Windows 7 Help!

[Angeal]

Well, i want to get windows 7 home premium, But I wanted to know what Version i should go with OEM or Retail


CPU, Ram, Video card upgrades i might do later down the road but for now, I'm alright.

Also If someone could Care to please explain what makes OEM and Retail Different

Thankyou, And I want to know What Version is perfect for me.

 

[pillar]

mostly, its the price thats the big difference. other than that, theres no other big difference. also in the retail version, i recently found out (via my mom) that the retail version comes w/ both the 32-bit & 64-bit versions of itself, so no more having to buy a specific version. now oem will only come w/ 1 version, so choose your version wisely. both 32-bit & 64-bit are the same price @ newegg, but 64 bit doesnt limit you on memory as much like 32-bit does. 32-bit only allows 3.5 gb readable (well as far as i know from xp, but they may have adjusted that), whereas the 64-bit os can read up to 16gb (that should still be the same). my suggestion would be to get the oem version, unless you dont mind spendin the $$ 2 get both discs (not sure why you would want both discs when the cd-key can only be used once).

 

[Ice hearted killer]

i may or may not be right but OEM doesn't have any warranty usually and its usually a bit cheaper as well

 

[spidEY]

i may or may not be right but OEM doesn't have any warranty

That is correct. If you decide to buy an OEM version of Windows you won't get any warranty from Microsoft and you'll be limited to only one PC. Once you activate it on your PC, it's tied to it and cannot be activated on any other PC. That means if you do any major hardware change to your PC, Windows will refuse to work.

It would be a better idea to get a Retail version since it doesn't have such limitations.

 

[NCA]

That is correct. If you decide to buy an OEM version of Windows you won't get any warranty from Microsoft and you'll be limited to only one PC. Once you activate it on your PC, it's tied to it and cannot be activated on any other PC. That means if you do any major hardware change to your PC, Windows will refuse to work.

It would be a better idea to get a Retail version since it doesn't have such limitations.

Example: if you're on an OEM version and your motherboard fries, Windows won't just let you throw in another motherboard. You'll have to call Microsoft and waste a lot of time on the phone before they let you re-activate.

This is why I stick to retail versions.

 

[aikepah]

I've usually had no problems reinstalling OEM versions of windows OSs. OEM is the version sold WITH hardware, where as retail is sold stand alone. So an OEM is meant to be installed on the hardware you purchased it with. But MS doesn't keep any of your system data so they don't know if you installed it on diff hardware. They wouldn't keep you from installing it on diff hardware because they know people upgrade and that parts go bad. I would go for the OEM version anyday for the price savings.

 

[iOprah]

Go with OEM as everyone else said, basically all that is different is the price. You don't get the fancy packaging and quick start guides that the retail one comes with but you get an activation key and a dvd of the os which is all you need. You also don't get the little support that comes with the retail version, however for most problems Microsoft makes you pay for, like the $80 phone call.