Reusing Windows 8 OEM

AesisVanex

Honorable
Jan 22, 2014
56
0
10,630
I'm planning a new build and a huge chunk of my budget is taken up by paying for a new OS, something I really don't want to do. I'm currently using a prebuilt which came with Windows 8 installed, no disc or product key, it was just there and ready to go. From what I understand, it's the OEM version and it is tied to my mobo. But a friend was telling me I could do a "clean install" and if I were to put it into my new PC that Windows 8 should be there and should just work.
Is this true? If not, is there anyway to use the OEM version my prebuilt came with on a new system?
 

excursion

Honorable
Nov 9, 2013
32
0
10,560
OEM by the EULA microsoft places on the software means its for only that machine , if you build a new pc using all new parts then it will not work by those terms. however if you upgrade say a cpu and a graphics card only you can keep it, due to your allowed to upgrade the oem installed machine just not transfer the license .

my suggestion , build your new pc and use Ubuntu until you saved up the 99 bucks and purchase another oem version with a clean license.
 

Wolfshadw

Titan
Moderator
No system you purchase should ever come without a product key or at the very least, a recovery disk.

Microsoft has changed the licensing agreement for Windows 8 to state that the System Builder's OEM version is transferable to a new PC, but can only be installed in a single PC at a time. Ideally, you should be able to download the Windows 8 ISO (same version as is installed on your prebuilt) and install that onto your new system using the old system's product key. Again, the old system would have to be dismantled (formatted).

However, since you do not have a valid product key, excursion's recommendation is about your only recourse.

-Wolf sends