OEM License

[Funhat]

Not sure if this is the proper place to ask this, so please let me know if I should move this thread elsewhere.

I am building a new system, and i'm not super familiar with the OEM license versions of Windows 7. Are they like a one time use sort of thing? I don't intent to upgrade to Windows 8 anytime soon, so chances are I will want to do another build with the same copy of Windows. Am I going to get static from Microsoft if 2 years down the road I try to install my OEM copy of Windows on my new machine? Would I be better off just dropping $180 on the regular version so I can re-install as many times as I need?

 

[postmortemIA]

OEM is tied to motherboard. Do you have existing copy of windows that is not OEM? Then you could buy retail upgrade, which is not tied to one PC. And it costs close to OEM.

 

[Funhat]

Na, I don't. So regular retail would be the best bet then?

 

[Bubbaleone]

The initial cost is highest, but the full retail version gives you the most options. Here is one of the clearest explanations of Microsoft's multiple sales channels I've ever come across: What Microsoft won't tell you about Windows 7 licensing


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