What is the difference between these two copies of Windows 7 Pro?

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monty2451

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If it's an OEM machine, there will likely be SLIC info in the BIOS for the OEM copy of Windows that was pre-installed. I think this is present on XP and later.

Your Dell machine has this.
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Math Geek

Math Geek

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the amazon one is intended for refurbished systems and the newegg one is intended for a new build. they are both "oem" copies which means less MS support and it can only be used on one pc and not transferred to another one after being activated.

what it means to you is pretty much nothing. $70 is pretty good for win 7 and i'd jump on that if price if you need a copy of win 7. i'm gonna grab a couple copies myself for that price. i can always use a couple extra copies for my customers.
 
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bigpinkdragon286

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Lot of reviews on the Amazon link stating their Windows 7 license wouldn't activate after installation. A qualifying refurbished license for Windows requires the machine to have had a previously qualifying copy of Windows installed on it and is not eligible for installation on new machines.
 
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Math Geek

Math Geek

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got to love when half say it was good to go and others say not so much. looks almost like the old "upgrade" versions. it needs to see a previous windows install in order to let it install. either way i can still use it as i still do "upgrades" to win 7 for people. they'll have a previous install.

gonna look a bit more into refurb copies of windows and see what the official MS stance is.

edit: what i am reading from people's experience is what it sounded like before. the refurb copy only seems to work if the system has had a copy of windows on it already. most are saying it won't work for a new build as a first time installation. so that is the BIG difference between the 2 versions. the cheaper amazon copy is basically an "upgrade" version and won't work for a new build.
 
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Blackink

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So........I installed one of these Amazon.com Re-Furbished Windows 7 Pro OS's onto a brand new 250GB SSD that went into a 10 year old Dell Desktop running Windows XP Pro.

Still using and running it today.

How does the Windows CD exe file know from the motherboard that this computer had Windows installed on it before the new SSD & new OS version???
 
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geofelt

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FWIW.
Upgrade versions of windows 7 can be used for a clean install.
The truck is to do it twice.
The first time, do not try to activate(it will not)
When you do the clean install the second time, it detects that there was a previous windows 7 and will install and activate.
This procedure was told to me by a MS rep when I was trying to convert from 32 bit to 64 bit.

As to the "refurb" I can't say about that.
 
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bigpinkdragon286

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So, you're proud to be violating software licensing terms? The forum isn't here to promote that. Also, just because you got lucky with your installation, doesn't mean the OP would. Are you going to give the OP his money back if a half-priced Windows 7 Pro license doesn't activate?

Edited for clarity.
 
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geofelt

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I do not know if you were referring to me and my use of an upgrade version of windows.
A upgrade version is considered as retail and can legitimately be moved to a different motherboard.
The double install method was suggested to me by a rep from Microsoft support.
It is necessary to allow a user to convert from 32 bit to 64 bit.
The upgrade package includes both 32 and 64 bit.

I would be careful where I bought a copy of windows.
I would not buy a"refurb" or "dell" copy from anywhere.
 
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bigpinkdragon286

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The transferability or retail status of an Upgrade license is inherited from the copy of Windows you are upgrading from. If you are upgrading from a retail license, the upgrade retains the retail status. If you are upgrading from an OEM license, your upgrade retains the limitations of the OEM license.
 
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