Windows 7 re : in-house upgrade or custom install

[Sam Hobbs]

In addition to what Gary said about OEM licenses, most people buy upgrades.
Legally, a prior version of upgraded software cannot be used by anyone when
the later version is used. Technically it will likely work and it is
unlikely Microsoft will do anything about it, but they could.

 

[Steve Cochran]

Do you have a reference for that? The end user agreements I saw didn't say
anything like that when it came to transferring.

steve

Yes, but most likely that license is an OEM one, tied to specific hardware.
Only a retail boxed copy of XP can be transferred to another machine.

 

[Steve Cochran]

Well, then tell Gary he shouldn't be using Vista software in Windows 7.

I seriously doubt MS is going to come after those users or after Gary.

steve

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Hee-hee. I have a legal license for that Vista software.
Besides, using one app is a lot different than using the whole OS.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

I'm not about to dig out the OEM license, but that is my understanding.
OEM's get a cheaper license from Microsoft by tying the license to
a specific motherboard. Here is one discussion about that:
http://www.aviransplace.com/2006/02/15/microsoft-upgraded-motherboard-new-licence/

 

[Sam Hobbs]

There is abundant discussions of the OEM license. One of hundreds is in the
Newegg's description of an OEM copy of Windows 7. Go to:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re+-+Operating+Systems-_-Microsoft-_-32116752

At the top right is "Disclaimer"; it says use "of this OEM System Builder
Channel software" .... "is intended for pre-installation on a new personal
computer for resale" .... "requires the assembler to provide end user
support" .... "and cannot be transferred to another computer once it is
installed". As far as I know, all that applies to all of Microsoft's OEM
licenses. Most vendors selling OEM-licensed copies of Windows don't include
a disclaimer such as that, and I assume it is dishonest not to.

 

[Steve Cochran]

I don't think you will be able to convince MS of that. <G>

steve

Hee-hee. I have a legal license for that Vista software.
Besides, using one app is a lot different than using the whole OS.

 

[Steve Cochran]

Well, that's hardly from the "horse's mouth". 3rd hand discussions are not
legally binding. <G>

My Acer Atom toy XP computer has a valid product key on it and it doesn't
say anything about an OEM license.

steve

I'm not about to dig out the OEM license, but that is my understanding.
OEM's get a cheaper license from Microsoft by tying the license to
a specific motherboard. Here is one discussion about that:
http://www.aviransplace.com/2006/02/15/microsoft-upgraded-motherboard-new-licence/

 

[Steve Cochran]

My Acer XP laptop has a valid product key and nothing about OEM licensing.
Given its in a virtual environment, then that's another issue as well.

I'm not interested in other peoples' discussions of OEM licenses for Win7
thank you.

steve

 

[Sam Hobbs]

You asked Gary "Do you have a reference for that?".

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

I tend to trust actual user experiences more than the typical
gobbledygook (incomprehensible legalese) from the horse's mouth.

Several users in that discussion (for example, #25 and #40) reported
that they attempted to reuse their XP OEM license on another computer,
and activation failed.

On that Acer computer can you get to the System screen where near the
bottom it shows the activation status? It should also display the Product ID,
where the second group of characters is "OEM".