Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM

**Elrond** · February 08, 2011, 02:27 PM

I started a thread a while ago about trying to fix a problem with my computer not booting properly. It turns out that it definitely need the correction installation disk (Vista Ultimate 64 bit) to fix it. I lost the disk some time ago and none of my friends have the correct disk, everyone has vista home premium or windows 7. Vista Home premium disk wont fix the problem. I used Sims instructions and it demanded a vista ultimate disk. I can't get a new disk from microsoft because its an OEM and I have upgraded my motherboard since getting the computer. While its worked fine for the past two years, it means Microsoft won't recognise it as the same computer.

Anyway I have decided finally to get windows 7 and install it over Vista. The OEM version is considerably cheaper and I have no intention of upgrading the processor or motherboard again, although I plan to get a new graphics card at some point.

Obviously I am not a system builder and its not a new PC, are there any blocks that will stop me installing and registering the OEM version on an old PC?

**Jaketh** · February 09, 2011, 01:23 PM

Windows 7 has the exact same requirements as windows Vista, so if Vista worked so should 7

**Bolkonsky** · February 09, 2011, 05:40 PM

Don't get an OEM copy. You're much better off buying it retail, even if it is $20 more. Windows 7 checks for legitimacy every few months, which means, if you install any new hardware, you'll have to reactivate. And for whatever reason, Windows 7 can't activate half the time. Which then means that you have to call Microsoft, and they tell you they can't help you if you changed the hardware on an OEM copy. I've personally been told this by Microsoft representatives several times, and I will say, it's just not worth it.

**Top-Tier-Tech** · February 10, 2011, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Bolkonsky

if you install any new hardware, you'll have to reactivate.

This is completely false. You can upgrade RAM or video cards any time without trouble. It's when you try to upgrade several things at once such as a CPU RAm and video cards all at the same time that you run into problems such as you described.

**Dewy** · February 10, 2011, 03:25 AM

$20 more? Try $300 more; going on prices listed on microsoft and what I pick up my OEMs for--retail stores is even more. You can install new hardware without reactivating, it works on a point system, for example if I change my gpu I gather points (which get removed over time) but if I accumulate to much points I have to reactivate. The only time windows 7 shouldn't reactivate is if you change your motherboard--which is what the OEM is tied to these days IIRC.

EDIT: I was going on the windows 7 professional prices, so it may be a lot different for home edition.

**Bolkonsky** · February 10, 2011, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by Dewy

$20 more? Try $300 more; going on prices listed on microsoft and what I pick up my OEMs for--retail stores is even more. You can install new hardware without reactivating, it works on a point system, for example if I change my gpu I gather points (which get removed over time) but if I accumulate to much points I have to reactivate. The only time windows 7 shouldn't reactivate is if you change your motherboard--which is what the OEM is tied to these days IIRC.

EDIT: I was going on the windows 7 professional prices, so it may be a lot different for home edition.

I was going on Home Premium prices.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116754
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-713-_-Product