Windows 7 Pro 64-bit : OEM install over retail while preserving data?

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  1. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #11

    Your specs show a Custom Build, and seem to indicate it's a dual boot of Win 7 32 bit and Win 7 64 bit.
    Is this the PC you installed the "retail trial" version on, and are asking about now ?

    Or, is this a pre-built PC with an OEM sticker (license) on it ?
    Or, is it a new Custom Build and you don't have a COA sticker or new purchased license ?
    Or ... ?
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  2.    #12

    Typhoon said:
    I've now been lead to understand that it is NOT possible to activate the retail installation with an OEM key, so apparently my only viable option is to buy a retail product, which of course costs a lot more than the OEM version (and I'm not exactly rolling in money so I need to take the cheapest route).

    What? Who told you that you can't activate any Win7 you installed with an OEM Product Key?

    Beginning with Vista, the retail and OEM installers are exactly the same.
    So the install you did had absolutely nothing saying it is OEM until you activate it with an OEM key. Only then does it become OEM, just as if you activate it with a retail key it becomes full retail or upgrade version.

    You can activate with a full retail, retail Builder's OEM, or if you have any previous XP or Vista on hand you qualify to activate with Upgrade version key even if the qualifying OS wasn't installed.

    Unfortunately if you don't already have a license, the only ones available now are OEM so the idea that restrictions apply for OEM version that are still enforced is long gone. MS wants only OEM version installed now so that it dies with the mobo and cannot migrate, although they do make exceptions during reactivation to change between mobos from what I've heard.
    Last edited by gregrocker; 12 Mar 2015 at 21:35.
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  3. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #13

    What? Who told you that you can't activate any Win7 you installed with an OEM Product Key?
    Greg, that was my bad. I was apparently not up-to-date. Sorry.
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  4.    #14

    That's OK, Wolfgang. I was only referring to his OP where he said he'd been told that elsewhere.

    There's hardly a day in six years that I haven't had to clarify that. It is a deeply embedded belief due to XP: People think that there is an OEM installer just like we had to look for a separate OEM sku installer to reinstall XP factory OEM. But there are no such differences in Win7.
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  5. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #15

    Greg, I am glad you clarified that. I removed the erroneous posting to avoid further confusion.
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  6.    #16

    No problem. We all have our specialties, and that is mine.
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  7. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #17

    Windows 7 has been out for years, why are you just figuring it out/installing it now ?

    The iso that you downloaded from Digital River is not a Retail version.

    Greg explains everything above.
    Last edited by AddRAM; 13 Mar 2015 at 07:16.
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  8. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #18

    The OP has another thread for this in the Updates and Activation forum:
    Windows 7 activation, Retail, OEM licences
      My Computer


 
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