hello to every one,
i have a couple of questions, i want to format my pc and i want to install windows 7 home premium, but i have the product key of another Pc( i found it on the sticker of my laptop ), this is the question: can i use it on my desktop? my SO is Windows 7 home premium OA what does it mean OA?
sorry for my bad english
Hello Random91, and welcome to Seven Forums.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Activation is also known as OA. It's an OEM Windows.
I'm sorry, but no. An OEM product key is permanently tied to the motherboard on only that specific computer, and cannot be activated on another computer.
It means Offiline Activation which is how it is activated at factory with an SLP mass activation method.
To use the Product Key on the laptop it came with you'd Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
gregrocker thers no difference if i use it on another pc?
it's this that i want to know because my laptop is broken
I recently found this on a HP Pavilion DV6. While reinstalling Windows 8 it didn't ask for product key. Entering product key page is skipped while installation. Even the Windows 8 doesn't ask for activation after installation.
Windows 8 is activated automatically through the BIOS if a license has been assigned to that PC at factory.
I did use my Windows 7 laptop activation key on a Virtual Machine, and that seemed to work ok...
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