Difference between Windows 7 OEM and a pirated copy

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#607907 11-Apr-2012 15:29

almaznz: if you purchased the OEM for a single machine, then you can install it on that machine with no worries, if the hard drive died and then you replaced said harddrive and reinstalled then you need to ring to get the activation going again. it is only if you purchased the OEM wanting to put it onto two seperate machines at the same time where you may run into issues. but even then i don't think microsoft will be sending in the heavy guns for that

Don't quote me on this but I suspect if you tried to install the OEM or any release on more than one machine then the second time you tried to activate it, it might not let you? Or maybe it's a sort of VLK version?

There seem to be several flavours of OEM licences. We often buy PC's in bulk and each has an OEM sticker on them with a different serial number. But on closer examination the serial number on the box is not what is actually installed with Windows and from the same vendor, we find the same serial number on all of the machines we bought.

Then when I want to just buy a full copy or upgrade copy of Windows for a existing hardware I just use a VLK which has a maximum number of activations attached to it (I think ours is about 100 x the number of staff we have) and just tell our LAR to bill us for the additional copies purchased.

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Lurch

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#607908 11-Apr-2012 15:29

To be honest you have the media you have the key, install and move on.

trig42

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#607909 11-Apr-2012 15:29

If you do 'significantly' change the hardware in your machine, it will ask to be reactivated. This is normally a simple process of clicking OK on your internet enabled PC and letting it do it automatically. If this reactivation happens a short amount of time after the previous activation, you may have to call the 0800 number and tell them you replaced said part (and if it's a motherboardd, that may also be CPU, RAM, HDD... - MS don't care, they will give you a code over the phone and away you go again).

I have sucessfully reactivated after about 1 year without a phone call.

Lias

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#607913 11-Apr-2012 15:33

MS may well let you reactivate an OEM copy on a new motherboard, but the license says they won't. So if they ever do refuse to let you reactivate on a new motherboard you don't have any comeback.

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sidefx

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#607914 11-Apr-2012 15:33

Hmm, interesting read:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/is-it-ok-to-use-oem-windows-on-your-own-pc-dont-ask-microsoft/1561?tag=col1;post-1561

Personally I've always used OEM on my self-built machines...

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almaznz

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#607916 11-Apr-2012 15:34

lchiu7:
almaznz: if you purchased the OEM for a single machine, then you can install it on that machine with no worries, if the hard drive died and then you replaced said harddrive and reinstalled then you need to ring to get the activation going again. it is only if you purchased the OEM wanting to put it onto two seperate machines at the same time where you may run into issues. but even then i don't think microsoft will be sending in the heavy guns for that

Don't quote me on this but I suspect if you tried to install the OEM or any release on more than one machine then the second time you tried to activate it, it might not let you? Or maybe it's a sort of VLK version?

There seem to be several flavours of OEM licences. We often buy PC's in bulk and each has an OEM sticker on them with a different serial number. But on closer examination the serial number on the box is not what is actually installed with Windows and from the same vendor, we find the same serial number on all of the machines we bought.

Then when I want to just buy a full copy or upgrade copy of Windows for a existing hardware I just use a VLK which has a maximum number of activations attached to it (I think ours is about 100 x the number of staff we have) and just tell our LAR to bill us for the additional copies purchased.

in situations where we have had an OEM machine die (which was not an HP etc) and had to replace a harddrive etc, we would use the OEM key, and install sometimes it would not activate and we would need to call the 0800 number to get a new activation code, yet othertimes they would activate quite happily with the automatic activation wizzard

mattwnz

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#607920 11-Apr-2012 15:36

Lias: MS may well let you reactivate an OEM copy on a new motherboard, but the license says they won't. So if they ever do refuse to let you reactivate on a new motherboard you don't have any comeback.

Although what happens if the motherboard fails under warranty, and you install a new one, perhaps with different specs. Not sure if the motherboard manufacturer would also pay for a new windows license, as that would be a consequential loss.

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sidefx

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#607929 11-Apr-2012 15:58

mattwnz:
Although what happens if the motherboard fails under warranty, and you install a new one, perhaps with different specs.

This is why I doubt MS ever will enforce it - it would be a nightmare for OEMs supporting their hardware...

If you're building your own machine, installing Windows yourself and prepared to "support" it yourself I really don't see an issue with using an OEM version. Perhaps what would be nice if MS perhaps created a new "hobbyist" version of some kind to fulfill this sort of scenario...

PS: Breaching an EULA isn't necessarily the same as breaking the law... whereas pirating most certainly is.

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Lias

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#607968 11-Apr-2012 18:23

It you replace it with an identical model board, it should work.. In theory :-P

th3r3turn

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#607969 11-Apr-2012 18:38

Install Windows 8 CP for the mean time.

mattwnz

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#607973 11-Apr-2012 18:45

sidefx:
mattwnz:
Although what happens if the motherboard fails under warranty, and you install a new one, perhaps with different specs.

This is why I doubt MS ever will enforce it - it would be a nightmare for OEMs supporting their hardware...

If you're building your own machine, installing Windows yourself and prepared to "support" it yourself I really don't see an issue with using an OEM version.? Perhaps what would be nice if MS perhaps created a new "hobbyist" version of some kind to fulfill this sort of scenario...

PS: Breaching an EULA isn't necessarily the same as breaking the law... whereas pirating most certainly is.

I think OEM is sort of the hobby version. I think the current system is working for MS and it's customers. I mean I haven't heard of anyone who has had any real trouble with licenses once they have rung MS to sort it out.

jtbthatsme

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#607980 11-Apr-2012 19:00

Your fine to install it as many have stated if you try to put it on two machines at once then it won't let you. If you have a hardware failure big or small and it asks to reactivate it will either do it automatically or you call MS and say I've replaced a part they give you a number and your up and running again. It really is that easy they will let you do that at least once or twice. I've put OEM versions on completely different machines before and all they asked is whether or not I had bought the item and or upgraded some hardware. The answer was simply yes I had it was first used on a PC and then I popped on a Laptop so there was never any doubt that any of the hardware was going to match.

Like you and others have stated too the fact that you were not required to buy a hardware item is the sellers problem as they're the ones breaking their purchasing agreement not you.

Install it and activate it if you need to ring them who cares it's simply not a big thing I just think people get worried that if they have to ring MS then they're going top be heavily scrutinised or worse. You paid for it fair and square and a first time install should never require you to call MS anyway.

lucky015

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#608012 11-Apr-2012 20:16

th3r3turn: Install Windows 8 CP for the mean time.

Perfectly decent solution.

Microsoft staff are simply trained to reactivate pretty much anything that isn't obviously pirated unless you give them a reason not to (Completely different machine for OEM copies, etc) It is much simpler for them to do that than to fuss about every copy and then be concerned with claims from people who did have a valid reason to reactivate.

Microsoft also however leave themselves a large number of loopholes in their EULA to invalidate peoples copies at their own discretion, Everyone including Major OEM's is generally breaking one of their rules however it comes down to discretion to allow them to proceed.

And at the end of the day Microsoft get to write the EULA, Not the Law, And their EULA could be considered enough to make their OS considered unfit for any purpose sold in NZ.

Poses the question if you are always in breach why should you bother paying in the first place doesn't it?

hagfish

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#608018 11-Apr-2012 20:49

Many thanks for your thoughtful and helpful replies.

I manned-up and installed it. From go to woah, it took less time than the spuds took to boil. Pretty impressive. I'll cross the reactivation bridge if/when I come to it.

trig42

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#608133 12-Apr-2012 09:49

hagfish: Many thanks for your thoughtful and helpful replies.

I manned-up and installed it. From go to woah, it took less time than the spuds took to boil. Pretty impressive. I'll cross the reactivation bridge if/when I come to it.

It is a pretty painless install. It doesn't hurt to check all your drivers are up to date from the manufacturer after the install, but Windows7 installs pretty much all the drivers during install, especially if your hardware isn't 'bleeding-edge'.

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