pparks1 said:

Back in July, when I built my machine, i purchased an OEM copy of Windows Vista 64-bit for the machine which came with a free upgrade coupon for Windows 7. I had no intention of ever transferring this copy to a new machine...nor did this machine qualify for an "upgrade" since it didn't have a previous OS and I wasn't deactivating any of my other boxes in my house.

I wonder how the EULA handles this. Since I was legally able to use the Vista disc as a hobbyist...And since it came with the free upgrade disc..I'm wondering if I am allowed to upgrade that version or not since the EULA has changed.

Either way, I'm in the clear as I attended the New Efficiency event and got a free retail copy of Windows 7 and that is actually what I am using. My OEM copy is simply sitting in my file cabinet, unused.

Good point, the upgrades versions are another twist.

This may not be news, and maybe I should have posted it in another forum, but it's certainly news to me.

I've built all my own PC machines since the early 80's.

I recently installed Windows 7 on my currently XP equipped machine and used the retail version to do so as I didnt' want any hassles down the road.

That said, I don't' see this 'restriction' as any obstacle to anyone wanting to build a box using the OEM version. I dont' see as a , practical matter, how this could be enforced.

Say Doug Enthusiast builds a box with OEM licence. He then 'sells' said box to his sister for 1 dollar or a bottle of soda. That satisfies the strict read of the agreement.

What I wonder though is say this happens:
Two years later the system board craps out cause the power supply blew all its smoke into the CPU.
Doug has to replace it and the CPU with a new one, hell it even took out the graphics card. Therefore it reads as a new machine to Windows.
Now in the past the following was not a problem. One just called MS if there was a issue with re-registering
a 'new ' machine with the automatic re-register via internet.

Under this 'new' licensing scheme is the same procedure followed? One would think so else anyone running a small shop running legit system builds and selling them would have hell to pay if he/she had to tell a customer 'oh yah, your gonna have to buy a new license ' as I've changed the system board out and MS wont' let us register it as it is a 'new machine.'

If I build another box, which I'm threatening to do, I may build it with the OEM version and keep the 'full version' on my current machine. If I do so, I suspect I"ll sell the box to myself for a bottle of quality bourbon.
If that fails to salve my conscious , I'll sell it to my cat. If he unable to pay me back in a reasonable time frame I'll be forced to confiscate the machine.
Be sure, I'll be sure to write a nasty contract and 'reasonable time frame' will be quite short. Cat doesn't read so good I'm sure he will miss the fine print.


Seriously, how does this impact the home PC builder at all. Seems silly.

Uzi said:

Seriously, how does this impact the home PC builder at all. Seems silly.

I don't think it does now, but it makes me wonder why they made any changes to the agreement. Maybe they are moving away from OEM for the masses. I don't know how Apple handles it, but maybe MS is going in another direction for the next release.

They had better look at the price structure if they do anything like that.

I just wana throw something out there, I'm not giving anyone ideas or anything, just a question, if the Admins/Mods see this as inappropriate, please take it down.

If somebody had a Legal version of Vista, and obtained a copy of an upgrade disc illegally (we all know theres bound to be one out there) Would all they have to do, is use the serial from their legit copy of Vista to activate the upgrade to Seven?

As i said before, if this is against the rules, please take it down.

Colonel Travis said:

Mr. Bott just posted about OEM System Builder licenses for the regular PC enthusiast. Also had a post earlier this month about all of the different licensing gobbledegook.

Thanks for the links.

No problem. Im a coowner in an LLC, so i'll just donate the computer to myself and write it off on my taxes.