I'm having an argument on the Windows 7 forums with someone who is insisting
that it is possible to install and activate a RETAIL copy of Windows 7 using
an OEM Product key.
Is this possible?
Has it EVER been possible? Either in XP or Vista?
If it IS possible, does anyone have an MS page that says this is possible?

The key is specific to the version of win
A generic MS oem key may work but a maker specific oem key wont

"Gordon" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm having an argument on the Windows 7 forums with someone who is
> insisting that it is possible to install and activate a RETAIL copy of
> Windows 7 using an OEM Product key.
> Is this possible?
> Has it EVER been possible? Either in XP or Vista?
> If it IS possible, does anyone have an MS page that says this is possible?

Gordon wrote:
> I'm having an argument on the Windows 7 forums with someone who is
> insisting that it is possible to install and activate a RETAIL copy
> of Windows 7 using an OEM Product key.
> Is this possible?
> Has it EVER been possible? Either in XP or Vista?
> If it IS possible, does anyone have an MS page that says this is
> possible?

Although it's not possible, it *is* possible to use a Retail CD and
create an OEM CD out of it, using this method:

http://www.thetechguide.com/howto/setuppini.html

Then simply use the OEM CD with the OEM Product Key.

(Of course, per the EULA, you are only permitted to do this on the same
PC.)

Daave wrote:
> Gordon wrote:
>> I'm having an argument on the Windows 7 forums with someone who is
>> insisting that it is possible to install and activate a RETAIL copy
>> of Windows 7 using an OEM Product key.
>> Is this possible?
>> Has it EVER been possible? Either in XP or Vista?
>> If it IS possible, does anyone have an MS page that says this is
>> possible?
>
> Although it's not possible, it *is* possible to use a Retail CD and
> create an OEM CD out of it,

Thanks. That's not what the argument is about - it's about installing
from a RETAIL DVD and then activating it using an OEM product key, which
I maintain is impossible.

Gordon wrote:
> Daave wrote:
>> Gordon wrote:
>>> I'm having an argument on the Windows 7 forums with someone who is
>>> insisting that it is possible to install and activate a RETAIL copy
>>> of Windows 7 using an OEM Product key.
>>> Is this possible?
>>> Has it EVER been possible? Either in XP or Vista?
>>> If it IS possible, does anyone have an MS page that says this is
>>> possible?
>>
>> Although it's not possible, it *is* possible to use a Retail CD and
>> create an OEM CD out of it,
>
> Thanks. That's not what the argument is about - it's about installing
> from a RETAIL DVD and then activating it using an OEM product key,
> which I maintain is impossible.

You are correct. The type of key needs to match the type of OS
installation. So one would need a retail key for a retail disk.

But using my example above, you can certainly activate using an OEM key.
Of course, you would be using an OEM installation disk, too. :-)

Yes, you can activate a Windows 7 Retail installation with a Windows 7
OEM product key as long as it is for the same edition.
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/sel...3-37a728f0263f


Gordon wrote:
> Daave wrote:
>> Gordon wrote:
>>> I'm having an argument on the Windows 7 forums with someone who is
>>> insisting that it is possible to install and activate a RETAIL copy
>>> of Windows 7 using an OEM Product key.
>>> Is this possible?
>>> Has it EVER been possible? Either in XP or Vista?
>>> If it IS possible, does anyone have an MS page that says this is
>>> possible?
>> Although it's not possible, it *is* possible to use a Retail CD and
>> create an OEM CD out of it,
>
> Thanks. That's not what the argument is about - it's about installing
> from a RETAIL DVD and then activating it using an OEM product key, which
> I maintain is impossible.

Leroy wrote:
> Yes, you can activate a Windows 7 Retail installation with a Windows 7
> OEM product key as long as it is for the same edition.
> http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/sel...3-37a728f0263f

Hmmm. NO mention of activating a RETAIL install using an OEM product
key. At least if there is I didn't see it....

I have personally installed Windows Vista on an HP PC using a retail DVD
(did not enter product key during setup) and then entered a HP OEM
Windows Vista product key and it was accepted. However, product
activation can only be accomplished by "activating by phone" which takes
about 5 minutes.

Same procedure should also work with Windows 7.

Gordon wrote:
> Leroy wrote:
>> Yes, you can activate a Windows 7 Retail installation with a Windows 7
>> OEM product key as long as it is for the same edition.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/sel...3-37a728f0263f
>
> Hmmm. NO mention of activating a RETAIL install using an OEM product
> key. At least if there is I didn't see it....

Daave wrote:
> Gordon wrote:
>> I'm having an argument on the Windows 7 forums with someone who is
>> insisting that it is possible to install and activate a RETAIL copy
>> of Windows 7 using an OEM Product key.
>> Is this possible?
>> Has it EVER been possible? Either in XP or Vista?
>> If it IS possible, does anyone have an MS page that says this is
>> possible?
>
> Although it's not possible, it *is* possible to use a Retail CD and
> create an OEM CD out of it, using this method:
>
> http://www.thetechguide.com/howto/setuppini.html
>
> Then simply use the OEM CD with the OEM Product Key.
>
> (Of course, per the EULA, you are only permitted to do this on the
> same PC.)

Addendu:

I'm not too familiar with Vista, but I know you can't enter the wrong
kind of key with XP.

Leroy

No you cannot. Even over the phone with MS when you say the key which will include
the letters OEM the Activation will fail with MS. If you call the OEM telephone
number and give the OEM key that will work

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Leroy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Yes, you can activate a Windows 7 Retail installation with a Windows 7 OEM product
> key as long as it is for the same edition.
> http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/sel...3-37a728f0263f
>
>
> Gordon wrote:
>> Daave wrote:
>>> Gordon wrote:
>>>> I'm having an argument on the Windows 7 forums with someone who is
>>>> insisting that it is possible to install and activate a RETAIL copy
>>>> of Windows 7 using an OEM Product key.
>>>> Is this possible?
>>>> Has it EVER been possible? Either in XP or Vista?
>>>> If it IS possible, does anyone have an MS page that says this is
>>>> possible?
>>> Although it's not possible, it *is* possible to use a Retail CD and create an
>>> OEM CD out of it,
>>
>> Thanks. That's not what the argument is about - it's about installing
>> from a RETAIL DVD and then activating it using an OEM product key, which
>> I maintain is impossible.