Windows 10 OEM???

[Redrooster]

Okay, so I plan on buying a legitimate copy of Windows 10 for my first SSD. On Amazon I saw that the installation key for Windows 10 home is $125, I also saw something that was called a Windows 10 home OEM key that was only $105. What's the difference between the two and should I just get the OEM?

[Princess Luna]

The OEM key was sold to a big company such as DELL and was supposed to be included on a prebuild.

 

Technically buying an OEM key instead of a retail one is as wrong as pirating it, so there's that...

[Dedayog]

1 minute ago, Redrooster said:

Okay, so I plan on buying a legitimate copy of Windows 10 for my first SSD. On Amazon I saw that the installation key for Windows 10 home is $125, I also saw something that was called a Windows 10 home OEM key that was only $105. What's the difference between the two and should I just get the OEM?

If you're only changing drives, you don't need a new key.  They're locked to Motherboards.

 

Besides, if you do infact need one, get one off the myriad grey sites for like $10-$15.

[Aimi]

I'm pretty sure you can't get support if you use an OEM key.

[Redrooster]

5 minutes ago, jstudrawa said:

Besides, if you do infact need one, get one off the myriad grey sites for like $10-$15.

How is that possible? Are they legitimate?

[kirashi]

16 minutes ago, Redrooster said:

Okay, so I plan on buying a legitimate copy of Windows 10 for my first SSD. On Amazon I saw that the installation key for Windows 10 home is $125, I also saw something that was called a Windows 10 home OEM key that was only $105. What's the difference between the two and should I just get the OEM?

14 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

The OEM key was sold to a big company such as DELL and was supposed to be included on a prebuild.

 

Technically buying an OEM key instead of a retail one is as wrong as pirating it, so there's that...

 

Um... no. System builders can actually buy OEM keys for around $100 - this includes people that build PCs, such as any of us on the forum. What's illegal is purchasing an OEM key that came with an OEM system from Dell, HP, Acer, etc. for the lowly price of $5 or $10 from unauthorized dealers. Buying a legitimate OEM key from Amazon or Newegg is fine, but does limit your ability to move it from PC to PC since it's only meant to activate on the Original Equipment from the Manufacturer (the system builder) itself.

 

@Redrooster if you're planning to change out the motherboard or replace the PC, I'd recommend a retail copy of Windows 10 so that you can move it to another PC down the road. I would strongly advise against supporting the grey market land of $5 keys because 1) it's illegal and 2) while a key might work for now, there's absolutely no guarantees you won't have to purchase a 2nd, then a 3rd, then a 4th key later if Microsoft decides to deactivate them. @Aimi does raise a valid point regarding different support levels between Retail and OEM keys, so you may want to research that too.

[Teddy07]

6 minutes ago, Redrooster said:

How is that possible? Are they legitimate?

It is legal to buy OEM keys. I bought multiple ones for Windows 10 and office from ebay for 5 € and they still work perfectly after years.

[Fasauceome]

Is there a specific reason you'd like a windows key? Not to make fun or anything but there's not a whole lot a license gives you.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

2 minutes ago, kirashi said:

 

What's illegal is purchasing an OEM key that came with an OEM system from Dell, HP, Acer, etc.

To be precise, what's illegal is selling an OEM key that came with an OEM system from Dell, HP, Acer, etc. (or at the very least a violation of a license of sorts).

[kirashi]

9 minutes ago, SpaceGhostC2C said:

To be precise, what's illegal is selling an OEM key that came with an OEM system from Dell, HP, Acer, etc. (or at the very least a violation of a license of sorts).

Using an OEM key on another system than the one it was intended for is also illegal, as it's a violation of the EULA. Now, whether or not these things would hold up in court has yet to be proven to the fullest extent, so of course, no one's going to jail for this, but it doesn't change the fact that it's still a legal breach of contract.

[GoodBytes]

26 minutes ago, Redrooster said:

Okay, so I plan on buying a legitimate copy of Windows 10 for my first SSD. On Amazon I saw that the installation key for Windows 10 home is $125, I also saw something that was called a Windows 10 home OEM key that was only $105. What's the difference between the two and should I just get the OEM?

You have 4 types of licenses

• Retail / Upgrade
• OEM
• System Builder OEM (just called OEM)
• Volume License

Only System Builder OEM and Retail / Upgrade is purchasable in store.

 

Volume License is for companies wanted to get a large bulk purchase of licenses of Windows. Thsi requires Windows Server to be purcahsed and setup as well. The edition they get is Windows 10 Enterprise.

 

OEM This is the license that Dell, Acer, Lenovo, etc, has access (Microsoft partners). The pricing depends on the price of the system, size, and other category. And they have the responsibility to store the key in the UEFI. This license is not transferable. It is locked on the system.

 

Retail/Upgrade. Upgrade is Retail license, and will convert a OEM license to Retail if you use teh Upgrade. So if you had WIndows 7 OEM, say, and you get WIndows 10 Upgrade, it is like if you got Windows 10 Retail. Retail license gets you the nice box, manual, and basic support form Microsoft to help you upgrade or clean install, and get you started in help in navigating the OS. This license is transferable.

 

System Builder OEM (also refeered as OEM), is the designed for small companies or individuals who build a computer themselves and sales it to someone (which can be yourself). This license gives you WIndows, but that is all. No fancy box, no manual, no getting started support. This license is not transferable. It locks on the motherboard it is first activated on.

[Redrooster]

1 hour ago, fasauceome said:

Is there a specific reason you'd like a windows key? Not to make fun or anything but there's not a whole lot a license gives you.

Im tired of seeing that Activate Windows watermark, but i like Windows 10

[LogicalDrm]

14 hours ago, Teddy07 said:

It is legal to buy OEM keys. I bought multiple ones for Windows 10 and office from ebay for 5 € and they still work perfectly after years.

14 hours ago, SpaceGhostC2C said:

To be precise, what's illegal is selling an OEM key that came with an OEM system from Dell, HP, Acer, etc. (or at the very least a violation of a license of sorts).

 

Legal/illegal is wrong terminology. There's nothing in laws that would say selling/buying things meant for another purpose is against something. It violates software/service ToS, but there's nothing to be done in legal sense. Piracy is selling/distributing something without ever having intention to pay for it to creator. Grey market is selling something without paying tax for it. Thats the actual definition. In software it usually means that seller may or may not have paid full price and may or may not be violating ToS they agreed upon when purchasing what they are selling.

[Redrooster]

4 hours ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

 

Legal/illegal is wrong terminology. There's nothing in laws that would say selling/buying things meant for another purpose is against something. It violates software/service ToS, but there's nothing to be done in legal sense. Piracy is selling/distributing something without ever having intention to pay for it to creator. Grey market is selling something without paying tax for it. Thats the actual definition. In software it usually means that seller may or may not have paid full price and may or may not be violating ToS they agreed upon when purchasing what they are selling.

So the people selling the oems could possibly be breaking the rules?

[LogicalDrm]

3 minutes ago, Redrooster said:

So the people selling the oems could possibly be breaking the rules?

Some of those who sell it under MSRP, yes. MSRP being what you see on Amazon, ~$100USD. My OEM key is from known retailer and I paid €90 for it back in the day. But if you see someone selling keys for $5, you can say they aren't all just for charity. As one doesn't sell things at loss.