MS Windows OEM versions - re-authorizing?

[stevech]

There is evermore heavy retail marketing of MS Windows OEM versions. Such as
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...CCODE=WEBCRIT09&cm_mmc_o=-KeCjCgybfwBCjCECjCE

Only the astute would even notice the "OEM" words in the item description, and perhaps many don't know the following..

I thought that MS would "activate" the OEM products only once, and if you upgrade the hardware or buy a new PC, then MS will not re-authorize. Why does MS even sell the OEM products in retail channels? For DIYers?

Is it the case that when re-authorization is needed that people call and plea, beg, and convince MS to waive the rules?

Or is it simply a non-issue.
For Win 7 Home Premium, the discount for OEM seems to be only $15 or so, versus the price of Win 7 upgrade (from XP/vista).

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Non issue in my experience...and that includes working on/rebuilding PCs for a living since the Win3/early Win95 days.

OEM licenses are designed to live and die with the hardware they came with. Meaning, non-transferable. You should not install that license on a new/different computer. Versus the more expensive Retail license, where you can purchase all new hardware and install/move/transfer your license to that new computer.

Yes you can purchase them from retail outlets, you're supposed to only purchase an OEM license bundled with a basic minimum amount of hardware that constitutes a new computer. Example...a new motherboard, CPU, memory, hard drive. Some places have less stringent rules...yes you can find a place that may sell an OEM Windows license with say...just the purchase of a hard drive, or just the purchase of a stick of memory....or even alone. Ah well...welcome to the internet!

Say you have a computer and a component failed...and you have to replace it to get the computer functional again. If it kicks off Windows Product Activation again..just run through the activation wizard. If it says it's already activated, there's a number to call Microsoft.

Now..calling Microsoft to re-activate, or get a new key issued, is really a wonderfully painless process. I can't begin to count the number of times I've done it over many years....you're usually done and on your way in less than 10 minutes.

It's a very gray area, there's no 100% cut and dry answer that is 100% correct all of the time. Sometimes changing some hardware, WPA kicks in, other times Windows boots up and reboots the next time without any hint of needing to reactivate. Most of the time activation online will come back done and fine. A few times, you'll be prompted to call MS..which again...is really quite painless.

Vendors OEM rules and regs for OEM licensing can be different than MS's baseline OEM rules and regs.

Many Tier-1 vendors (such as Dell) embed the license in the BIOS of their system, and their CDs will look for that and be all set if you have to rebuild the PC or replace some parts. So WPA may not even come into play.

Summary....it's quite a gray and changing area, but I see too many people over-hype it and make it out to be a big scary thing. It isn't.

 

[jdabbs]

The Ship of Theseus has been my rationale for reusing the same OEM license.

 

[stevech]

Thanks...
Just this question: If one buys an OEM windows license not bundled with hardware, such as from Newegg, then you activate it, then you get new hardware and need to re-activate, are you guys saying that Microsoft always permits the change? They don't say "sorry, you cannot make a substantial change to the hardware such as a new CPU type or motherboard, and transfer the OEM license?

I hear you that it's a grey area. But I was hoping to find what the MS policy has been to date - knowing they could get more strict.

 

[GregN]

The Ship of Theseus has been my rationale for reusing the same OEM license.

Yeppers, but can you dip your foot in the same data stream twice?

I've never had problems with re-authorizing, with student licenses they don't even ask you if you are still a student....

I think it is a artificial hurdle, they are just glad you are going through the process...

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Thanks...
Just this question: If one buys an OEM windows license not bundled with hardware, such as from Newegg, then you activate it, then you get new hardware and need to re-activate, are you guys saying that Microsoft always permits the change? They don't say "sorry, you cannot make a substantial change to the hardware such as a new CPU type or motherboard, and transfer the OEM license?

Nope, I never use the term "always" with WPA. In paragraph 6 of my first reply, note I use the words "sometimes", "most of the time", and "a few times". That's the best summary I can come up with after doing it many many many times on the job.

Greg did a good job of describing it above with this line....
"I think it is a artificial hurdle, they are just glad you are going through the process..."

 

[stevech]

Thanks much!