Windows 7 Rc About To Expire

[Supernova]

May I ask if you bought the software on line or in a computer store?

Regardless of where you make the purchase, make sure you get the Retail version, not OEM. Both OEM and Retail contain the same bits; the only difference between them is the licensing. While Windows 7 OEM costs less, it comes with a restrictive license. Once an OEM license has been activated, it is forever "married" to the computer it was activated on and cannot be transferred. Do keep this in mind when purchasing your copy.

Click here for more details.

[lopburi3]

But for most people that is what they want - an operating system for a specific computer that will remain on that computer. The days of DOS/Windows 3 are long gone - operating systems change as fast, or faster than hardware these days (for most people). OEM is much better value in Thailand for most people and is why it is often the only way you can buy it.

If you are currently running 32 and expect to change to 64 than yes - retail would be better value as the same package has both. But it will be some time before 64 is much of an advantage for most applications/users so will take my chances.

[garyh]

May I ask if you bought the software on line or in a computer store?

Regardless of where you make the purchase, make sure you get the Retail version, not OEM. Both OEM and Retail contain the same bits; the only difference between them is the licensing. While Windows 7 OEM costs less, it comes with a restrictive license. Once an OEM license has been activated, it is forever "married" to the computer it was activated on and cannot be transferred. Do keep this in mind when purchasing your copy.

Click here for more details.

I had changed my hardware 3 times while running vista OEM, no problem just activate by phone and tell them you had a hardware failure and they give you a key.

I have already done this once with W7 Ultimate as I decided to get a core i7 CPU and MB.

[onethailand]

For the record, the OEM versions are only supposed to be sold with a new computer - so if you purchase one for your existing computer it is no different than purchasing a pirated copy. You might as well save the money...

[lopburi3]

The OEM is legal and is only expected to be sold with a component - it does not require a new computer to be legal.

[garyh]

For the record, the OEM versions are only supposed to be sold with a new computer - so if you purchase one for your existing computer it is no different than purchasing a pirated copy. You might as well save the money...

You should read the license agreement as you are incorrect.

[Mobi]

I've been checking the Microsoft sites to purchase W7.

It seems that it is cheaper to buy from Microsoft USA than Microsoft Singapore.

Using a rate of S$23 to 1 BHT and US $32 to 1 Bht. I get prices in Thai Baht of:

4,600; 6900; 7300, from Singapore and 3,840: 6,400; 7040; from M'soft USA, for the 3 full versions of W7. (Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate respectively).

The software can be downloaded and no need to visit a store or have disks sent by mail.

Is there anything wrong with my thinking on this?

[Spoonman]

OEM is legal as long as your a system builder and are selling the pc, I sold mine to my missus.

[lopburi3]

OEM is legal as long as your a system builder and are selling the pc, I sold mine to my missus.

You do not need to be a system builder to buy and use OEM - the seller should be and it should be sold with some other item (not defined). As most computers here are sold without full license the below is very applicable here and is from the official Q&A answers from Microsoft on there website:

1. What do I do if I realize that I do not have a full license for Windows, or if I received a donated PC that did not come with an operating system license?

ANSWER. If you do not have a genuine operating system license, you can acquire a Full-Packaged Product (FPP) version of the product from your local retail store. Or you may purchase an OEM version of an operating system from a Microsoft System Builder, subject to the requirement that you purchase hardware with that OEM version of the product. At that time, you should receive a genuine EULA, Certificate of Authenticity (COA), and manual. Visit the Microsoft How to Tell website to determine whether you have genuine software and licensing; http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/howtotell.

[Supernova]

For the record, the OEM versions are only supposed to be sold with a new computer - so if you purchase one for your existing computer it is no different than purchasing a pirated copy. You might as well save the money...

I won't go as far as to say it's "illegal", because it isn't. However, OEM versions are intended for system builders only. To recap, if having a non-transferable license AND no technical support is okay with you, then get the OEM version.

Read this article by Paul Thurrott.

[Mobi]

I've been checking the Microsoft sites to purchase W7.

It seems that it is cheaper to buy from Microsoft USA than Microsoft Singapore.

Using a rate of S$23 to 1 BHT and US $32 to 1 Bht. I get prices in Thai Baht of:

4,600; 6900; 7300, from Singapore and 3,840: 6,400; 7040; from M'soft USA, for the 3 full versions of W7. (Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate respectively).

The software can be downloaded and no need to visit a store or have disks sent by mail.

Is there anything wrong with my thinking on this?

The above is rubbish, so ignore it. I was quoting the US prices for an upgrade, not a full installation.

The Singapore Microsoft prices are cheaper.

Anyway, as the price differential between Thailand shop prices and Singapore was not too much, I opted to buy W7 Professional (retail) here in Pattaya;( price 7,200 Baht), as I decided I would rather have the hard disk than download over the net.

I have now installed W7 Prof, after backing up all my files from W7 RC and restoring them onto W7 Professional.

When I originally installed RC, I kept my XP OS, and split the hard drive so that I could run both systems. (XP and W7RC)

After installing W7 Prof, I find that I inadvertently installed it on the drive that used to run XP, so it is now deleted. That is no problem, as I haven't used it for months, and in any case I have backed up all the files.

So My PC now has two operating systems: Windows RC and Windows 7 Professional.

Question: How do I remove W 7 RC and 'undo' the split in my hard drive, so that I just have W7 Prof, and one hard drive?

Any ideas?

Thanks

[garyh]

I've been checking the Microsoft sites to purchase W7.

It seems that it is cheaper to buy from Microsoft USA than Microsoft Singapore.

Using a rate of S$23 to 1 BHT and US $32 to 1 Bht. I get prices in Thai Baht of:

4,600; 6900; 7300, from Singapore and 3,840: 6,400; 7040; from M'soft USA, for the 3 full versions of W7. (Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate respectively).

The software can be downloaded and no need to visit a store or have disks sent by mail.

Is there anything wrong with my thinking on this?

The above is rubbish, so ignore it. I was quoting the US prices for an upgrade, not a full installation.

The Singapore Microsoft prices are cheaper.

Anyway, as the price differential between Thailand shop prices and Singapore was not too much, I opted to buy W7 Professional (retail) here in Pattaya;( price 7,200 Baht), as I decided I would rather have the hard disk than download over the net.

I have now installed W7 Prof, after backing up all my files from W7 RC and restoring them onto W7 Professional.

When I originally installed RC, I kept my XP OS, and split the hard drive so that I could run both systems. (XP and W7RC)

After installing W7 Prof, I find that I inadvertently installed it on the drive that used to run XP, so it is now deleted. That is no problem, as I haven't used it for months, and in any case I have backed up all the files.

So My PC now has two operating systems: Windows RC and Windows 7 Professional.

Question: How do I remove W 7 RC and 'undo' the split in my hard drive, so that I just have W7 Prof, and one hard drive?

Any ideas?

Thanks

If you have not done it already right click on the task bar and select properties/start menu/customize scroll down to system administrative tools and enable them in the start menu.

Now go to Start/All Programs/administrative tools/Computer management

Then go down to Storage/disk management.

This will allow you to delete and resize partitions, or you can get 3rd part tools such as Paragon to do it also.

But be careful, have your backups up to date.