OEM DVD and Windows 7 Upgrade License

[christpunchers]

Hi guys,

Here's the deal. Right now I'm on a PC running W7 Pro x64 OEM.

I'm in the process of building a second computer.

I thought that instead of buying another OEM DVD, I might as well take advantage of my student status. So I bought Windows 7 Pro 64bit upgrade edition from Digital River.

Will I be able to install W7 on my second computer, which has a blank hdd, using the OEM DVD and activate it with the upgrade edition key from digital river?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Sedril]

As far as I know, you can use any disk to install win 7, as long as the key you're using is for the version you installed.... meaning using home premium disk with home premium key, regardless of where the disk came from... From my testing, the keys also work for either 32 or 64bit...

You can also easily make the disk universal, meaning you can choose which level you want to install, home prem, pro, etc....

 

[DocBrown]

I would download the Student .iso & burn to DVD with Freeware Imgburn at 4x speed with verify ON. That way you will have a good install DVD with out the Mfg bloatware on the OEM Disc.

 

[christpunchers]

I would download the Student .iso & burn to DVD with Freeware Imgburn at 4x speed with verify ON. That way you will have a good install DVD with out the Mfg bloatware on the OEM Disc.

I don't have any spare DVDs.

The OEM DVD is not from a PC manufacturer. There is no 3rd party software. I bought it myself as I assemble my own computers.

In this case, would the OEM DVD be all I need?

 

[DocBrown]

Yes that should work then. But I really would get a blank DVD & get the student copy since you paid for it. Always have a backup for emergencies. Also printout two copies of your student Key Code & keep them in safe places

 

[christpunchers]

Yes that should work then. But I really would get a blank DVD & get the student copy since you paid for it. Always have a backup for emergencies. Also printout two copies of your student Key Code & keep them in safe places

Thanks Doc, I will make the backups and see how it goes!

Cheers.

 

[carwiz]

I don't think it's going to work. Your OEM version is good for ONE machine. And I believe the upgrade will verify that you have a valid version to upgrade. You won't because you can't register the OEM version again on a different machine. An upgrade is an upgrade to an existing version, not a second copy that you can load on another machine.

 

[Darician]

Any Windows 7 DVD provided it's the same version as your product key (Home Premium DVD with Home Premium Product Key) can be used to install Windows 7. Whether it's OEM or Retail doesn't really change much as what matters is the product key.

 

[seavixen32]

Under the terms of the OEM license you can only use the software on one computer, which means you would need to uninstall it from your first computer before you install it on the second one.

You could give it a try without uninstalling from your first computer to see if it works, but even if the software activates, it will probably fail Microsoft's validation checks, which take place after activation.

What is validation and how does it work? - Microsoft Windows

In view of the fact you are a student, why didn't you buy a full student version of Windows rather than the upgrade? I don't think it would have been anymore expensive and it may even have been cheaper.

 

[carwiz]

Any Windows 7 DVD provided it's the same version as your product key (Home Premium DVD with Home Premium Product Key) can be used to install Windows 7. Whether it's OEM or Retail doesn't really change much as what matters is the product key.

I agree with you 100% but that's not the case here. His OEM version has already been installed on another machine. When it's loaded to a second machine, it WILL validate the key and will fail because the OEM key is already in use. Hence, the update will fail too since there's no valid Windows 7 on the second machine. The upgrade key will not work to install the original OEM version again either because it is an Upgrade key.

Microsoft is very particular with its OEM versions in that they can only be used on ONE machine. This doesn't mean one at a time, it's ONE MACHINE. That machine is defined as the PC on which the OEM version was first installed. The OP would have to purchase another OEM key to install Windows then use the Upgrade key to update the second PC.

 

[theog]

No,
the OEM product key is installed PC 1.
the Upgrade key will be installed to PC 2.

Therefore
two product keys, two PC's.

 

[carwiz]

And what will he be Upgrading? PC1?....No. He wants to Upgrade PC2 which will not have a valid operating system.

For sure, you might get past the install of the OEM version again but it will never validate. Its key is already in use. You can't upgrade if the original version hasn't been validated. That's why they call it an upgrade. An OEM key can't be used again except on the same machine. That's why they call it an OEM version.

Retail versions are a different different case. Those you can move from machine to machine as long as it's installed on one machine at a time.

 

[alphanumeric]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?ltr=C

 

[Britton30]

Try what alphanumeric said, should work fine. Just use the new key provided for the Student upgrade version.
Did you only buy a key with no install DVD?

 

[DocBrown]

Normally when my students order, They get the KEY CODE in an email & a download link for the upgrade win7 version. Then for $ 15 extra they can get a DVD mailed to then in 2 weeks if they want the actual DVD.

 

[carwiz]

I have never known an upgrade DVD to be capable of loading the entire system but Brink's tutorial, linked by Alphanumeric, says it can. However; it also says doing so is illegal and subject to key invalidation. As does Microsoft's EULA. So, I rest my case and I guess there's two "correct" opinions but one is right and one is wrong. If you want to take that chance, be my guest. I wonder how long it will be before the OP is back here asking why he can't download updates or other MS software; Or, all of sudden his system won't boot?

It's sad that this site would facilitate illegal software and I am distraught that so many of you feel that it's okay.


http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mssmallbiz/...rade-is-an-upgrade-what-you-need-to-know.aspx

 

[theog]

You can clean install with upgrade disk's
Win 95
Win 98
Win 98 se
Win ME
Win 2000
Win XP
Win Vista
Windods 7

 

[seavixen32]

Carwiz, you have your opinion, of course, but I would have thought that using a loophole that Microsoft know full well exists, is vastly different to using counterfeit software.

If I order a 2-door car to save a bit of money, I'm hardly likely to refuse it if it comes with four doors. If Microsoft want to stamp down on this upgrade loophole, the ball is most definitely in their court.

They are probably just grateful that people have bought genuine software in the first place.

 

[Barman58]

What we have to remember here is that you are not actually purchasing the install media from Microsoft, but the Licence to use the software

As long as you meet the terms of the EULA as to eligibility for use, and if applicable the ownership of a valid upgrade path, how you actually get the software onto the system you will not be in breech of any terms and conditions.

In the above case the OEM licence is installed on a valid new build so meets the Terms of the EULA. The upgrade licence on the Digital River deal is legal as long as the OP owns a qualifying licence, (XP or Vista. Home or Pro as required for the win7 version involved).

in fact the work around for the use of the upgrade disk for a clean install was suggested by Microsoft in the early days of the student offer due to problems with the Digital River package system

 

[seavixen32]

That's the whole point, the EULA is very much open to interpretation.

If the way that people use the software doesn't break the licence terms then surely there's no problem.