An unequivocal answer from MS to my W7 OEM question.
 

The soft was lying on my shelf in front of me. At this moment, I just couldn't face more time-wasting arguments with big companies. So I called NewEgg for an RMA number.

This they did, but only because of a delayed delivery - they wouldn't normally refund on an OEM software pack, even if it was un opened.

While talking to their reps I raised the issue of it being sold to 'Assemblers.' Remember, a good proportion of their computer sales is to home builders, who rely on OEM OS's to make the build viable. They gave me a number to talk to MS.

I got a nice young lady who may or may not have been anywhere near the US. She told that it was Okay. I said, Are you sure? "this package may ONLY be distributed with a fully assembled computer system." is written on your box. What will happen if I call in for Activation?

It'll be okay.

I sounded doubtful, so got put through to another machine that talked bo-lox for 5 mins, then put me through to a real person. Young James seemed to be very up to speed with this issue. "Yes you can build at home and install it." I'd told him that I used to own a computer company, but was now retired. "You will know that this is not supported. But, it will be Activated okay when you call in." [Sic]

He also said that it could never be installed on another machine.

Still sounding doubtful, I asked for his name and if the conversation will be recorded. He said all the issues have been written into my file and the fact that I've called in, is on record.

Now, do I install, or pay the extra? (Not a real question, I'm just thinking aloud. {read rambling} )

Probably won't want support. Will I? Not with the hand-holding I get here.:}

Copy on to another machine one day? Might be an issue.

Two bit choice. I'm going for 32, but it would be nice to play with 64. I don't get this choice with OEM.


One has 14 days to decide if I want me money back from NewEgg.

Yes, I wondered about that. But in the past MS record keeping has been very accurate. If it had been one person, that would have been weak, but two...I don't know.


The thing is, so much this soft is being sold every day. I would suggest most builders use OEM. They can buy an entire computer with W7 on it, for the cost of a full version. I raised this with NewEgg and they promised that a senior person would be advised.

It's all to do with the fact that the old description of possible users has now gone. The old one contained the word "Assemblers", which may or may not have been the justification.

CompUSA told me that they sell it all day long with no comebacks. They're the ones that state that there is no difference apart from the packaging and that you only get one bit-version. They talk a lot about how green it is to not have the posh packet.

Finally got round to installing the OEM W7 on the home-build. Concerned by the last post, I again called MS, and yes, my previous questions were on file.

I put another issue forward. The student that had started the build, tested it with his XP pro. I put it to MS, that the records would show the prime parts as having been used with another OS. They said 'Don't worry about that.'

I ran the install, and apart from an old sound issue, it went normally. I elected to register/activate on line, and that took some moments, but seemed to work okay. However, when I rebooted, the link to my router was gone. Cleaning up the devices and re-booting, didn't help. A length of yellow wire got me back on't net.

I don't know if I'm home and dry. I won't count my chickens for some time. A pal in the UK tells me that MS's database of internal workings is very detailed. Seems a lot of data to store, but then so many people nicked operating systems, I supposed this is one of the few ways of protecting their interests.

Phew! Just skidded my chair across the den in time to see "Activation Successful" pop up from the task bar.