Why does Microsoft have distinct ISO files for COEM & Standard W7 OS?

Lance1 · 23 Jun 2019

SIW2 said:

lance,

HERE

Missed It By That Much...

GuitarRock · 24 Jun 2019

Lance1 said:

I may have missed it, but did the system come with the original hard drive in the system? If it did, it should still have the Recovery Partition on the drive. here's a link to the manual Performing a system recovery After the recovery you could just imagine the entire drive to the new SSD from a tower system. This would definitely solve you issue. That is if it came with the drive. This is simple stuff for experienced ones. I hope I'm not going over your head. Fingers crossed!

Lance1:

Yes, the system still has the original Hard Drive that everything was installed on. I do have a Disc Image of that too. I appreciate the link on Performing a System Recovery.

The idea of doing a Clean Install was to start fresh without the garbage that HP includes. Then make a Disc Image Backup of that.

Thank you for your help.

GuitarRock · 24 Jun 2019

Snick said:

This is the contents of a win7x64 ultimate ei.cfg

[EditionID]
Ultimate
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0
You can extract the files with 7-zip then open the sources folder, scroll down to ei.cfg you can open it with notepad, or similar. I use notepad++ which has right click entry. Remove or rename the ei.cfg file.
Attachment 408544 Attachment 408545
Use ImgBurn to create the iso, simply open the program, mode ez-picker, create image file from files and folders select the win7 folder, name the iso either now or after you create it. Set the path for the iso, desktop is good. and click the start icon with the right-pointing green arrow. Read and click though the prompts, simple. You just created a Win7x64 All-In-One ISO.

You can use setup.exe in the folder you created extracting the ISO files to run a repair install if need be, and when you get to the screen choose your version. Sweet!. You need to have your 25 character product key same as clean install!

Snick:
Thank you for the instructions on making the Windows ISO file an All-In-One. Using your method or the using the e.icfg removal utility S1W2 linked is good to know..... just in case I need a different Edition on another system. For my current system, The ISO I downloaded (Professional) matches what I need "as is".

As S1W2 pointed out, the Edition must match your system in order to Activate.

Question:
Does anyone know if there any Installation "scenario" when it is either required or beneficial to edit the ei.cfg file to Change the Channel from Retail to OEM ?........or is this designation as pointless and useless as it appears to be?

.

Snick · 24 Jun 2019

You are not changing a channel and removing the ei.cfg only makes all the editions that are already in the iso available. Win7 iso is getting hard to find a clean download and the utility is useful in that regard.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is the key associated with the windows version that came installed on your particular brand/type computer. My Desktop Home Premium x64. The manufacturer purchases the key from Microsoft for installation on multiple machines.

Retail, you would purchase at, say Best Buy and it can be installed on any computer. It can only be active on one computer at a time. Is is valid for the version paid for only.

We've had to switch between Tech Bench by WZT and Heidoc for Win7 downloads and usually only one edition is available as set by the ei.cfg text file.

GuitarRock · 29 Jun 2019

Snick said:

You are not changing a channel and removing the ei.cfg only makes all the editions that are already in the iso available. Win7 iso is getting hard to find a clean download and the utility is useful in that regard.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is the key associated with the windows version that came installed on your particular brand/type computer. My Desktop Home Premium x64. The manufacturer purchases the key from Microsoft for installation on multiple machines.

Retail, you would purchase at, say Best Buy and it can be installed on any computer. It can only be active on one computer at a time. Is is valid for the version paid for only.

We've had to switch between Tech Bench by WZT and Heidoc for Win7 downloads and usually only one edition is available as set by the ei.cfg text file.

Snick,

Thanks, you have done a nice job explaining things.

I realize you were not suggesting that I change the Channel. My question regarding any reason/benefit to changing the Channel in the ei.cfg file from "Retail" to "OEM" (by editing it in notepad), was in part referring to what someone said on a different website post regarding doing this. Here is the link: Reinstall Windows 7: OEM or Standard? - Super User

I have tried to accurately summarize it (in gray text) below, but it's probably best to view the link in case I am misunderstanding something:

The situation was that someone had a question about performing a Clean Install on an OEM system using a Retail ISO Disc.

A person who posted (Richard) said that if you use an OEM Key with a Retail ISO that it will Install just fine, but that Activation will Fail.
To overcome this he says you need to:
* Open up the ei.cfg file in a text editor
* Under the word Channel, delete the word “Retail” and replace it by typing the word “OEM”.
* Then, burn a new ISO on USB or DVD and perform the Installation with this newly created/altered ISO.

So I am guessing that Richard's advice/information was not correct? What do you think?

.

Snick · 07 Jul 2019

GuitarRock,

Sorry for the delayed response.
There hasn't been a distinction between OEM and RETAIL in the installers since XP. The installers are all the same once ei.cfg is either renamed, or removed in that regard, the key determines which version will activate.
The OEM installs what the OEM added or doesn't what the OEM removed as their licensing with M$ permits.
Retail version straight from M$ no bloatware or added games, their are M$ standards no OEM additions. I open the Win7 ISO with 7-Zip, open the sources folder, scroll down, delete the ei.cfg and create the ISO again with ImgBurn, both free tools.

GuitarRock · 08 Jul 2019

Snick said:

GuitarRock,

Sorry for the delayed response.
There hasn't been a distinction between OEM and RETAIL in the installers since XP. The installers are all the same once ei.cfg is either renamed, or removed in that regard, the key determines which version will activate.

Snick,

Thanks for the information.

1. That is why I never really understood "the point" of Microsoft even having COEM ISO files.

Whether downloaded directly from Microsoft servers (or using heidoc.net) or previously through Digital River, there was always separate COEM ISO's available (in addition to the "Retail" ones).

I'm just speculating that it is more of a "legal" administrative matter than a practical one. torchwood mentioned there is a small "OEM" folder in the COEM ISO. I'm wondering if it is simply a text file of "licensing terms" for OEM's.

2. In regards to the link (Reinstall Windows 7: OEM or Standard? - Super User) I posted, I'm interpreting what you are saying is that the guy Richard was both right and wrong. Right in that it's possible to change the ei.cfg files Channel "designation" from Retail to OEM, but wrong in that there would be any benefit whatsoever to doing so, let alone activation. I think that's what you are saying.

Snick · 14 Jul 2019

As of Windows XP the ei.cfg OEM or Retail is obsolete.

Delete or rename the ei.cfg text file. On Win7x64 ISO, Starter, Basic, Home Premium, Professional, & Ultimate will be available, however, only the version the matches your 25 character product key will activate.