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Thread ID: 143845	2017-04-24 21:59:00	Using Product Keys queries.	Bryan (147)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1434525	2017-04-25 23:59:00	Now I'm curious about how this OEM is meant to work... I understand that when you buy laptops, desktops and tablets from manufacturers such as Dell, HP etc the key is (by the nature of it coming from an actual manufacturer) not tranferable....I would assume that every such license key issued through the likes of Dell, HP etc is "registered" somehow with MS so they'd have a record of it. Where things get interesting in my mind is that if OEM license keys are by defintion specifically for "system manufacturers" why can you buy an OEM disk from a retail store? Surely that defeats the purpose of "trying" to restrict the use of such keys to groups which manufacture systems in bulk. I have over the years upgraded my hardware and then simply (rightly or wrongly) re-installed my OEM OS, I did it with Windows XP, 7 and 8 and I have never been told by MS when on the phone with them to re-activate the OS that what I was doing was illegal or piracy? Hnece my confusion given the info contained in this thread... It occurs to me that the OEM discs we can buy in retail stores aren't "registered" in the same way they are for the big manufacturers which as far as I'm concerned means by that very fact it can be transferred from one system to another as long as that key is in use on one machine and one machine only. I doubt even MS would think that restricting these "Retail" OEM dics makes any kind of sense, it seems excessive and quite frankly would be a pain in the butt to try and manage. As per my previous post I have done this many times with legally purchased OS software and have contacted MS when the need arose to re-activate the OS when it was previously installed on a different machine. I personally have not had any issues with this process which tells me that using a "retail" OEM disc (i.e. one which WAS NOT bundled with a computer system/laptop etc.) means it is perfectly legal to do... I mean after all if MS don't hassle you when you ring them then surely it is legitimate. I don't mean to turn this into a big argument.... I'm just speaking from my own experiences which is how I arrived at my understanding that this practice in certain scenarios (as described above)is perfectly legal and does not constitute piracy. I will await the expert opinions.... I am certainly curious as to what the "Official" word is on this. Cheers,	chiefnz (545)
1434526	2017-04-26 00:52:00	OEM is intended for system builders and is cheaper because MS don't offer the same level of free support they do for the full retail version. Instead they expect you to go back to the system builder for any issues. It is intended to be bundled with a PC and tied with the hardware just like the branded machines you mentioned. Where it becomes interesting is you are allowed to be your own system builder and use the OEM version and be your own tech support. I always bought OEM and always sold it with the hardware until very recently. The price difference to the full retail version is almost non existent these days unlike in the past so now I buy the retail version which is transferable legally. Despite your experiences OEM is not meant to be transferred. There is one weird quirk though, MS changed the OEM agreement on Windows 8 to allow it to be transferred, then from 8.1 onwards changed it back. I'm not sure what that means for people who upgraded.	dugimodo (138)
1434527	2017-04-26 01:00:00	Over the years the licencing has changed often, but In a nutshell, OEM Licenses are tied to the first motherboard on which they are activated. It clearly states this. It also states it in the licence agreements you click "I Agree" to when installing. Retail is normally more expensive and can be transferred. Read the Computer Software Section: en.wikipedia.org Manufactures like HP< Dell etc, use a specific Key, this cant be used to activate in the event of a reinstall. In the past they also put a different key on the Computer, this is the key that MS tell you to use should you need to do a reinstall and have no recovery Media. Eg: HDD fails or no recovery DVD's made. These days when you buy a New Computer ( prebuilt like a laptop) the keys are embedded in the motherboard, so in the event of a reinstall, or New HDD, its picked up automatically as long as the media you are using is the correct media. If the motherboard Dies -- your licence goes with it. As for the shops selling OEM-- Well really they are meant to make sure you buy the correct hardware as well, many don't. As the writing on this W7 OEM packet Cleary states: 8015 Microsoft will usually reactivate if you call them and explain what you are doing, unless its like one idiot I had to sort out one day - He told Microsoft he had downloaded a W7 Professional torrent from pirate bay and it contained the key, now it won't activate. Welllllll Durhhhhhhhhhhhh.:groan:	wainuitech (129)
1434528	2017-04-26 01:28:00	Re-using OEM COA keys on another PC is piracy. Its that simple . . It's not that simple. It's the one I have always disagreed with. It's there to satisfy Microsofts greed. An OEM license is still paid for and legal. Just because MS says you must throw it away the minute you change a component in your PC doesn't make it right.	pctek (84)
1434529	2017-04-26 02:51:00	It's not quite that bad pctek, not sure about 8/10 but previously there were 10 points assigned to various hardware devices and you could change up to 4 of them without issue . I remember a few - cpu = 1, gpu = 1, nic = 2, and so on . Also once you change a part once without reactivation issues you can change that same part as often as you like, it only counts the first time . Some parts don't count at all . Also as already mentioned you can always ring them and explain if you have a legitimate issue . As to the price difference, not so much anymore . Just looked at pp . co . nz OEM Windows 10 $166, retail Windows 10 on USB, same exact price . Pro is a bit more expensive but not that much . I think MS finally realised almost nobody was buying retail due to the large price difference .	dugimodo (138)
1434530	2017-04-26 03:50:00	It's not quite that bad pctek As to the price difference, not so much anymore. Just looked at pp.co.nz OEM Windows 10 $166, retail Windows 10 on USB, same exact price. . I haven't bought a PC since 1998, so I've done it a few times. New HDD, new MB. Hmmm .. .. or MS just decided to up the OEM price too. OEM on my supplier for Home is $129	pctek (84)
1434531	2017-04-26 04:07:00	Just because MS says you must throw it away the minute you change a component in your PC doesn't make it right. Errrrrrrr NO. The main component change was always the Motherboard. If it was still within the manufactures warranty MS didn't question it at all. Also at the time as its been mentioned, OEM was a LOT cheaper than Retail. The Cheaper OEM was tied to the original Motherboard, where as the Retail wasn't. Looking at one of MY suppliers, the Retail Home of W10 is actually Now cheaper than OEM, so why would anyone even bother with OEM.	wainuitech (129)
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