System Builders

[dooglo]

Question?
Can anyone purchace, and use a Microsoft OEM System Builder License?
Instead of building a system for someone (customer), and do it for your self?
Reason why I ask is because NewEgg has Win 7 System Bulder OS's for cheaper than regular. Why can't I purchase that if I wanted and build a new system for myslef and install OS?

Curious,

D.

 

[jdfrye]

WHats taking you so long?..why havent you already ordered it?
...Yes its fine. and its also the full version not an upgrade. you just cant call MS up to get support..just call yourself.

 

[whs]

Yes you can. But you have to be self sufficient as far as support goes - you are your own supporter.

LoL - jdfrye beat me to it.

 

[Barman58]

You can purchase this copy as long as Newegg will sell to you - they may have their own parameters for this sale but nothing in the licence itself would prevent it.

You have to be aware of course that this licence has fairly stringent conditions attached - You cannot move the licence to another machine and you will not receive any support from microsoft

 

[dooglo]

Thank you guys.

 

[pparks1]

The others guys have answered this question. I've purchased OEM copies from NewEgg before and always been happy.

 

[chev65]

OEM copies FTW, no more jamming your Op system full of BS advertisments trying to sell you stuff like the name brand computers always try to do. Support LOL, thats what this site if for.

 

[satchmo]

Before I upgraded to Windows 7, I was using the OEM version of Vista from Newegg.

And I never had any issue from Newegg or Microsoft. It's perfectly legitimate.

 

[dooglo]

Some say no MS support. What's that mean, no MS support?

 

[Barman58]

To be honest I would not let the No Microsoft support worry you. Microsoft will supply basic support to owners of retail copies of Windows 7.

In the case of OEM copies this is the responsibility or the system builder - in this case you.

You will still be eligible for the normal use of Microsoft update and other service packs etc.

As for technical support I believe you are already on the best support site for Windows 7 anywhere on the Web - SevenForums

 

[seekermeister]

Here is an excerpt from a webpage that I found:

Dead Cheap Windows 7 OEM/System Builder, Pricing Details Revealed - KezNews.com

However, customers that are looking and are ready to jump at the chance of grabbing a bargain should understand the main downside of Windows 7 SB. The System Builder of Windows 7 can only be installed on a single computer, and it will become intimately connected with the motherboard. So intimately in fact that customers will not be able to install a System Builder copy of Windows 7 on any other machine, even if it removed entirely from the first. In fact, if the computer that Windows 7 SB is installed on dies on you, the operating system will die with it.

At the same time, customers will only be able to upgrade their computers to a certain extent. An extensive hardware upgrade will make a System Builder version of Windows 7 believe that it is on a new computer altogether, which it will consider a break of the license, and will start acting like it was pirated.

From the impression that I got, even though SB and OEM are very similar in other aspects, this would deter me from buying SB, because I'm always upgrading or rearranging my systems.

 

[c59]

I have used OEM versions of XP for years. Over time I have upgraded the whole system-MB, CPU, RAM, HDDs, DVD... at some point the online activation will fail. I call the toll free number, punch in the numbers it asks for and then the system has always reactivated me.

If I swap enough parts for a new build with the old parts i buy a new OEM license for that machine. If I sell or give away the machine the windows license goes with it.

I think it's marketing. For $288. on Newegg you can get a retail W7 Professional- with retail packaging, both 32 and 64 bit versions, MS tech support, and over time possibly an easier time activating after changes. (and if you update the entire system you can sell the old one with out windows to a someone else with a retail license or a linux user or a pirate. For $107 you get the disk with either 32 or 64 bit, not much packaging, no 800 tech support, possibly some extra steps reactivating sometime in the future and you can't take the license to the next machine. The package, extra disk and warm fuzzy aren't worth $180 to me but it might be to you or someone else.