OEM Microsoft softwares?

[Adam Goi]

Hi to all,

I'm relatively new to this; is it possible to get OEM softwares such as Windows 7 Ultimate and Office 2010 Professional here in Singapore? How much cheaper are they and what's the catch?

Thanks in advance!

 

[nightwolf75]

yes you can, at sim lim.

very little catch, i guess. but for win7 OS OEM, if you ever want to re-install into a new peecee, you have to physically call microsoft SG to get the activation code. you have to persuade them that you are not some pirate...

i had to tell them dat my hdd crashed before they release a new serial for me.

 

[ExplorerZ]

as far as i know, OEM windows activation key are binded to the motherboard, so once your motherboard down, u need a new key. price wise, its normally less than 1/2 the price of a retail set.

 

[Limsgp]

as far as i know, OEM windows activation key are binded to the motherboard, so once your motherboard down, u need a new key. price wise, its normally less than 1/2 the price of a retail set.

For the OS itself, there's 2 type of packaging, OEM or retail. Both can be bought from stores. Retail pack is like better packaged and more expensive. Both type are not binded to the MB.

There's another type which are binded to the MB, but these are installed by manufacturers like Dell, Acer etc.., and are not available for consumer purchase, I guess. It comes pre-installed on the devices, and maybe with a "recovery CD".

 

[Limsgp]

Hi to all,

I'm relatively new to this; is it possible to get OEM softwares such as Windows 7 Ultimate and Office 2010 Professional here in Singapore? How much cheaper are they and what's the catch?

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure how much cheaper. But the differences is mostly the documentations and packaging (box) are better for retail packs. OEM is like CD + Cardboard that kind with plastic wrapping.. Software itself, should be no difference. That's what my colleague from IT told me. He never buy "retail" for company use. I bought OEM before, via the IT dept, for company use.

 

[JinnyLim]

Just googled it.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/...icensing-full-or-upgrade-license-for-windows/

 

[yrh0413]

Hi to all,

I'm relatively new to this; is it possible to get OEM softwares such as Windows 7 Ultimate and Office 2010 Professional here in Singapore? How much cheaper are they and what's the catch?

Thanks in advance!

OEM licenses are suppose to be supplied with a new PC, or to be purchased within 90 days after you bought your new computer. Getting it from Sim Lim is considered "illegal" because the resellers are not suppose to sell it without bundling it with any hardware. Still, this is not really enforced in Singapore.

OEM titles are ~40-50% cheaper than the retail packs. The catch is OEM software does not come with transferable license; you "should" buy new copies if you change your computer. You won't get to activate your installation if you install it on another PC. However, like others have mentioned you can still call Microsoft activation center and give them "reasonable" explanations to get them to read out the activation codes.

 

[chanxj]

Well, what they do in US in the past is to sell a USB cable together with the OEM license. "Bought together with new hardware"

 

[ricohflex]

Yes. Beware of the complicated [upgrade] and various multiple versions. Seems like Ms cannot come out with a straight product line for consumers to easily decide which one to buy.

 

[Adam Goi]

Thanks for the input people ... just came back from SLS, got a new graphics card (just because of Starcraft II); had a chat with a salesperson and she mentioned that OEMs will not allow us to use the 'upgrade version' of the subsequent revision of the software, i.e. Windows 8 or Office 2013/2014 ... is that right?

 

[ExplorerZ]

For the OS itself, there's 2 type of packaging, OEM or retail. Both can be bought from stores. Retail pack is like better packaged and more expensive. Both type are not binded to the MB.

There's another type which are binded to the MB, but these are installed by manufacturers like Dell, Acer etc.., and are not available for consumer purchase, I guess. It comes pre-installed on the devices, and maybe with a "recovery CD".

those "OEM" you can get from simlim works the same way as the one that dell and acer uses. Thats y it is much cheaper becos they are binded to a single mobo, and i got this from MS themselves

Yes. Beware of the complicated [upgrade] and various multiple versions. Seems like Ms cannot come out with a straight product line for consumers to easily decide which one to buy.

actually the easier way is to just get the retail if you are quite sure you will be upgrading your whole system in the near future

 

[Limsgp]

those "OEM" you can get from simlim works the same way as the one that dell and acer uses. Thats y it is much cheaper becos they are binded to a single mobo, and i got this from MS themselves

From the googled link in earlier post by others.

"Since Windows Vista and including Windows 7, EULA of OEM license can only be installed on one computer, and is forever locked and bounded to the computer (motherboard) of which it’s installed. In Windows XP, OEM license can be installed on one computer at a time. OEM license is always the least expensive edition, but is available to OEMs only.

OEM license also has another variant called System Builder OEM license, which is also an OEM license with lesser discount, has all the same restrictions and limitations of OEM license. But System Builder OEM license may be available to general customer who purchased a new PC (or hardware) from a small system builder via retail store."

How would it be available to general customer if it is binded to a single MB?

I guess only manufacturer can install those MB locked OS?

 

[ExplorerZ]

From the googled link in earlier post by others.

"Since Windows Vista and including Windows 7, EULA of OEM license can only be installed on one computer, and is forever locked and bounded to the computer (motherboard) of which it’s installed. In Windows XP, OEM license can be installed on one computer at a time. OEM license is always the least expensive edition, but is available to OEMs only.

OEM license also has another variant called System Builder OEM license, which is also an OEM license with lesser discount, has all the same restrictions and limitations of OEM license. But System Builder OEM license may be available to general customer who purchased a new PC (or hardware) from a small system builder via retail store."

How would it be available to general customer if it is binded to a single MB?

I guess only manufacturer can install those MB locked OS?

duh, they are binding after u install them... i never say they are pre-binded even before you purchase. u did quote this yourselve

"Since Windows Vista and including Windows 7, EULA of OEM license can only be installed on one computer, and is forever locked and bounded to the computer (motherboard) of which it’s installed."

and fyi the "System builder OEM" they refering to include shops in SLS which help you to build PC and install those "OEM" windows on it themselves, it doesn't have to be those big brand like dell, hp, acer

 

[cks2k2]

From the googled link in earlier post by others.

"Since Windows Vista and including Windows 7, EULA of OEM license can only be installed on one computer, and is forever locked and bounded to the computer (motherboard) of which it’s installed. In Windows XP, OEM license can be installed on one computer at a time. OEM license is always the least expensive edition, but is available to OEMs only.

OEM license also has another variant called System Builder OEM license, which is also an OEM license with lesser discount, has all the same restrictions and limitations of OEM license. But System Builder OEM license may be available to general customer who purchased a new PC (or hardware) from a small system builder via retail store."

How would it be available to general customer if it is binded to a single MB?

I guess only manufacturer can install those MB locked OS?

MS allows limited customization of their OS to their hardware partners i.e. a Dell logo in your system properties. That OEM version is locked to the hardware.

I don't know about SG, but I bought my OEM Win7 in KL (RM200+ IIRC), installed on my 2+ years old SG-bought laptop and have had no problems (activated while in KL though).

 

[yrh0413]

Thanks for the input people ... just came back from SLS, got a new graphics card (just because of Starcraft II); had a chat with a salesperson and she mentioned that OEMs will not allow us to use the 'upgrade version' of the subsequent revision of the software, i.e. Windows 8 or Office 2013/2014 ... is that right?

OEM softwares are not entitled for upgrades to newer versions, except for special cases (like a few months back you get free upgrade to Office 2010 when you buy Office 2007).

Retail packs are not entitled for upgrades to later versions too, unless you go for SA (Software Assurance) in which you need to pay additional ~30% more on top of the price for retail pack.

 

[Limsgp]

duh, they are binding after u install them... i never say they are pre-binded even before you purchase. u did quote this yourselve

"Since Windows Vista and including Windows 7, EULA of OEM license can only be installed on one computer, and is forever locked and bounded to the computer (motherboard) of which it’s installed."

and fyi the "System builder OEM" they refering to include shops in SLS which help you to build PC and install those "OEM" windows on it themselves, it doesn't have to be those big brand like dell, hp, acer

The key point is highlighted in red, "OEM license also has another variant", in what I quoted.

That is the variant that is not locked to a MB. How is it possible to lock to a MB for consumer version? Maybe the license states that it should be "locked", a form of restriction only, but actual implementation may not be possible.

If you ever tried to install windows from a recovery CD on another computer, during the installation, it will prompt "Windows cannot be installed on this computer" or something to that effect. That is what I meant by MB lock. And that, is pre-binded BEFORE purchase of computers like Dell or Acer. There could be additional script or such on the CD, but the purpose is the same, locking the copy of windows to specific hardware.

But if you use an OEM copy bought from the stores, there is no such message as it doesn't check the hardware during install. That is what I meant by "no MB lock".

Note that all these are before activation.

 

[ExplorerZ]

The key point is highlighted in red, "OEM license also has another variant", in what I quoted.

That is the variant that is not locked to a MB. How is it possible to lock to a MB for consumer version? Maybe the license states that it should be "locked", a form of restriction only, but actual implementation may not be possible.

If you ever tried to install windows from a recovery CD on another computer, during the installation, it will prompt "Windows cannot be installed on this computer" or something to that effect. That is what I meant by MB lock. And that, is pre-binded BEFORE purchase of computers like Dell or Acer. There could be additional script or such on the CD, but the purpose is the same, locking the copy of windows to specific hardware.

But if you use an OEM copy bought from the stores, there is no such message as it doesn't check the hardware during install. That is what I meant by "no MB lock".

Note that all these are before activation.

they do not bind ur physically CD to ur MB, but rather the CD-key or activation key. u can still install with another CD that comes with another PC, but u will not be able to activate it using that activation key.
In another saying, the CD/DVD is just a plan windows disc, all the checking and binding are on the hardware and the activation key, not the CD. that is why we are able to install windows using other people CD without problem even those that came with hp and dell.


just to add, its the same as games, thats why people need crack and things like key-gen, because those are the ones that does the validation rather than the setup files itself

 

[Limsgp]

they do not bind ur physically CD to ur MB, but rather the CD-key or activation key. u can still install with another CD that comes with another PC, but u will not be able to activate it using that activation key.
In another saying, the CD/DVD is just a plan windows disc, all the checking and binding are on the hardware and the activation key, not the CD. that is why we are able to install windows using other people CD without problem even those that came with hp and dell.

But you can't install on other pple's computer using dell or Acer's CD. Why? bcoz their windows is MB locked, but the OEM from retail outlets is not.

Like I mentioned before, for the OEM windows that is MB locked, checking occurs before the activation stage. That is why only manufacturers can apply those MB locking.

OEM windows for general consumers doesn't have MB locking. But the usual activation mechanism to prevent windows from installing on more than one COMPUTER applies. And this activation mechanism applies to retail version of windows too, not only OEM.

For the 2 types of OEM windows.

One is locked to MB. The other is locked to COMPUTER, in which case it's possible to change the MB (only) w/o re-activation (not sure if it's possible for integrated graphic cards, network card MBs), if standard windows activation check applies..

Anyway, I guess I've explained enough what I meant regarding the 2 version of OEM windows and "MB locking". Maybe my info is not accurate, or you can take it that my info is not accurate. I'll not go on further..