Clean install

Vincenzo

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I am going to be doing a clean install on a Dell desktop. I see on the Windows sticker that it says Windows 7 Pro OA.

Does OA mean some type of OEM installation?

Will that product key work if I install Windows 7 Pro from the iso file I got from the Digital River site?

Thanks
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
I am going to be doing a clean install on a Dell desktop. I see on the Windows sticker that it says Windows 7 Pro OA.

Does OA mean some type of OEM installation?

Will that product key work if I install Windows 7 Pro from the iso file I got from the Digital River site?

Thanks


I have never heard of the OA before. The Win 7 Pro ISO should work OK with your Product Key from the sticker.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Build
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 32-Bit - Build 7600 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i3-2120 3.30Ghz
Motherboard
Asus P8Z68-V LX Intel Z68 Socket H2 ATX
Memory
Kingston 4 GB DDR3 1333 mhz
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon HD6670
Sound Card
Sound Blaster Audigy SE 24-Bit
Monitor(s) Displays
Asus VE228
Screen Resolution
1440 X 900
Hard Drives
OCZ Vertex 3 120 GB Sata 3 SSD ==
Kingston SH103/S3 120 G Hyper X 120 GB SSD ==
Western Digital 500 GB Caviar Green 7200 RPM ==
PSU
Corsair CX600M == 600 Watt
Case
NZXT Apollo - Silver with Clear Side Panel
Cooling
Three 120 mm Fans
Keyboard
Microsoft Natural 4000
Mouse
Microsoft Custom Optical 3000
Internet Speed
AT&T Fiber Optic Wireless Network
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials
Browser
Chrome
Other Info
120 mm Blue LED Fan -- Three Blue LED Lazer Light Sticks
Quote source; WIN7 PRO OA

"OA" is synonomous with "OEM" (preactivated) and the product key is for the version (x86 or x64) originally installed.

Type 2 OEM SLP (original equipment manufacturer system-locked pre-installation) license product keys are architecture specific. It makes no difference whether or not the computer is a laptop, netbook, all-in-one, desktop, or rattrap. It is the source of the software installation, not its target that matters. Royalty manufacturers like HP, Dell, Sony, etc. are licensed to use the SLP technology. Type 2 licenses require a valid SLIC (System Licensed Internal Code) in the BIOS on the motherboard. Type 2 licenses cannot be valid on a system that does not have the correct code in the BIOS. If the code in the BIOS becomes corrupted in some way the user must convert the license to Type 8 OEM COA by entering the COA product key to reactivate.

Type 8 license does not read the SLIC table. Non-royalty manufacturers and fabricators (custom builders) use Type 3 System Builder licenses. These are custom builders, consultants, Microsoft Authorized Refurbishers (minimum of 5,000 units), and Microsoft Registered Refurbishers (less than 5,000 units).

Type 5 Retail licenses are used in any transferable license whether sold in a store or through a program subscription such as MSDN, TechNet, BizSpark, etc. The term "retail" does not mean "boxed copy" and it does not necessarily mean re-saleable. It means transferable from one computer to another. Whether or not a license is re-saleable depends on the source of the license. Subscription licenses are always Not-for-Resale.

Type 1 (KMS) and 6 (MAK) licenses are volume licenses (VLK) and are Not-for-Resale licenses.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built By Me.
OS
Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
CPU
AMD FX 9590 8 Core Black Edition
Motherboard
MSI 990FXA GAMING (MS-7893)
Memory
Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon (TM) R9 380 Gaming Series
Sound Card
AMD High Definition
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung 32" 60Hz 4ms Curved PLS LED
Screen Resolution
1920 X 1080
Hard Drives
C: 223 GB SSD = E: 465 GB HDD = F: 931 GB HDD = G: 149 GB HDD = H: 931 GB HDD
PSU
EVGA Supernova NEX750B 750W ATX EPS12V 80PLUS Bronze
Case
Cool Master
Cooling
Noctua NH-D15 Premium Cooler with 2x NF-A15 PWM 140mm Fan
Internet Speed
Fiber Optic: Download 332.7 Mbps / Upload 331.5 Mbps
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Browser
Slimjet (64bit)
OA means Win7 was mass-activated Offline at factory, nothing more.

Follow these steps if you'd like to get a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows
using the Product Key on the COA sticker which MS requires so you can do this and have the activation shifted into their own servers.
 
OK thanks to all for the info.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
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