I just came from IT Center at Pantip where I was looking at an Acer desktop. The salesman said he could install a genuine OEM copy of Windows 7 Home Premium for 2500 baht or the obvious alternative for 200 baht.

I'm curious if it's worth it for the semi-legitiimate genuine. Are there problems with OEM (I think that's what it's called) installations?

Is the alternative option fairly trouble free these days?

Thanks for your input.

Nothing wrong with OEM except that in theory MS will not give you any support if you have technical problems (but who would ever call MS for that anyway?). OEM is entirely legitimate.

The other MS option is a non-OEM version of Windows 7, which is the same but costs more.

You would have to be out of your mind to install a pirated operating system these days.

you can use your OEM license with only one machine. change the motherboard and you're screwed as well.

you can use your OEM license with only one machine. change the motherboard and you're screwed as well.

Not really. If it comes back 'Not Genuine' after changing the MB, it's usually a 5 minute procedure to re-activate it.

you can use your OEM license with only one machine. change the motherboard and you're screwed as well.

Not really. If it comes back 'Not Genuine' after changing the MB, it's usually a 5 minute procedure to re-activate it.

Yeap, even Microsoft understands motherboards, hard drives, other computer components must be changed sometimes for various reasons such as desired upgrade, repair, etc., and this could cause the OEM-OS to be identified as Not Genuine. Call MS, explain the situation and they give you a new product key...I've done it before.

you can use your OEM license with only one machine. change the motherboard and you're screwed as well.

Not really. If it comes back 'Not Genuine' after changing the MB, it's usually a 5 minute procedure to re-activate it.

Yeap, even Microsoft understands motherboards, hard drives, other computer components must be changed sometimes for various reasons such as desired upgrade, repair, etc., and this could cause the OEM-OS to be identified as Not Genuine. Call MS, explain the situation and they give you a new product key...I've done it before.

the OEM license does not allow you to change the motherboard unless it's defective and it is replaced by a similar board. no idea how it is in real life but that's what the license says.

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_faq.aspx

In practice MS dont care. Hence my original comment.

per licence agreement, the OEM version has to be sold together with ONE computer installation and serviced by the hardware provider. this is how it called - OEM. ( and yes, with an OEM licence, MS support 'could' say no .)

the retails version allows floating between hardware, and MS support manages all your enquiry. in case of hardware failue, call MS for a new validation. the MS support actually ask you which licence version you have.

with OEM licence, I am not sure.

Nothing wrong with OEM except that in theory MS will not give you any support if you have technical problems (but who would ever call MS for that anyway?). OEM is entirely legitimate.

The other MS option is a non-OEM version of Windows 7, which is the same but costs more.

You would have to be out of your mind to install a pirated operating system these days.

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I guess I'll buy the OEM. Is it true though that the pirated OS are that bad an idea? If I have a problem can't I just install the OEM copy..

you can use your OEM license with only one machine. change the motherboard and you're screwed as well.

Not really. If it comes back 'Not Genuine' after changing the MB, it's usually a 5 minute procedure to re-activate it.

Yeap, even Microsoft understands motherboards, hard drives, other computer components must be changed sometimes for various reasons such as desired upgrade, repair, etc., and this could cause the OEM-OS to be identified as Not Genuine. Call MS, explain the situation and they give you a new product key...I've done it before.

the OEM license does not allow you to change the motherboard unless it's defective and it is replaced by a similar board. no idea how it is in real life but that's what the license says.

http://www.microsoft...ensing_faq.aspx

Many people are reluctant to call Miscrosoft when hardware changes/repairs/upgrades drive the need to to get a license reactivated...guess people think Microsoft is going to reach through the phone and hand them a law suit or just say No! When in fact from my experience Microsoft asks few questions (like what is current problem, what is your current license/product key,they don't ask for names/addresses/etc) and just gives you a new product key/license number assuming you don't tell them you are trying to rip them off. If you call I would recommend you have the window open where you enter the license/product key during the call....that way you can enter it during the call to confirm it works.

What is the full model number of your Desktop?

Is it true though that the pirated OS are that bad an idea? If I have a problem can't I just install the OEM copy..

I think pirated modern OSs from the likes of Tukcom etc. are pretty well bound to be infested with trojans and viruses and worse. I wouldn't want one on my machine.

It's not the copying of the disk that is an issue; you need a unique code to activate Windows, and that is what you buy. Pirated versions have "tools" built-in to make activation unnecessary, but these dont usually work well or indefinitely, and may prevent some other programmes or functions from being installed.

If you have an OEM disk and key, use them. Windows is cheap here.

The operating system will affect your hardware and all the other software you load on your computer. The OS is the brain of the computer; don't buy a brain that may have some bad and/or infected brain cells....go genuine on the OS.

The operating system will affect your hardware and all the other software you load on your computer. The OS is the brain of the computer; don't buy a brain that may have some bad and/or infected brain cells....go genuine on the OS.

And you probably won't get security patches with a pirated O/S, leaving you vulnerable to even more hacking or viruses. Go at least OEM.

I would hope that the Win 7 Home Premium you are considering will have Thai fonts installed. My biggest disappointment with Home Premium ( Retail Box from a HK distributor, no problems validating) is that Micro$oft wants me to upgrade to Win 7 Ultimate to be able to download Thai Language pack

People that claim pirated windows can't be activated or get updates just don't know what they are doing.

It is entirely possible to activate windows in exactly the same way Dell, HP etc do using a method called slic.

This method is not only undetectable but can only be deactivated by also deactivating every legitimate version at the same time.

However despite the relative simplicity I have never seen a Thai shop doing it.

Most Thai pirated installations use bad cracks which don't survive updates and are filled with useless software and in some cases virus/trojans.

People that claim pirated windows can't be activated or get updates just don't know what they are doing.

It is entirely possible to activate windows in exactly the same way Dell, HP etc do using a method called slic.

This method is not only undetectable but can only be deactivated by also deactivating every legitimate version at the same time.

However despite the relative simplicity I have never seen a Thai shop doing it.

Most Thai pirated installations use bad cracks which don't survive updates and are filled with useless software and in some cases virus/trojans.

Perhaps you haven't thought this through......

One reason why they might not do it, is that the machines without Windows here often don't have SLIC enabled n the BIOS. Leaving the BIOS mod, Loader or Crack.as the main alternatives.

I would hope that the Win 7 Home Premium you are considering will have Thai fonts installed. My biggest disappointment with Home Premium ( Retail Box from a HK distributor, no problems validating) is that Micro$oft wants me to upgrade to Win 7 Ultimate to be able to download Thai Language pack

This is not a problem. One way to overcome it, is to use Vistalizator

People that claim pirated windows can't be activated or get updates just don't know what they are doing.

That's wonderful advice for the OP, who clearly isnt an expert.

I would hope that the Win 7 Home Premium you are considering will have Thai fonts installed. My biggest disappointment with Home Premium ( Retail Box from a HK distributor, no problems validating) is that Micro$oft wants me to upgrade to Win 7 Ultimate to be able to download Thai Language pack

You can install Thai fonts on any version of Windows. You only need Ultimate if you want to (legally) alter the OS to Thai so that menus etc. come up in that language.