Cheapest Windows 7

[1pnoe]

Hey all, I've got some upcoming builds for some people, does anyone know the cheapest place to get Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. Possibly just the key/licence.

Ollie

[Ferral]

When you buy the parts for the build you should be able to buy the OEM version of Windows 7. Just ask over the phone when placing the order.

[1pnoe]

Would that be cheaper than a £67 OEM from Amazon?

[Ferral]

You would have to call around as prices can change quite often. Its usually around the £60 something mark wherever you go. If you are buying from Amazon make sure that you are buying from a reputable seller.

[peterb]

Don't forget that if you supply an OEM license, you are responsible for support.

[1pnoe]

Always have, always will. I usually do re-builds so I hadn't a need for an OEM before

[Xenor]

Did you find out where the cheapest is? I need a copy and I'm dreading the thought of paying £67.

[alex_stanhope]

I think OEM licences are technically attached to the motherboard, but they should only be sold with a full set of components. Not all retailers adhere to that. In the past you only had to buy a piece of hardware to qualify, but things are stricter now. I remember reading a few posts about people buying MS Windows OEM and MS Office OEM with just a USB key.

[Agent]

If you're building for someone that's a student or one of the standard qualifying people: http://www.software4students.co.uk/W...-software.aspx

[Xenor]

I wish I'd thought ahead and bought this two years ago when I was a student. Looks like I'll be paying £67.

[dav532000]

My son who is a teacher got it from software4students in Jan for £40 so gone up slightly.

[rustedzeke]

Did you find out where the cheapest is? I need a copy and I'm dreading the thought of paying £67.

Amazon is the cheapest that I have found after quite a bit of extensive research (aka mindless searching around).

[NitrousX]

the only disadvantage of OEM OS's is it's locked to the motherboard if you change the mobo if you want to upgrade it. You'll likely find you'll have to fork out money for another license. So in the long run I would suggest buying a full OS just for the peace of mind knowing that you could upgrade without any locked license agreements attached to a OEM OS.

[Xenor]

the only disadvantage of OEM OS's is it's locked to the motherboard if you change the mobo if you want to upgrade it. You'll likely find you'll have to fork out money for another license. So in the long run I would suggest buying a full OS just for the peace of mind knowing that you could upgrade without any locked license agreements attached to a OEM OS.

That kind of crap just encourages piracy. No way would I pay for a second copy of an OS I already bought just because I changed my motherboard. Windows 9 will be out by the time I need to worry about that however and hopefully it will be a worthy upgrade.

[MrNeil]

Found this so i copied and pasted it It is slightly of subject though but it might help !!

According to Microsoft, roughly 90% of all copies of Windows are purchased with new PCs, preinstalled by Original Equipment Manufacturers that build the PC and sell Windows as part of the package. That will certainly be true with Windows 7.

OEM (major PC manufacturer) This is, by far, the cheapest way to purchase Windows 7. The top 20 or so PC makers (sometimes called “royalty OEMs”) collectively sell millions of PCs per month with Windows already installed on them. When you start up that PC for the first time, you accept two license agreements, one with the manufacturer and one with Microsoft. Here’s what you need to know about this type of license agreement:

Your Windows license agreement is between you and the PC maker, not between you and Microsoft.
The OEM uses special imaging tools to install Windows on PCs they manufacture. When you first turn on the PC, you accept a license agreement with the OEM and with Microsoft.
The PC maker is required to provide support for Windows. Except for security issues, Microsoft will not provide free support for any issues you have with Windows purchased from an OEM.
Your copy of Windows is locked to the PC on which you purchased it. You cannot transfer that license to another PC.
You can upgrade any components or peripherals on your PC and keep your license intact. You can replace the motherboard with an identical model or an equivalent model from the OEM if it fails. However, if you personally replace or upgrade the motherboard, your OEM Windows license is null and void.
Windows activation is typically not required when Windows is preinstalled by a royalty OEM. Instead, these copies are pre-activated at the factory. Your copy of Windows will be automatically reactivated if you reinstall it using the media or recovery partition from the PC maker, it will not require activation.
At the time you purchase an OEM copy of Windows 7 to be preinstalled on a new PC, you must choose either 32-bit or 64-bit Windows. Your agreement with the OEM determines whether you can switch to a different version; some PC makers support only a single version with specific PC models and will not allow you to switch from 32-bit to 64-bit (or vice versa) after purchase.

OEM (System Builder) If you buy a new computer from a local PC builder (sometimes called a “white box” PC), you can get an OEM edition of Windows preinstalled. This type of OEM license differs in a few crucial details from the version the big PC makers sell:

As with the royalty OEM versions, your copy of Windows is locked to the PC on which it is installed and cannot be transferred to a PC, nor can the motherboard be upgraded.
Under the terms of its agreement with Microsoft, the OEM must use the Windows OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) to install Windows. When you first turn on the PC, you accept a license agreement with the OEM and with Microsoft. The OEM is required to provide support for your copy of Windows.
Activation of your new PC is required within 30 days. The product key should already have been entered as part of the OPK installation and activation should be automatic and transparent to you.


Although it is possible for an individual to buy a System Builder copy of Windows 7 and install it on a new PC, that scenario is specifically prohibited by the license agreement, which requires that the software be installed using the OPK and then resold to a non-related third party. (As I noted in a September 2008 post, Microsoft once allowed “hobbyists” to use OEM System Builder software to build their own PCs, but the company switched to a hard-line stance on this issue sometime after Vista shipped in early 2007.)
When you purchase a white-box PC from a system builder, the PC maker preinstalls the Windows version you purchased. The package you receive includes reinstallation media and a product key that is similar to a full packaged product but cannot be used for an in-place upgrade. You may or may not receive both 32-bit and 64-bit media. If you receive both types of media, you can switch from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows or vice versa by performing a custom reinstall using your product key.

[go0rath]

Although it is possible for an individual to buy a System Builder copy of Windows 7 and install it on a new PC, that scenario is specifically prohibited by the license agreement, which requires that the software be installed using the OPK and then resold to a non-related third party. (As I noted in a September 2008 post, Microsoft once allowed “hobbyists” to use OEM System Builder software to build their own PCs, but the company switched to a hard-line stance on this issue sometime after Vista shipped in early 2007.)

So is it essentially piracy to buy an OEM version from Amazon and then use it on your home build?