Windows - OEM/COEM/DSP vs retail

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darkangel

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Hi,

I'm going to be purchasing Windows 7 soon and I'm still not 100% sure I understand OEM/COEM/DSP licenses ...

I understand that:

1. You don't get the packaging, manual, etc.
2. You don't get support.

... but I don't understand the bit about it being tied to a single machine. You are allowed to change small components, such as when adding more ram or upgrading your graphics card, but apparently you can't replace the motherboard.

What exactly happens when:

1. Your motherboard is damaged for some reason and needs to be replaced.
2. You want to upgrade your whole system including the motherboard.

Does Windows just refuse to start, or ... ? If you re-install the OEM version will product activation fail?

What else should be kept in mind when purchasing such versions?

Thanks,

_da.
 
darkangel said:
Hi,

I'm going to be purchasing Windows 7 soon and I'm still not 100% sure I understand OEM/COEM/DSP licenses ...

I understand that:

1. You don't get the packaging, manual, etc.
2. You don't get support.

... but I don't understand the bit about it being tied to a single machine. You are allowed to change small components, such as when adding more ram or upgrading your graphics card, but apparently you can't replace the motherboard.

What exactly happens when:

1. Your motherboard is damaged for some reason and needs to be replaced.
2. You want to upgrade your whole system including the motherboard.

Does Windows just refuse to start, or ... ? If you re-install the OEM version will product activation fail?

What else should be kept in mind when purchasing such versions?

Thanks,

_da.
Click to expand...

The OEM/DSP versions are sold to end users in quasi-legal ways, unless you buy a brand new system. They usually need to sell some h/w with them - this can even be one jumper ;) or a kettle mains cord for the PSU.

The OEM/DSP is tied to the motherboard. If your motherboard blows and you can get a replacement from the shop - you can reinstall. However, if you can't get a replacement - say the warranty has lapsed - well then you have to prove to MS that your old mobo died and you had to buy a new one - you have to call them I guess. I heard they will let you install - give you a new code. MS will not allow you to reinstall if you are upgrading your motherboard for reasons other than an faulty original one.

The retail version can be installed as many times as you want but only on one computer at a time. After x installs you may have to call MS to allow the authentication to go through to prevent the same copy being activated on 10000s of computers at the same time.

The OEM/DSP may not allow you to upgrade your Win Vista install either. It's a fresh system install. So you need to format and then install. The upgrade and Retail versions will allow you to do that. No version of 7 will allow an install over Windows XP - the largest base of computers MS wants to target. They were probably too lazy to create a nice installer to do that reliably.
 
Last edited:
PeterCH said:
The OEM/DSP versions are sold to end users in quasi-legal ways, unless you buy a brand new system. They usually need to sell some h/w with them - this can even be one jumper ;) or a kettle mains cord for the PSU.

The OEM/DSP is tied to the motherboard. If your motherboard blows and you can get a replacement from the shop - you can reinstall. However, if you can't get a replacement - say the warranty has lapsed - well then you have to prove to MS that your old mobo died and you had to buy a new one - you have to call them I guess. I heard they will let you install - give you a new code. MS will not allow you to reinstall if you are upgrading your motherboard for reasons other than an faulty original one.

The retail version can be installed as many times as you want but only on one computer at a time. After x installs you may have to call MS to allow the authentication to go through to prevent the same copy being activated on 10000s of computers at the same time.

The OEM/DSP may not allow you to upgrade your Win Vista install either. It's a fresh system install. So you need to format and then install. The upgrade and Retail versions will allow you to do that. No version of 7 will allow an install over Windows XP - the largest base of computers MS wants to target. They were probably too lazy to create a nice installer to do that reliably.
Click to expand...

Actually not. You need to purchase "Microsoft Hardware" to get this. Its in their licence documentation that they send out to Microsoft Partners.

I discovered this 4yrs back when I was in IT retail and actually read their documentation.

Many retailers are under the false impression that they can sell you a cable tie with OEM, and many more just ignore it and sell you the OEM copy anyway without anything else.


Your description on the OEM being tied to MB is well put. Of my 3 legal licences I posses for M$ XP Pro, one has lapsed as it was tied to a board I sold. One is for my current board and the 3rd is tied to my VirtualBox instance (very grey area).

BTW, I got all 3 copies through my studies and technically they are only valid while I'm still a student.
 
Thanks guys. I guess I'll have to purchase the retail version. :(

cbrunsdonza said:
Actually not. You need to purchase "Microsoft Hardware" to get this.
Click to expand...
Are you sure about the Microsoft part? As far as I know (from what I've read), it can be any hardware component that is essential to the running of the system. Microsoft don't sell much hardware anyway.

_da.
 
darkangel said:
Thanks guys. I guess I'll have to purchase the retail version. :(


Are you sure about the Microsoft part? As far as I know (from what I've read), it can be any hardware component that is essential to the running of the system. Microsoft don't sell much hardware anyway.

_da.
Click to expand...


According to their Partner agreement it had to be with Microsoft Hardware - Keyboard ; Mouse ; Joystick ; Headphones ; etc

99% of retailers break their Partner agreement without knowing this. As mentioned, I discovered this in my retail days - I was a store manager and read most of the literature given to me by the reps.

Heck, the store I worked for gladly sells the OEM without any hardware.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
According to their Partner agreement it had to be with Microsoft Hardware - Keyboard ; Mouse ; Joystick ; Headphones ; etc

99% of retailers break their Partner agreement without knowing this. As mentioned, I discovered this in my retail days - I was a store manager and read most of the literature given to me by the reps.

Heck, the store I worked for gladly sells the OEM without any hardware.
Click to expand...

Good point. Thanks for that.

Now the next question is- does it really matter. Does MS really enforce this or do they turn a blind eye? Would they really know?

Buying an MS mouse is not too expensive either. (They're rebranded Logitek no?) So buy Windows with the MS mouse.
 
OK.

Well, the fact that it would be tied to my current motherboard is the problem for me. I need to be able to upgrade whenever I want to.

_da.
 
darkangel said:
OK.

Well, the fact that it would be tied to my current motherboard is the problem for me. I need to be able to upgrade whenever I want to.

_da.
Click to expand...

Well think about it.

Do you think you will really be upgrading for 2-3 years? By that time Win 8 will be in Beta. Perhaps you'll only put in more RAM and a faster GPU.
 
CPU sockets and RAM change quite often. I recently upgraded after about 2 years. Windows 7 took 2-3 years to develop, and there's a good chance I may skip the next version of Windows.

Also, the OEM version won't have any resale value, will it?
 
darkangel said:
CPU sockets and RAM change quite often. I recently upgraded after about 2 years. Windows 7 took 2-3 years to develop, and there's a good chance I may skip the next version of Windows.

Also, the OEM version won't have any resale value, will it?
Click to expand...

No, it won't have resale value, UNLESS you sell your old system as one complete PC or sell it (Win 7) with the mobo. Heck, even without a screen.
 
Windows is not an investment - it like graphics cards. You cannot win.

My next PC will have Win7 (and LINUX :) ) but I plan to keep it at that. When the PC dies I will move on. I am fortunate that I need to purchase a new PC each year as I can rotate them between:

- Me of course and I'm a developer
- My wifes small business ... Spreadsheet and XAMPP
- My 9yr old daugher ... as long as she can play the SIMMS
- My 2yr old son ... he will get his first PC soon :) for his Comfy Keyboard
 
Interesting discussion! Please share your thoughts regarding the following scenario that is new with Windows 7: I have a Dell Latitude D830 with Windows Vista Business installed. I already determined that I can install Windows 7 Professional Upgrade on the lappy without voiding the guarantee. Now look at the following options:
  1. Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade from Wantitall (Boxed retail) - R3 092
  2. Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade from Microsoft online store (Download) R1 500
I know that Wantitall is quite expensive but this should be a good indication of what we can expect to pay for the boxed version in SA :sick: As far as I am concerned, the days of buying boxes are over. I have already bought several software products as download-able over the net and I can't see any reason why Windows 7 should not be next. Your thoughts on this?
 
DearHeart said:
Interesting discussion! Please share your thoughts regarding the following scenario that is new with Windows 7: I have a Dell Latitude D830 with Windows Vista Business installed. I already determined that I can install Windows 7 Professional Upgrade on the lappy without voiding the guarantee. Now look at the following options:
  1. Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade from Wantitall (Boxed retail) - R3 092
  2. Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade from Microsoft online store (Download) R1 500
I know that Wantitall is quite expensive but this should be a good indication of what we can expect to pay for the boxed version in SA :sick: As far as I am concerned, the days of buying boxes are over. I have already bought several software products as download-able over the net and I can't see any reason why Windows 7 should not be next. Your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

Go for the cheapest option. If its a downloand so be it.
 
DearHeart said:
Interesting discussion! Please share your thoughts regarding the following scenario that is new with Windows 7: I have a Dell Latitude D830 with Windows Vista Business installed. I already determined that I can install Windows 7 Professional Upgrade on the lappy without voiding the guarantee. Now look at the following options:
  1. Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade from Wantitall (Boxed retail) - R3 092
  2. Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade from Microsoft online store (Download) R1 500
I know that Wantitall is quite expensive but this should be a good indication of what we can expect to pay for the boxed version in SA :sick: As far as I am concerned, the days of buying boxes are over. I have already bought several software products as download-able over the net and I can't see any reason why Windows 7 should not be next. Your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

Just check this thread for local pricing. Our local pricing is very good, wantitall is a ripoff.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=196735&page=2
 
Thanks Stefan, but I already went through that thread and for the life of me I can find the retail Windows 7 Professional Upgrade. The only upgrades I see are from Win 7 Basic to Win 7 Professional etc. Could you give me a link please?
 
DearHeart said:
Thanks Stefan, but I already went through that thread and for the life of me I can find the retail Windows 7 Professional Upgrade. The only upgrades I see are from Win 7 Basic to Win 7 Professional etc. Could you give me a link please?
Click to expand...

Not sure the Microsoft store only lists one upgrade version so I assume the upgrade from win basic is just the normal upgrade version and that you can upgrade from win xp , vista and win 7 home premium as well.

But I am not sure about this.
 
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