Windows oem OS questions

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nathansnider6

nathansnider6

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Dec 29, 2013
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Hi i'm looking at either windows 8 or windows 7 64bit oem operating systems and my question is if I have an oem drive I can reinstall it as many times as i want on my 1 drive i chose which is a 120gb ssd but i cant take it off one drive and put it on another, so for example i install it on my pc then i upgrade my motherboard cpu and ram, I cxan just renistall it on the same drive? could i also just put the drive in a completely different computer and reinstall it there as long as its still on my ssd? thanks in advance.
 
Solution
Wolfshadw
That depends on the version of Windows.

Windows 7 OEM versions are tied to the motherboard you initially installed it onto. Once installed, it (or the hard drive) could not be transferred to another computer or re-installed onto the same computer with a different motherboard.

With the release of Windows 8 OEM, Microsoft has loosened the rules a bit. You should be able to legally transfer a Windows 8/8.1 license from one computer to another without issue; provided that it's only installed on one computer at a time.

-Wolf sends
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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That depends on the version of Windows.

Windows 7 OEM versions are tied to the motherboard you initially installed it onto. Once installed, it (or the hard drive) could not be transferred to another computer or re-installed onto the same computer with a different motherboard.

With the release of Windows 8 OEM, Microsoft has loosened the rules a bit. You should be able to legally transfer a Windows 8/8.1 license from one computer to another without issue; provided that it's only installed on one computer at a time.

-Wolf sends
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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Actually Win 7 OEM can be used on an upgraded machine, a new Motherboard will fail activation, but this can be achieved by using the Telephone Activation automatically or by speaking to a MS Operative. Same applies if you want to use it on a different/new machine, provided you only use it on one at a time. However, to save yourself trouble, go with Windows 8, it's a better OS anyway,...
 
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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While this normally works, it doesn't always. The EULA for Windows 7 (and previous versions) specifically states it can be installed onto only one computer (motherboard). The folks that answer the phone when you use telephone activation are under no obligation to re-activate your copy of Windows 7.

-Wolf sends
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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Agreed, but I've yet to meet anyone that's been refused! So I guess the best advice is 'worth a try', but you'll know why if it's turned down...

 
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