If you are talking about Windows, then basically, once an OEM version is installed on a system, it is locked to that specific system, while retail is transferable. However, you can usually call Microsoft and get an OEM version reactivated.
Difference between OEM/Retail versions?
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Your sig drives my OCD nuts lol.
Thanks all for your help everyone, I get it now.
Originally Posted by The Master Chief  [...] |
Thanks all for your help everyone, I get it now.
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What?
Originally Posted by jcichetti Your sig drives my OCD nuts lol. Thanks all for your help everyone, I get it now. |
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OEM is intended for manufacturers and even individuals who are building computers and selling them to people with Windows pre-installed on that computer. So this means that the customer must depend on the manufacturer (or their friend) for support, not Microsoft (so if you build it and install it, then you depend on yourself for support).
Also, we are not allowed to do the following with OEM:
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I almost wanted to say "are you sure?" But if they help you, then it's legitimate.
With Retail, it's different: you call Microsoft for support. You can also install it on a system, retire that system, get a new system and install it on that new system. You can do this as many times as you want.
But there's something consistent between both OEM and Retail: a Product Key cannot be activated on 2 or more systems at the same time. If you activate a Product Key, and then give it to a friend who activates it on his system, then your installation of Windows gets de-activated. This is because Windows is regularly checking to see if it's still genuine.
That is all.
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Originally Posted by jcichetti One is for system builders and the other is for 'regular' people? I am not quite sure, what are the differences between these versions? Thanks |
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Originally Posted by jcichetti Yes, I am talking about Windows (7). Thanks. So does that mean if I had the retail version I could put in both of my systems and run them simultaneously? Or only one at a time? Kind of like a steam account where you can download all your games and have them on different computers but only one user can play with them at a time? Wouldn't the OEM key work the same way? |
Also, we are not allowed to do the following with OEM:
- Install it on a system.
- Retire that system (recycle it, destroy it, etc.)
- Install it on the new system which is replacing the old one.
With Retail, it's different: you call Microsoft for support. You can also install it on a system, retire that system, get a new system and install it on that new system. You can do this as many times as you want.
But there's something consistent between both OEM and Retail: a Product Key cannot be activated on 2 or more systems at the same time. If you activate a Product Key, and then give it to a friend who activates it on his system, then your installation of Windows gets de-activated. This is because Windows is regularly checking to see if it's still genuine.
That is all.
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Your 24th smiley appears as : ) instead of
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Yeah OCD.
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Thanks TwoCables
Originally Posted by The Master Chief What? |
Yeah OCD.
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Originally Posted by TwoCables OEM is intended for manufacturers and even individuals who are building computers and selling them to people with Windows pre-installed on that computer. So this means that the customer must depend on the manufacturer (or their friend) for support, not Microsoft (so if you build it and install it, then you depend on yourself for support). Also, we are not allowed to do the following with OEM:
With Retail, it's different: you call Microsoft for support. You can also install it on a system, retire that system, get a new system and install it on that new system. You can do this as many times as you want. But there's something consistent between both OEM and Retail: a Product Key cannot be activated on 2 or more systems at the same time. If you activate a Product Key, and then give it to a friend who activates it on his system, then your installation of Windows gets de-activated. This is because Windows is regularly checking to see if it's still genuine. That is all.
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Are you saying that it bugs you even though you know that he did it on purpose?
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You're welcome!
Originally Posted by jcichetti Your 24th smiley appears as : ) instead of
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Originally Posted by jcichetti Thanks TwoCables |
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