Windows 7: windows 7 oem

okay so i have been gone for a long, long time since RC days when i became to agitated with 7 and left it. but im back with a brand new computer custom built by me and i have a couple of questions. i wanna get windows 7 badly but dont want to have to pay 200 bucks for the whole thing. if i go ahead and buy the windows 7 home premium oem version is it the same thing as buying the home premium retail? is it the full version just without the packaging and what not? any help is appreciated thanks guy

Same as the Retail except you will be able to ask MS for support. With the OEM you will get support from the system builder which in this case will be you.

Nothing wrong with the OEM been using them for several years.

You can install Upgrade to formatted metal without a previous O.S. It is explained here by the moderator:
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version


If you want to put the RC back on, it will view it as a previous OS, otherwise installing it to formatted metal will require a second Upgrade (repair) install to activate, or the registry fix detailed in the thread comments in the tutorial linked above.

Welcome back.

Are you planning to dual boot Windows 7 and XP?

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade version can be Clean installed as described in this tutorial:
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

As mentioned you don't get MS support when buying the OEM version. The OEM (you) provides the support. Other than that it is the complete retail version, everything is the same.

With the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade version you get the MS support.

Let us know if you have any more questions.

Half-awake here but, I was led to believe OEM versions of Windows only allow you to install it on one machine. If you change any major parts such as the motherboard, you will need to contact Microsoft to activate Windows again on that.

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Again, half-wake. So I could be wrong.

Good morning DarkNovaGamer,

Your right, forgot to mention that part....

okay im just gonna go ahead and get the upgrade and spend 10 bucks more for the ms support which i think is gonna help in the long run. and also im upgrading my system so i do not want to have to call ms to activate my version again. oh and dave i plan on using windows 7 only no dual boot for me. any suggestions on video cards(Ati only please)?

I'm not dave but this card looks good.

I plan to get it whenever I build my first desktop.

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-R575D5-1GD Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

AMD/ATI ALL THE WAY!

i agree gamer i love amd/ati that why i got the 64 x2 even though there are cpus that are faster i wanted this brand and this type. and im looking at the xfx 4850 1gb im really fighting myself over it. ima ask my dad hehe see what he says

Graphics cards will depend on what you are going to do, a lot of gaming, video editing, then you will want the best you can get depending on your budget, or your dads budget.

The HD4850 is a good card.

Check this site for All Gaming Graphics Charts 2009.

Buyers Guide to Graphics Cards

Good luck,