is my Windows 7 Professional OEM?

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

I got my HP computer with windows 7 home professional and i know that it is OEM.
But soon after that I installed Windows 7 Professional and i am just wondering whether my computer OS is still considered OEM.

USAFRet · Mar 2, 2014

Where and how did you obtain this second Win 7 Pro?

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

my uncle gave me a copy of windows 7 professional that he wasnt going to use

USAFRet · Mar 2, 2014

If you reinstalled with that Win 7 Pro, and it activated, then no....it is not still 'OEM'.

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

ok great. im thinking about upgrading my CPU, mobo and case, will this require me to buy a new copy of windows?

ex_bubblehead · Mar 2, 2014

If you're thinking about reusing the OEM copy that came preinstalled, stop, that license is tied to the first motherboard it was installed on and cannot be transferred to another. The copy that your uncle gave you, are you certain that it's a retail copy? Check the product ID on the computer properties dialog, if you see -OEM- in the string then you cannot now use that on another computer as it is now tied to the HP.

USAFRet · Mar 2, 2014

babachicken :

That depends on exactly what you uncle gave you.

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

it doesnt say OEM in the product key in my system properties

Phillip Corcoran · Mar 2, 2014

You won't need to buy a new copy of Windows if it's not OEM, but you will need to re-install it after changing the the mobo.

This is necessary in order for Windows Setup to familiarize itself with the new hardware and for it to create a new hardware-specific Product ID string in the Registry (which is read by the product activation process). This Product ID String can can only be created during the Windows Setup process.

USAFRet · Mar 2, 2014

babachicken :

Not the Product Key...the Product ID.

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

USAFRet :

sorry, i meant product ID, it doesnt say OEM it is just a string of numbers

ex_bubblehead · Mar 2, 2014

In that case you can go ahead and use it on the new build. However, you must remove it from the computer it is currently installed on first.

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

how do i do that? because i would think that all the OS data would be saved on the hard drive

ex_bubblehead · Mar 2, 2014

Back up your data and run a factory restore on the HP. Afterward, restore your data. Use the Windows Easy Transfer Wizard.

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

i am so confused.... would i need to backup to another harddrive?

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

and when i get my new motherboard do i have to put a product key in the bios or something?

ex_bubblehead · Mar 2, 2014

i am so confused.... would i need to backup to another harddrive?

If you don't want to lose your data, yes.

and when i get my new motherboard do i have to put a product key in the bios or something?

You install Windows normally, either giving the license key during install or waiting until after installation to activate. Either way you cannot have the same key in use on two machines at the same time.

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

so to clarify. I have to back up my computer onto another harddrive, which will then also have my OS on it. then factory restore my computer which will set it back to windows 7 OEM, then i install new CPU/mobo and it will boot up, then i transfer data from other harddrive back onto my computer

ex_bubblehead · Mar 2, 2014

Whoa, let's back up a little here.

What, specifically are you trying to do here?

So far you've said that you have an HP that came OEM.
You installed a retail copy of Windows on that HP, replacing the OEM copy.
You say your "thinking about upgrading my CPU, mobo and case".

What this looks like is that you are going to be building a new PC, giving you two, correct?

USAFRet · Mar 2, 2014

babachicken :

No.

Assuming you have a valid Windows 7 Pro install disk with activation key:

Copy all your personal, critical data elsewhere. NOT the whole drive. Just 'your stuff'.
Install the new hardware
Install the OS from that Windows 7 Pro disk
Activate
Install your applications
Bring over whatever files you want from wherever you saved them.

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

ex_bubblehead :

Not exactly. I have an HP oem, and i want to upgrade my CPU,mobo and case.

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

oh and in the case that this may be important, my uncle works for microsoft and he bought windows 7 professional straight from the microsoft company store

ex_bubblehead · Mar 2, 2014

babachicken :

Which is, in essence, building a 2nd PC.
What do you intend to do with the existing HP? You cannot leave the existing copy of Windows on it.

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

well, all that will be left with the existing HP is the old cpu mobo and case...
how will i transfer the existing copy of windows on that onto my new computer. that is my question...

so i thought about it a little i have a 16gig flashdrive that is enough just for the stuff that i want to copy. games and application make up the bulk of my computers taken HDD space which i can easily reinstall with steam.

and another question. If i have software such as vegas pro how would i back that stuff up?

i really intend to do nothing with my leftover HP

babachicken · Mar 2, 2014

im still really confused about how to transfer windows 7 onto a new motherboard D:

is my Windows 7 Professional OEM?

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