What's the difference between various Windows disks?

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

  1. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #11

    Factory OEM-SLP installs don't activate online, they activate via the SLIC table in the BIOS. That only works though, if you have an OEM PC with the factory SLIC table and the matching custom factory OEM install media. Dell, Acer etc install media obtained from them for that specific PC model.
    If you clean install with stock media using the OEM-COA key, the key on the COA sticker on an OEM PC, you have to do a phone activation the first time you use the key on the Sticker. After that I do believe it will just activate online. I'm talking PC's with Dell, Acer etc OEM COA stickers.
    Retail and OEM System Builder editions activate online.
    Enterprise editions also require activation, its just done via KMS, or MAK. I have on occasion run Windows 10 Enterprise, I had to activate online with my MSDN MAK key. In a Corporate setup they would activate via the companies in house KMS server.
    Last edited by alphanumeric; 18 Mar 2017 at 12:40.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 191
    Windows 7 Home Premium bit
       #12

    Actually, I have an XP Pro 32 bit disk and a () 64 bit disk. I have never had to activate either one, ever, on-line or phone. Had to 'check to see if XP was valid' (<-or some such), when u/g'ing media player to 11(?)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #13

    cornemuse said:
    Actually, I have an XP Pro 32 bit disk and a () 64 bit disk. I have never had to activate either one, ever, on-line or phone. Had to 'check to see if XP was valid' (<-or some such), when u/g'ing media player to 11(?)
    Unless its custom OEM install media being used on the PC it was made for, its almost certainly illegally modified to cheat activation.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 191
    Windows 7 Home Premium bit
       #14

    alphanumeric said:
    Unless its custom OEM install media being used on the PC it was made for, its almost certainly illegally modified to cheat activation.
    That would be a trick!!! Modifying a 'factory pressed' 'genuine MicroSoft XP Pro SP-2 disk' CD. How'd they do that?? Black Magic? (well, maybe blue magic)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       #15

    cornemuse said:
    That would be a trick!!! Modifying a 'factory pressed' 'genuine MicroSoft XP Pro SP-2 disk' CD. How'd they do that?? Black Magic? (well, maybe blue magic)
    To the best of my knowledge there is no official version of Windows XP that does not require activation. All Retail versions of XP require a product key to install and activate it.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,384
    Win 7 Ult 64-bit
       #16

    I was at my local MicroCenter a few weeks ago, and priced a 7 disk at $149. They have 27 stores and also sell online. I was going to install it into my older computer, but then I won this one at my computer club's monthly raffle. A group in my club builds them for charities and schools, and one each month for the raffle.

    Amazon's prices are absurd. In most things, they UNDERSELL everyone else.

    Cornemuse--
    If, in theory, you wanted a new Win XP disk, it would be SP3, not SP2. However, Win 7 will forever have just SP1.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #17

    The price of a legitimate legal copy of Windows 7 is getting to the stage where it is worth what ever someone is willing to pay for it - This is normal for no longer produced items of all sorts.

    For Example You can easily purchase a New Car for a fraction of the cost of a vintage car, and even when the new product may be better than the old, there are people who, for what ever ever reason, are prepared to pay a lot more than the product originally sold for, this is just supply and demand.

    The sellers of these items are well aware of these facts and so will raise prices to meet what they think people are prepared to pay.

    With the fact that probably 90%+ of all Windows 7 copies currently for sale, are either counterfeit or otherwise illegally obtained, the price of the actual legitimate copies are rising even higher. The prices on amazon are always a minefield for whatever you are looking at - I recently was looking at classic books and whilst the, (often not currently available), New copies were priced at £30.00. In stock items with the market place sellers, (mostly old stock or Used) varied from £0.01 + £3.50 Shipping to £250 + Shipping.

    With the fact that a legitimate looking package for Windows 7 easy to make with modern process technology I would suggest that you only consider going to a large well known company that provides a no quibble guarantee to fully refund for items that turn out to be basically stolen goods, ( or maybe your local "Mom & Pop store where a dust covered unsold legitimate copy may remain , to be found covered in dust.

    Also from what I've discovered even the large suppliers only have low stock numbers available, so if you are considering a purchase you should do so sooner rather than later as the price will not come down, but increase further in future
      My Computers


 
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

İ Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:19.
Find Us