How to transfer retail key from 1 pc to another?legally

bjproc · 30 Nov 2009

Brian6121990 said:

wait a minute...wtf?
u serious? i cant do the same with an OEM copy? o_o
i am selling my laptop and buying a new one (still have a desktop) and i cant transfer it to my desktop? =/

no, an OEM copy goes with the first PC it's installed on, then dies with the machine, their non-transferable

Brian6121990 · 30 Nov 2009

bjproc said:

Brian6121990 said:

wait a minute...wtf?
u serious? i cant do the same with an OEM copy? o_o
i am selling my laptop and buying a new one (still have a desktop) and i cant transfer it to my desktop? =/

no, an OEM copy goes with the first PC it's installed on, then dies with the machine, their non-transferable

but i was told that i can only reactivate the product key once if i were to transfer to a new pc x_x
i feel like i got jipped for buying windows 7 "OEM"

originally i asked for a upgrade

Dwarf · 30 Nov 2009

An OEM license ties that copy of the OS to the first machine it is installed on - this is non-transferrable and the license dies with the demise of the machine.

A retail license, on the other hand, can be transferred from one machine to another providing certain criteria are met. The main one of these is that the OS must be removed from the old sysytem prior to being activated on the new one - and you will more than likely need to do this over the phone as the automated system won't work in this instance. Note that if you try to be clever and have both systems activated (MS do periodic checks whilst you are on-line) that won't work, and you could end up with the key being black-listed meaning that it will be rendered unusable.

Brian6121990 · 30 Nov 2009

i guess i am stuck with the laptop then...hard for me to sell it for $450 WITH windows 7 home prem OEM

thanks alot frys...

gregrocker · 30 Nov 2009

I also have only ever heard that OEM is locked to hardware once installed, but check out this thread in here yesterday, particularly this post: In-place upgrade with retail / OEM / OSB / SB versions?

GreeKNastY · 30 Nov 2009

oh and 1 more quick question..in the retail box they gave me both 64 and 32bit..i can use the same key for both right?..i had 32bit on this laptop..can i use it for 64bit on my desktop?

Dwarf · 30 Nov 2009

The same key can be used for both, however you can only install either the 32-bit OR the 64-bit version (not both) and the key may only be activated on one machine.

Dwarf said:

A retail license, on the other hand, can be transferred from one machine to another providing certain criteria are met. The main one of these is that the OS must be removed from the old sysytem prior to being activated on the new one - and you will more than likely need to do this over the phone as the automated system won't work in this instance. Note that if you try to be clever and have both systems activated (MS do periodic checks whilst you are on-line) that won't work, and you could end up with the key being black-listed meaning that it will be rendered unusable.

DeaconFrost · 30 Nov 2009

Brian6121990 said:

i guess i am stuck with the laptop then...hard for me to sell it for $450 WITH windows 7 home prem OEM

thanks alot frys...

If you bought a laptop with Windows 7 preinstalled, of course you can't move it to a new PC. That isn't Fry's fault. If you bought the OEM licenses yourself (aka System Builders), then it still isn't Fry's fault, but your own for not understand what you were getting, or why it was so much cheaper than retail. If the second option is true, you may have some options though, depending on how you feel about EULAs.

kronwhon · 30 Nov 2009

Sorry Brian, OEM licenses are non-transferrable. That is why they are so cheap.

kronwhon · 30 Nov 2009

gregrocker said:

I also have only ever heard that OEM is locked to hardware once installed, but check out this thread in here yesterday, particularly this post: In-place upgrade with retail / OEM / OSB / SB versions?

Hi, from the windows 7 OEM EULA:

2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Computer. The software license is permanently assigned to the computer with which the software is distributed. That computer is the "licensed computer."
b. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors on the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, you may not use the software on any other computer.

The European EULA states:

23. APPLICABLE LAW.
a. United States. If you acquired the software in the United States, Washington state law governs the interpretation of this agreement and applies to claims for breach of it, regardless of conflict of laws principles. The laws of the state where you live govern all other claims, including claims under state consumer protection laws, unfair competition laws, and in tort.
b. Outside the United States. If you acquired the software in any other country, the laws of that country apply.

The post you reference suggests there is something in European law that prevents MS from limiting software to one machine. If this is the case, I'm unaware, as I specialize in US licensing.

The above EULAs can be downloaded at
http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal...s/default.aspx

"N" means European
"K" means Korean
"NK" means EU or KO