is my OEM Windows 7 product key 32 & 64 bit?

[Poita]

Hi.
I have an OEM Windows 7 home premium on my laptop. It came on a partition. I have just ordered an upgrade of ram from 3 to now 8 gigs. However I need to have Windows in 64 bit for it to recognize the 8 gigs. So I will format and reinstall the OEM windows. I just did a scan of my computer to retrieve my product key for Windows but as I want to get rid of the partition and do a full format I need to download a copy of Windows 7 Premium OEM and install it from a disk or usb with my own product key.

So my question is . . . . . will my product key allow me to install 64 bit Windows premium OEM?

 

[Steltek]

Yes. It will install using either 32 bit or 64 bit media.,

 

[Insert_Nickname]

No such luck, unfortunately. The key on your laptop is a "real" OEM key. You can't install a system builder version with it, as it requires OEM activation.

The only way for you to get Win64 is a new system builder licence...

Blame Microsoft for calling both "real" OEM and system builder "OEM Licence".

 

[JackMDS]

Blame Microsoft for calling both "real" OEM and system builder "OEM Licence".

Microsoft sells the Product to Laptop/Computers manufacturers. They sell it to you.

Like most industries, products that are sold to manufacturers has also special lines and pricing.

When you buy a new computer with the OS ask the vendor the questions that you ask now.

If there is No answer, or you do not like the answer buy from some else, or buy a clean device and install your OS of choice.

 

[douglasb]

No such luck, unfortunately. The key on your laptop is a "real" OEM key. You can't install a system builder version with it, as it requires OEM activation.

The only way for you to get Win64 is a new system builder licence...

Blame Microsoft for calling both "real" OEM and system builder "OEM Licence".

This has been the opposite of my experience. My last laptop (which is for sale, by the way) came with Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit and a CoA sticker on the bottom of the laptop. I was able to install the 64-bit version using that same key.

 

[uallas5]

The activation key for Windows 7 is NOT tied to what bit the OS is but rather what version, i.e. Home vs Home Premium. Nothing in the EULA would contradict that. Since you are reinstalling your OS on the same hardware you are not in any violation of the OEM license.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

If there is No answer, or you do not like the answer buy from some else, or buy a clean device and install your OS of choice.

It does not matter on my desktop, but the problem is that you can't "buy a clean device", when you're shopping for laptops. OEMs insist on slapping a pre-activated copy of whichever version they happen to think the costumer needs. So you have to pay for a licence you might not need/want.

If I could just buy the laptop and licence separately, I'd be all over it. But OEMs don't let you do that.

This has been the opposite of my experience. My last laptop (which is for sale, by the way) came with Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit and a CoA sticker on the bottom of the laptop. I was able to install the 64-bit version using that same key.

Dang. You apparently can with win7. You couldn't install a Retail version with the CoA sticker key on my old XP laptop (a Fujitsu-Siemens). Which was the last time I had to do this. Things have changed for the better, apparently...

 

[Poita]

Thank's guys. I don't know which will be the case but my 8 gigs of ram arrived this morning so it's too late to turn back.

I downloaded an OEM copy of Windows 7 Home Premium and will save all my files and format my hard disk (this means erasing the copy of Win7HP that came on the 20 gig partition as what I want is a full on clean format and reinstall.) I will then attempt to install the 'copy' of Win7HP OEM that I downloaded and use my key for it. If it doesn't work then I will bite the bullet and darn well pay the £130 for a retail copy.

 

[JackMDS]

If I could just buy the laptop and licence separately, I'd be all over it. But OEMs don't let you do that.

Yeah it is a problem. However as long as the users keep "barking" at Microsoft instead of making the point to the Computer's vendors there will Not be a reasonable solution.

It the vendors choice what to install and they choose the constricted OEM version because it cost them much less.

 

[hamunaptra]

you could always SLIC patch windows and it will preactivate legally the same way vendors do it.
WARNING: there are a lot of illegal patchers that use this method as well...dont use those. Since your OEM BIOS already has the proper SLIC strings in it, you just need the proper certificate files for windows.

 

[douglasb]

you could always SLIC patch windows and it will preactivate legally the same way vendors do it.
WARNING: there are a lot of illegal patchers that use this method as well...dont use those. Since your OEM BIOS already has the proper SLIC strings in it, you just need the proper certificate files for windows.

None of this should be necessary with Windows 7. Worst case scenario, he installs it, then when he goes to activate, he has to call an 800 number and punch in a bunch of numbers to activate his copy of Windows.

 

[ViRGE]

None of this should be necessary with Windows 7. Worst case scenario, he installs it, then when he goes to activate, he has to call an 800 number and punch in a bunch of numbers to activate his copy of Windows.

Bingo. Everyone else is over thinking this. OEM preactivation is not a concern; you use the key on the sticker and call it in if necessary.

 

[Poita]

How do I get the UK 1-800 number just in case? Will the software display it when I try to install if needed? Also, what will happen? I can't exactly tell them that I formatted my disk, including the partition that Win7OEM was on and downloaded a copy of it from Piratebay to use with my legal key . . . . can I?

 

[ViRGE]

Yes, the number will be displayed on the activation screen if you select to call it in. And I'd tell them the truth (though leave out the PB part; you shouldn't have even told us); you did an upgrade, you had to format your disk, and you are now reinstalling Windows.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929

 

[douglasb]

How do I get the UK 1-800 number just in case? Will the software display it when I try to install if needed? Also, what will happen? I can't exactly tell them that I formatted my disk, including the partition that Win7OEM was on and downloaded a copy of it from Piratebay to use with my legal key . . . . can I?

Whenever I've had to call, it's all automated. You read some numbers from your screen, type them in to the phone, and they read some numbers back to you, which you type into your computer. When the automated voice asks how many computers you have this installed on, tell it "One".

 

[Dahak]

IF you want to avoid PB all together you can use the MS download links listed here
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=32979735&postcount=3

 

[Poita]

Thank's guys. That's alot of help. Appreciate it.

 

[postmortemIA]

I was also able to activate the OEM COA key with retail Win 7 disc.. had to call automated phone system.

 

[Poita]

@Dahak I downloaded Win7HomePremium 64 bit from the link you posted but does it make a difference if it is OEM or not regarding my activation key?

Also, do I have to make a bootable DVD from that image or can I install it from a USB or external Hard Drive and how do I do that?

 

[ViRGE]

@Dahak I downloaded Win7HomePremium 64 bit from the link you posted but does it make a difference if it is OEM or not regarding my activation key?

It won't make a difference. Win7's installer is universal; it can do both OEM and retail off of the same disc.

Also, do I have to make a bootable DVD from that image or can I install it from a USB or external Hard Drive and how do I do that?

The Windows 7 USB Download Tool will help you make a bootable USB installer, so there's no need to burn a DVD if you don't want to.

 

[JackMDS]

Download one of the free imaging program that are available around.

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Hopefully you have a large HD in and enclosure (if you do not have one buy one, it is always good to have one).

Image you current drive and then try what ever suggested in this thread.

It takes 40 Min. to Install Win 7 and you are already "tormenting" yourself for few days.

If it does not work then you would know what to do, or re-Image the backup and you would have back your old system.

 

[Poita]

thank's guys.

@JackMDS: I'm not sure what 'enclsosure' means?

I'm going to buy an external HD a i need to save a lot of stuff from my laptops HD before I format it.

Sorry for being a noob but what does 'image your current drive mean? Does it mean I just transfer the entire drive adn contents to the External HD then I can pick it apart and put what I want back onto my HD after I format and install win7? How do I do that?

Thank's for the link by the way.

 

[JackMDS]

HD in an Enclosure is what you call External Drive.

Image means that you can restore the whole Drive as is with the OS and all the other Apps and files.

When you put back the image the computer acts and have all the info as before.

Making an image and restoring it is best done by using the image App on a Boot Disk (DVD or USB). Good image program provide you with the capacity to create a Boot Disk.

The App. that I pointed to has this page - http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50025.aspx

Other Imaging programs would have similar pages too.

P.S. We can point you to info but at a ce3rtian point you have to do some self learning since given precise step by step instructions is beyond the scope of Forum posting.

 

[Poita]

Thank's I downloaded the program.

I'll get a 500gb external HD as the one on my laptop is 320 GB. I don't think I can imprint that onto an 8GB usb with all the content.

You are right. I think I have the basics now so I'm confident I can do it. Thanks.

 

[Poita]

Here is an update. It didn't work. This is the process I used.


Downloaded Windows 7 Home Premium from this link

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=32979735&postcount=3

But the ‘Windows 7 USB-DVD tool’ wouldn’t recognise it.

So I directed it to the Win7 that I downloaded from the PB site to use with my legal OEM key.

Formatted my 8GB USB stick.

Downloaded and run ‘Windows 7-USB-DVD-tool

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

At end of step 4 of 4: creating bootable USB device.

Red bar at 100%

Status: Files copied successfully. However, we were unable to run bootsect to make the USB device bootable. If you need assistance with bootsect, plese click the “Online Help” link above for more information.

I tried it again with the same result.

Any ideas?