Reply to: Windows 7 upgrade

[Spacecadet]

Maybe that comment was a bit OTT, but unless you have bought a new computer that comes with OEM software or a series of internal components (e.g. motherboard) with the OEM license system builders are not legally allowed to sell it to you by the terms of their agreement with MS.

That should by proxy make it a license you are not legally supposed to have and I suspect MS would be quite happy to revoke it and demand payment for a "real" license if they find out.

Of course IANAL etc.

You can buy the OEM version from Amazon

The most official answer I could find is from Microsoft social answers:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...5-e48d46509d05

- OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel

- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on

- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard

- OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system

By upgrade they seem to mean, installing windows 7 over an old version of windows.
So if you do a completely fresh install, i.e. reformatting the disk in the process then you are ok

[Ardesco]

Since when??

The only difference I know of is that

1. there is no support, the OEM (in this case you) is supposed to give all end user support.
2. The installation cannot be transferred to another machine

Given that I have never had any recourse to use MS Support and any new hardware I buy would probably come with windows 7 installed anyway, buying the OEM version makes sense.

Maybe that comment was a bit OTT, but unless you have bought a new computer that comes with OEM software or a series of internal components (e.g. motherboard) with the OEM license system builders are not legally allowed to sell it to you by the terms of their agreement with MS.

That should by proxy make it a license you are not legally supposed to have and I suspect MS would be quite happy to revoke it and demand payment for a "real" license if they find out.

Of course IANAL etc.

[Halcyon]

Thanks for this PAH, good info.

As long as you go through the windows activation process

ah the good old windows activation process; fine if you can do it over the net, but I mainly use the MAP licenses on virtual machines with no internet connectity - just enter this handy 87 digit code into the keypad of your phone and then enter the 962 digit code that we read back to you at the speed of a bullet train. woe betide you if you make a mistake...

[PAH]

So what happens after a year? I was thinking of getting a new laptop with Vista on as they're being knocked out fairly cheaply, and upgrading to Win 7 from the action pack - will the licence expire and start flashing messages saying that it isn't a legal copy then begin failing?

R

As long as you go through the windows activation process before the action pack licence expires it will activate without a problem.

Legally you're not supposed to continue using the licence once the action pack expires but it won't suddenly stop working.

Alternatively you may still be able to get a discounted Windows 7 Family Pack, which contains 3 licences and handy if you have more than one windows device you may want to upgrade.

[xoggoth]

If you have old stuff that is ok in XP but does not work with Win 7 or Vista this free MS download may help. You may need to change the BIOS settings.

Windows Virtual PC:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/vir...c/default.aspx

[Spacecadet]

1. Not legal if you didn't buy it with a new machine (may as well Warez it)

Since when??

The only difference I know of is that

1. there is no support, the OEM (in this case you) is supposed to give all end user support.
2. The installation cannot be transferred to another machine

Given that I have never had any recourse to use MS Support and any new hardware I buy would probably come with windows 7 installed anyway, buying the OEM version makes sense.

[Halcyon]

I personally have given up on OEM now and just subscribed to action pack. £199 to download all you need with 10 licenses on most things. yes it is only for a year, but if you are somebody who upgrades regulary quite worthwhile IMHO

So what happens after a year? I was thinking of getting a new laptop with Vista on as they're being knocked out fairly cheaply, and upgrading to Win 7 from the action pack - will the license expire and start flashing messages saying that it isn't a legal copy then begin failing?

R

[TykeMerc]

I found 2000 pretty decent. Don't think there will be any disagreement over ME and Vista anyway.

Same here, it was pretty solid in my experience. ME was a farce and Vista just plain bad.

Incidentally if you're doing a dual boot build then you need to be careful what order you install the operating systems as often the older one won't play the game if you install it second. This can make replacing one O/S with a newer version a pain in the nads.

That aside I'm very happy with 7 and I've now abandoned XP, I've had no real grief with drivers.

[VectraMan]

I found 95 far more stable than 3.11, and NT4 much better than either. 98, SE and ME were a step backwards for me, though I was running those on budget hardware.

It wasn't hard to be better than Windows 3.1. Pre-emptive multi tasking saw to that: in Windows 3.1 if one application hung so did the PC.

I used NT4 for years, then Windows 2000, both were very good. Remember they were the last of the "business" versions of Windows. It was with XP that they merged the two product lines, and told us there was the one OS for home and serious business users. I'm not sure there was really anything substantially better about XP over 2000 (other than having multiple users logged on perhaps); it seemed as much a make over than a new OS.

[VectraMan]

The OEM versions seem to be either 32-bit or 64-bit, but if you buy the retail version you get both (but not two licences).

[Sysman]

MS seems to get slightly more than every second Windows OS right on average, 3.1 good, 95 crap, 98 good, ME crap, 2000 good, XP good, Vista crap, win7 good. Watch out for Windows 8, chances are it will be awful.

I found 95 far more stable than 3.11, and NT4 much better than either. 98, SE and ME were a step backwards for me, though I was running those on budget hardware.

The consensus of opinion from the security bods I know seems to be that MS have improved security a great deal, especially if you switch off unnecessary services etc.

[Ardesco]

Apart from £50-£60, what are the implications of using the OEM version over the Retail version of Windows 7?

1. Not legal if you didn't buy it with a new machine (may as well Warez it)
2. If you change too many components in your machine it will deactivate itself
3. Not sure if you get the DVD in the OEM pack. I have a bunch of OEM Office 2007 and the OEM keys came in a separate packs with no DVD's. Luckily I can classify myself as a system builder since I build the servers used for plan B so I could also buy the install media.

I personally have given up on OEM now and just subscribed to action pack. £199 to download all you need with 10 licenses on most things. yes it is only for a year, but if you are somebody who upgrades regulary quite worthwhile IMHO

[Addanc]

Apart from £50-£60, what are the implications of using the OEM version over the Retail version of Windows 7?

[Durbs]

I found 2000 pretty decent.

Yeah, 2000 was pretty sluggish but rock solid stable and a good productive platform.

[xoggoth]

I found 2000 pretty decent. Don't think there will be any disagreement over ME and Vista anyway.