Windows 7 OEM

[striker1010]

I was just wondering, since OEMs are tied to the motherboard/hard drive of a computer, does this mean that if I ever decide to upgrade my system i.e. get a newer mother board, I will have to get ANOTHER copy of Windows?

 

 

[ckit]

yes, you will have to get another copy of Windows

[scaryjam823]

I was just wondering, since OEMs are tied to the motherboard/hard drive of a computer, does this mean that if I ever decide to upgrade my system i.e. get a newer mother board, I will have to get ANOTHER copy of Windows?

Most of the time technically yes, but in practice no. Microsoft knows people upgrade their computers and they help out us enthusiasts. Sometimes it will work straight away after a motherboard replacement, other times you might have to give them a call and explain the situation. 99% of the time they will help you out and let you re-validate your copy with them.

 

@ckit

99% of the time you don't.

[DestructiveMoss]

I was just wondering, since OEMs are tied to the motherboard/hard drive of a computer, does this mean that if I ever decide to upgrade my system i.e. get a newer mother board, I will have to get ANOTHER copy of Windows?

I dont think so, i upgraded my HDD to SSD and installed the windows on the SSD, it worked.

[scaryjam823]

I dont think so, i upgraded my HDD to SSD and installed the windows on the SSD, it worked.

The difference is Microsoft registers your major components to their system to prevent piracy/multiple copies being used at once. Your motherboard, cpu (possibly other components) are tied to your key. When you change those components it doesn't match what is registered with the key and wont validate. But as I said most of the time a call explaining what you did or saying your motherboard fried and you replaced it will get them to allow you to reactivate windows 99% of the time.

[DestructiveMoss]

The difference is Microsoft registers your major components to their system to prevent piracy/multiple copies being used at once. Your motherboard, cpu (possibly other components) are tied to your key. When you change those components it doesn't match what is registered with the key and wont validate. But as I said most of the time a call explaining what you did or saying your motherboard fried and you replaced it will get them to allow you to reactivate windows 99% of the time.

also, what does OEM stand for?

[scaryjam823]

also, what does OEM stand for?

Original equipment manufacturer

 

Basically an OEM copy is a one time use, you can't use the key multiple times with different systems like you can with a full key. Most of the time with builds oem is fine because you aren't reinstalling windows to different machines. It poses problems (sometimes) for us who upgrade a lot and want to keep our windows as long as possible. With a full version of windows you could use that key many times on different machines as long as they all aren't registered at once, meaning if you plan on upgrading often that breaks oem keys and having the version of windows you choose as long as possible  a full version may be better. However this is rarely the case, most drag their systems to the ground before they upgrade and those of us who don't aren't all that common. Which is why microsoft is generous and lets us reuse our oem keys when we upgrade.

[DestructiveMoss]

Original equipment manufacturer

 

Basically an OEM copy is a one time use, you can't use the key multiple times with different systems like you can with a full key. Most of the time with builds oem is fine because you aren't reinstalling windows to different machines. It poses problems (sometimes) for us who upgrade a lot and want to keep our windows as long as possible. With a full version of windows you could use that key many times on different machines as long as they all aren't registered at once, meaning if you plan on upgrading often that breaks oem keys and having the version of windows you choose as long as possible  a full version may be better. However this is rarely the case, most drag their systems to the ground before they upgrade and those of us who don't aren't all that common. Which is why microsoft is generous and lets us reuse our oem keys when we upgrade.

thanks for the info!

[scaryjam823]

thanks for the info!

Happy to help. Never be afraid to ask a question, nobody was born knowing this stuff. 

[LogicalDrm]

yes, you will have to get another copy of Windows

 

No... there are two kind of OEM copys. Branded ones are usually bound to one mobo and can't be used. There's always chance that they will work without problems. I've heard people claim so. Non-branded OEMs can be used with another mobo without any problems. I've done that with 2 licenses now.