ricklen

hi mates,

Well now I am running Windows XP OEM. This version was first installed on an other pc and I removed it from that one and installed it on this one without any problems about different motherboard or something.
Somebody I know was also able to reinstall Windows Vista OEM on another motherboard without any problems.

Now everyone says that it isn't possible to reinstall windows 7 OEM on another motherboard so I have to buy the Retail version wich is expensive, or can I just reinstall Windows 7 OEM on a new motherboard just like my Windows XP OEM?

thx.

Conley

According to the EULA, you can't install the OEM version on another motherboard, just like with XP.

However, Windows is very lax about this. If you install 7 on your new rig, you'll be fine.

__________________

UndertheGun

Just because you can does not mean legal. It is not allowed to do what you talk of. Can it be done? Sure but if it can't you will have to lay out some cash.

And now for the morality speech............................................ ...and so I am sure you understand. Have a great day.

ricklen

well I just want to install windows 7 on this pc and maybe upgrade to i7/i9 in the future (next year). should I go OEM or retail?

sillymansam

OEM means that the os is dedicated by "law" to one drive. meaning you can't take the oem copy from one HDD to another, but you can take that HDD from one mobo to another.

buying the license version will let you install it on any amount of hdds but i think you can't have it on more than one(?) at a time, i haven't read the license agreements in a long time. windows 7 oem just means they got better and stopping their customer from using their product they please. same thing with people making hackintosh, snow leopard will not work on anything other than a "new" licensed apple machine.

__________________
Steam: sillymansam






"60% of the time, all the time."

"What's butphor?'......'poopin silly."

Conley

I don't advocate breaking the law either, but Windows is seriously VERY lax about this. Some people have had OEM Windows not install when going to a new rig, so they called Microsoft and told them what was going on. MS re-enabled the keys for them.

__________________

UndertheGun

With what you say if you are going to have to spend money I would get retail. If you change MoBo allowed to install. You can move it with you. And not that I have ever used but you would get M$ support.

UndertheGun

Sillymansam you got it wrong. It is not the HDD it is tied to it is the MoBo. Not a guess.

ricklen

so (most of times) I can reinstall windows 7 OEM on a new mobo without problems ?

Murlocke

This should not be discussed on OCN. We have a rather strict policy about this.

Microsoft's policy states that OEM is for one computer. Swapping out the motherboard, or 3 other parts will consider it a "new computer" and you will not be able to activate it again without lying to microsoft.

__________________