OEM vs Retail

Conor4011

Honorable
Feb 18, 2013
85
0
10,660
I understand that OEM is locked to your motherboard and does not come handy with Microsoft support, but from what I hear you can install it on a new Motherboard and then call Microsoft and said your old one died and they give you another activation code for free.

So, is it worth the extra $100 for the non hassle of Retail?
 
Solution
What happens is that automatic activation would fail and once in windows you have to try activating again but telling it to use the phone method. You call and give them a code that is 6 numbers x 9 fields long. After a little time they will give you a activation code of the same length. The license will then be attached to the current system.

Note: I have had to do this the last couple times I re-installed Windows 7 due to upgrading to SSHD's and I have the family upgrade retail pack.
What happens is that automatic activation would fail and once in windows you have to try activating again but telling it to use the phone method. You call and give them a code that is 6 numbers x 9 fields long. After a little time they will give you a activation code of the same length. The license will then be attached to the current system.

Note: I have had to do this the last couple times I re-installed Windows 7 due to upgrading to SSHD's and I have the family upgrade retail pack.
 
Solution