrades. Not sure why you question that.
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  6. Posts : 17,322
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #16

    Well, if you were given a download link it would probably have been a more updated version, you are going to be downloading a lot of updates for that, it is pre-service pack 1.

    So you may as well have downloaded what you paid for. The digital river links we have don't show any upgrade versions.

    A branded disc is just one with a company logo (Dell, HP, Etc.)

    Your report shows a system builder license, that is either what they sold you or what the other disc you used was.
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  7. Posts : 6,458
    x64 (6.3.9600) Win8.1 Pro & soon dual boot x64 (6.1.7601) Win7_SP1 HomePrem
       #17

    Sites sell all sorts of Windows Google search results

    Is it legal? Yes and no.

    The slippery slope of Windows License Type: OEM System Builder
    Is it OK to use OEM Windows on your own PC? Don't ask Microsoft | ZDNet

    Sure, the article is from 2009, but I visited MS OEM licensing and didn't find much difference in what the article said 5 years ago. Technically a System Builders key is an illegal install unless you build, sell, and support systems.

    Derek is trying to determine if the System Builder license came form the disc you used or from the PAC the vendor sent you.

    Please post what is printed on the disc that you used to install Windows on your machine.
    I used a disk from an install on another computer...
    i.e. My brother's Acer came with an install disc and I used that
    OEM vs Retail--How to tell?-win7-ult-disc.png
    I would activate windows and post a new MGADIAG report. These two pieces of information will help clear things up.

    If the key the vendor gave you is in fact a System Builders key, then I would request my money back.
    Last edited by Slartybart; 28 Feb 2014 at 10:22. Reason: shrink disc img and relocate
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  8. Posts : 107
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #18

    @Slartybart
    The disk was purchased from Digital River I believe. It's been five years ago so I'm not positive. (I've been building computers since 1985 when I owned a computer store. Retired now.)

    The disk has a green label and says: Upgrade (at top left) Windows 7 Home Premium at bottom, 64 bit software upper right.

    Here is partial report from the disk on a registered computer.

    Code:
    Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
      -----------------------------------------
      Windows Validation Data-->
       
      Validation Code: 0
      Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
      Windows Product Key: *****-*****-M36HY-GHBQX-8KHYJ
      Windows Product Key Hash: bgQ2DsetkGEfZuQsAsYrPmEjPc3=
      Windows Product ID: 00359-029-7864127-85263
      Windows Product ID Type: 5
      Windows License Type: Retail
      Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003
    Do you know what Type: 5 means?

    You raised a question which I wondered about. If I had used a disk with SP1 would the PAC have worked on it if the PAC was from a non-SP1 retail package?
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  9. Posts : 17,322
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #19

    That's the same disc you used for the install you originally asked about?

    It sounds like you used an upgrade disc to do a clean install, is this what you did?

    What did you purchase? An upgrade or full version?

    It might be easier if you just pointed us to the site you purchased the original PAK from.
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  10. Posts : 6,458
    x64 (6.3.9600) Win8.1 Pro & soon dual boot x64 (6.1.7601) Win7_SP1 HomePrem
       #20

    Thanks for the information Jambe. That clears things up a little more for me.

    Derek still has a question or two, though. Please answer those questions next.. thanks.

    I don't think the license is service pack specific - so going back to post# 1 and the instructions the vendor gave you, I would download the ISO and install with that and use the key you purchased.

    I know you said that the download is painfully slow, but you might try downloading at a public library, a nearby University, or even a place with free WiFi - you might get better throughput.
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