Windows 7 OEM and Regular?

[Justin3921]

I'd like to know what the difference is between Windows 7 Home Premium OEM and just plain old Windows 7 Home Premium. I want to know because there is such a huge price difference..Also, why is Windows 7 Home Premium Family Package cheaper than FULL Windows 7 Home Premium? What does FULL mean? Does that mean if I buy Windows 7 Home Premium that doesn't say FULL I will be missing out on stuff?

 

[richc46]

OEM is for those that sell computers with the OS already installed
It is original equipment manufacturer
Many who built their own computer would use the cheaper OEM, but Microsoft has tried to stop that practice.
From a practical stanpoint, it can be used only on one machine
If not OEM the OS can be used on one machine at a time

 

[Justin3921]

Okay, so I'm using a Macbook Pro and I want to use Windows with bootcamp..Can I use OEM? Or do I have to buy the regular Windows 7?

 

[richc46]

You are using for your own use. This is not the intent of OEM, per the Terms of Service (TOS) you do not qualify for OEM.

 

[Darician]

Another difference between OEM and Retail is that with OEM, the support provider is whomever you purchased your computer from and if you built it yourself, well ... you'd be your own support. In the case of Retail, you get support from Microsoft, though I don't really think that's worth much as their support leaves a lot to be desired. Assuming you have some type of Windows license around, you could purchase an upgrade copy of Windows 7.

 

[Petey7]

To answer another one of your questions, the retail copies come in two varieties, upgrade and full. The full copy can be installed on any computer, provided it can run Windows 7. The upgrade version is meant for being installed on a computer that already has Vista or XP installed on it. This is meant to give customers that have recently (as is the past few years) paid for Windows a break in the cost. The only difference is, if you don't have a copy of Windows previously installed, you will run into problems activating a clean install with an upgrade disc. There are ways around those difficulties, but unless you already own a qualifying copy of Windows you are more or less stealing.

 

[gregrocker]

In the case of Retail, you get support from Microsoft, though I don't really think that's worth much as their support leaves a lot to be desired.

I am sorry to hear this. MS Tech Support during XP was so good they spent several entire overnights teaching me to clean up, web scan, clean reinstall, optimize, - a more practical education than I could get in school. I always felt that $99 retail copy of XP was worth far more than money.

Perhaps if people who have dealt with MS Tech Support recently could explain their experience in more depth then the MS reps who monitor these forums can help improve it.

 

[bobkn]

I'd like to know what the difference is between Windows 7 Home Premium OEM and just plain old Windows 7 Home Premium. I want to know because there is such a huge price difference..Also, why is Windows 7 Home Premium Family Package cheaper than FULL Windows 7 Home Premium? What does FULL mean? Does that mean if I buy Windows 7 Home Premium that doesn't say FULL I will be missing out on stuff?

You might want to read this:

Is it OK to use OEM Windows on your own PC? Don't ask Microsoft | ZDNet

(Apparently, someone who buys a "system builder" OEM copy of Win7 and installs it on his own PC is violating the license agreement. However, there's no enforcement of that, as far as I know.)

Aside from license agrrements, an OEM license is supposed to be forever tied to the PC it was initially installed on. (For "PC" read "motherboard".) However, I have heard of people persuading Microsoft to provide an activation code for a repaired PC, where the repair was a total replacement of the hardware with different components. I've never done that.

The "family pack" was a Win7 Home Premium upgrade. The license that came with it could be used to legally activate as many as 3 PCs.

A copy with a full license can be installed on a PC with no OS. It's the most flexible and convenient version. Upgrades are intended to be installed on a PC that has a qualifying OS in place (XP or Vista). However, there are work-arounds for that:

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

I recommend following the license agreement, of course.

 

[jefhart]

I upgraded my motherboard, video card, and processor with a copy of OEM Premium and, after calling Microsoft and telling them my motherboard died, they gave me a new code to use and all was fine. OEM is way cheaper.

 

[Keiichi25]

If I remember correctly, OEM issue is more of 'proof' of license, more so for companies per say as a company is more likely to be prosecuted for License violations than going after most single users.

While technically, a single user or home user should be using the Retail version, the simple fact is, OEM intention was just to 'live and die' with the machine it is put on. The only real benefit of Retail version is that it is just a license that you can put on any machine, but intended only for 1 machine at a time.

So when the machine with the OEM license dies, that license should, ideally, no longer be valid because it was with that machine. You legally cannot 'transfer' that license over to another machine (IE: If I had a Win 7 OEM license on one machine, that machine dies and I scrap it, I can't install Win 7 on another machine, like a Vista or older XP machine that can handle Win 7 and say I can because I had a license).

Again, that is targeted more towards companies, where they buy several machines of a stock build, probably with XP or Vista, get one machine with Windows 7 and then start imaging it onto one of their stock build machines just cause someone trashed the one Windows Machine. It is also to encourage businesses to purchase the Software Assurance Volume Licensing and maintain the software assurance costs to do mass imaging/building for corporate side, not pretend to shuffle around a license.

 

[gregrocker]

I upgraded my motherboard, video card, and processor with a copy of OEM Premium and, after calling Microsoft and telling them my motherboard died, they gave me a new code to use and all was fine. OEM is way cheaper.

This cannot be counted upon in other cases. If MS is making an exception to the EULA, it can only be considered an exception.

Have now seen four reports of this in the past year but I would not buy OEM because of it unless they change the EULA. Reports are that they are tightening the OEM EULA requirements to apply to System Builders only as originally intended.

One previous case gave the impression that they excepted mobo change because they were told it was installed to wrong machine in error. They can check how long it was activated on their end.

 

[DeaconFrost]

It is plain and simple, and easy to find, the differences between OEM and Retail, and has been covered in depth on these forums and others for years.

However, the gray area is the interpretation. I am the system builder, I provide my own support, so I should be okay to use OEM. That's in debate now, as the rules are being tightened. You also can technically get an OEM license reactivated after upgrading the computer, but you'd be inviolation of the EULA, so take that as you wish.

My general thoughts are this. If you are planning to use it on the same computer for years to come, and usually buy a new OS with each new computer purchase, you'd be fine with OEM. If you upgrade often, and plan to keep using Windows 7 through the upgrades, get retail. Besides, there are other legit ways of obtaining Windows 7 retail without paying the full blown price for one single license.

As for the Microsoft support, the reason why people don't go to Microsoft is that you have to pay for each incident, where as you can usually find the same answers through forum boards or quick searching. No one, as a home customer, should ever need to contact Microsoft support for anything other than an activation issue. Corporate customers are a different boat, so my comments don't apply.

 

[pparks1]

However, the gray area is the interpretation. I am the system builder, I provide my own support, so I should be okay to use OEM.

Actually there isn't much grey area at all. According to the Microsoft licensing terms, for the OEM version
1). You MUST sell the computer to an unrelated third party
2). The OS must be installed using the OPK (OEM Preinstallation Kit)

Here is what Microsoft says (Licensing for Hobbyists)

There is a growing market for "do-it-yourself" home PC hobbyists who assemble PCs from components for their own use. Microsoft retail software licenses are the appropriate licenses for the do-it-yourself market. OEM System Builder software is not intended for this use, unless the PC that is assembled is being resold to another party.

So I would say that Microsoft is extremely clear that we aren't intended to use this on your own home computer. For this reason, I do not use, suggest or endorse using OEM licenses. I think it's more appropriate to use Technet which has it's own grey area...but doesn't seem to be as specific as this at this point.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I would normally agree with you, except for one point. If I can walk in to my local Microsoft and purchase a Windows 7 System BUilders OEM license, without any other hardware, I'm taking that to mean the restrictions are somewhat lax. Once those license are pulled, or are required to be purchased with hardware again, I'd consider it legit to use at home on one PC and only one PC.

TechNet could be another option, assuming the computer and license won't be resold or given away, but TechNet also has restrictions, and I'm honestly waiting for the day the prices jump up quite a bit to discourage home users from buying TechNet...which is not the intended audience. However, in keeping with my previous comment, as long as any average joe can click onto the TechNet subscription and buy without any proof of IT career, etc....then go for it.

 

[pparks1]

and I'm honestly waiting for the day the prices jump up quite a bit to discourage home users from buying TechNet...which is not the intended audience. However, in keeping with my previous comment, as long as any average joe can click onto the TechNet subscription and buy without any proof of IT career, etc....then go for it.

I'm always amazed that Technet is offered as cheaply as it is. Either that, or I am shocked that MS charges so much for the software at retail.

This is the one thing that irks me about MS software...there are so many different prices depending upon what program and loophole you take advantage of. Student versions, Technet, MSDN, etc.

I think it's pretty clear that Microsoft doesn't intend home users to use Technet...as it's for "testing"....but then again they don't check for it, nor have any way to determine what you define as "testing".

But like I said, I don't recommend, endorse or use OEM licenses anymore. MS is clear they don't want me to. It's either pay retail or get another free OS.

 

[Mellon Head]

I agree with pparks1 on this one, but I have one suggestion for Microsoft if they want to eliminate any ambiguity in the OEM licensing:

Pull the OEM copies from computer retailer's shelves. As mentioned, as long as I. or anyone else can pop down to the local computer shop and pick up an OEM copy without a hardware purchase, the "abuse" of the license will continue. Fact.

 

[pparks1]

yes, if consumers cannot buy OEM, don't sell it to us. Maybe require a tax payer ID or something else for business purposes.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Even non tech-savvy people can walk into a MicroCenter, see a huge Windows 7 display, with System Builder OEM copies on the shelves of the display. No hardware is required. I had two co-workers build PCs and wanted them as low cost as possible, but still legal, so I had them both pick up a copy there. I'm not disagreeing with the rules and EULA, etc....but if Microsoft doesn't want people using them for their own computers, they shouldn't be readily available.

 

[gregrocker]

yes, if consumers cannot buy OEM, don't sell it to us. Maybe require a tax payer ID or something else for business purposes.

I wonder if these reports of MS allowing mobo changes on OEM are surfacing now because they decided to sell OEM openly via retail without a hardware purchase.

They are under such an avalanche of lawsuits and court judgments that selling something retail which is restricted in such a way that its value could dissolve by mistake may be deemed too legally risky. It would need huge warning labels that obscure the airy hummingbird

 

[pparks1]

it's just a case of Microsoft doing whatever they can to make a buck. Sure, they want to make people think it's not appropriate so that the informed person buys the more expensive version...but they want the cheaper version there for the person who is willing to pay X for the software rather than Y.