Opening Statement.
Just to clarify, the remarks made in this thread are for informational purposes only. To transfer a license, Windows must be fully removed from the original machine before it is installed on the new machine. This means that you cannot use a Ghost Image, Drive Image or any other image from a previous machine with a new machine, you cannot take the drive out of the old machine and place it in the new machine or anything else. You must format the drive entirely to be eligible for transfer. Retail copies are eligible for transfer, OEM copies are not.
Read the entire topic in it entirety before you make a decision on your purchase.
*Overview*
Just for even more clarification. OEM's are tied to that hardware. You can reinstall it as many times as you want on the same machine. But if you change mother board, the license is no good anymore. The License stays with the Mother board and dies with the mother board. This is the TRUE and full on agreement of the EULA with OEM licenses. The license is NOT transferrable to any other machine at all. The software will not activate on another machine. Now you can lie to them, but plain and simple, if you get the software activated on more than 1 machine, you are in violation of the EULA and using the software illegally. That is the truth behind the OEM EULA. There is only 1 exception to this. If you can prove that the mother board is faulty. Only then can you replace the mother board and not have to get a new License.
Now let me make this clear. 1 Serial = 1 PC.
Now what i mean by that is you can install the OS and activate it by the Internet on that number of machines. This can only be done 1 machine at a time. You can only have 1 copy activated and operating on the Internet at any given time to be within the EULA and terms of the license agreement to be fully legal.
It doesn't matter which you buy. The software can be used on any machine just like a regular OS. Being OEM just means that it is bought by System Builds are a discounted rate. Nothing more. It will act just like a regular version of XP or Vista without any extra software needed. It will install and load up just like any other OS.
Technically with a OEM Serial once the System is done being used, the Serial goes with it. If the mother board dies, the license dies with it.
Details:
OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer. This is the software that is used by Dell, Hp and the rest and comes pre-installed on your pre-built machines. If you buy it from any online vendor it does not come with any boxes or instructions. It will be just the disc. NewEgg, TigerDirect, Amazon are just examples of the places you can use.
Retail = what you buy at stores like Office Max or Wal-Mart. There are other Retailers you can get them from. Office Max and Wal-Mart are just examples.
Windows XP OEM
This can be used to activate on 1 machine. Can NOT be transferred!
Windows XP Retail
This can be used to activate 1 machine at any given time. Can be transferred to 3 machines in total, will require a call to Microsoft to activate after 3rd machine.
Windows Vista OEM
This can be used to activate 1 machine. Can NOT be Transferred!
Windows Vista Retail
This can be used to activate 1 machine at any given time. Can be transferred to 3 machines in total, will require a call to Microsoft to activate after 3rd machine.
Windows 7 OEM
This can be used to activate 1 Machine. Can NOT be transferred!
Windows 7 Retail
This can be used to activate 1 machine at any given time. Can be transferred to 3 machines in total, will require a call to Microsoft to activate after 3rd machine.
Windows 7 Family Pack
This can be used to activate 3 separate machines. As it comes with a Volume License Key that allows for 3 machines to be activated at once using the same serial.
Download for the EULA of various Microsoft Products.
Taken directly from the Windows 7 EULA for Retail purchases.
Just to clarify, the remarks made in this thread are for informational purposes only. To transfer a license, Windows must be fully removed from the original machine before it is installed on the new machine. This means that you cannot use a Ghost Image, Drive Image or any other image from a previous machine with a new machine, you cannot take the drive out of the old machine and place it in the new machine or anything else. You must format the drive entirely to be eligible for transfer. Retail copies are eligible for transfer, OEM copies are not.
Read the entire topic in it entirety before you make a decision on your purchase.
*Overview*
Just for even more clarification. OEM's are tied to that hardware. You can reinstall it as many times as you want on the same machine. But if you change mother board, the license is no good anymore. The License stays with the Mother board and dies with the mother board. This is the TRUE and full on agreement of the EULA with OEM licenses. The license is NOT transferrable to any other machine at all. The software will not activate on another machine. Now you can lie to them, but plain and simple, if you get the software activated on more than 1 machine, you are in violation of the EULA and using the software illegally. That is the truth behind the OEM EULA. There is only 1 exception to this. If you can prove that the mother board is faulty. Only then can you replace the mother board and not have to get a new License.
Now let me make this clear. 1 Serial = 1 PC.
Now what i mean by that is you can install the OS and activate it by the Internet on that number of machines. This can only be done 1 machine at a time. You can only have 1 copy activated and operating on the Internet at any given time to be within the EULA and terms of the license agreement to be fully legal.
It doesn't matter which you buy. The software can be used on any machine just like a regular OS. Being OEM just means that it is bought by System Builds are a discounted rate. Nothing more. It will act just like a regular version of XP or Vista without any extra software needed. It will install and load up just like any other OS.
Technically with a OEM Serial once the System is done being used, the Serial goes with it. If the mother board dies, the license dies with it.
Details:
OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer. This is the software that is used by Dell, Hp and the rest and comes pre-installed on your pre-built machines. If you buy it from any online vendor it does not come with any boxes or instructions. It will be just the disc. NewEgg, TigerDirect, Amazon are just examples of the places you can use.
Retail = what you buy at stores like Office Max or Wal-Mart. There are other Retailers you can get them from. Office Max and Wal-Mart are just examples.
Windows XP OEM
This can be used to activate on 1 machine. Can NOT be transferred!
Windows XP Retail
This can be used to activate 1 machine at any given time. Can be transferred to 3 machines in total, will require a call to Microsoft to activate after 3rd machine.
Windows Vista OEM
This can be used to activate 1 machine. Can NOT be Transferred!
Windows Vista Retail
This can be used to activate 1 machine at any given time. Can be transferred to 3 machines in total, will require a call to Microsoft to activate after 3rd machine.
Windows 7 OEM
This can be used to activate 1 Machine. Can NOT be transferred!
Windows 7 Retail
This can be used to activate 1 machine at any given time. Can be transferred to 3 machines in total, will require a call to Microsoft to activate after 3rd machine.
Windows 7 Family Pack
This can be used to activate 3 separate machines. As it comes with a Volume License Key that allows for 3 machines to be activated at once using the same serial.
Download for the EULA of various Microsoft Products.
Taken directly from the Windows 7 EULA for Retail purchases.
