oem or retail

[bigtone1234]

im getting windows 7 64bit proffessional, but i dont know what the difference between the OEM version and the retail version is. can anybody explain this please bearing in mind im a novice
thanks

[Barry]

Both are the same really, OEM is normally shipped with hardware and afaik the license is tied to the hardware

[Saracen]

First, price. Retail is more expensive.

Second, OEM is supposed to be tied to a given piece of hardware with limited transferability. It's also not a licence you could sell on. And, with the Retail, MS provide support, but with OEM, the hardware manufacturer is supposed to provide it.

At least, last time I looked that was the core of it.

[Splash]

OEM is unsupported by Microsoft (support is provided by the OEM, in your case... yourself) and linked to the hardware it's installed on. Retail is supported by Microsoft (ie if something is broken you can open a ticket with them for help) and can be transferred from one machine to another.

[bigtone1234]

so i may as well get the oem version then, im creating a new pc so the only hardware which i anticipate to be changed in future would be the addition of a gfx card or possible monitor upgrade.
thanks for the help

does the retail version allow you to install it on multiple pcs?

[Splash]

does the retail version allow you to install it on multiple pcs?

One at a time, yes. So you activate on one, but you can then uninstall from that machine and install on another. I suspect that you may have meant "multiple PCs at the same time", in which case the answer is no: one machine, one license.

[jim]

Nope. Only one at a time, assuming that's what you're getting at.

[bigtone1234]

ahh right, considerin all, i dont think the extra £60 for the windows 7 retail version is worth it so ill go for the oem , thanks for help all