How to check if my Windows 7 is an OEM or retail version

[NickThissen]

Hi,

Simple question here... I purchased Windows 7 from an online website (I had to download the installer) where I got a discount because I am a student at a university. I am now considering upgrading my motherboard and CPU, and as far as I know an OEM version of Windows 7 will not allow me to do that (I will not be able to install Windows 7 on my new system if it's the OEM version, right?).

So I need to know if I have an OEM or retail version... The website I bought it is very vague about it. It does not mention the words 'retail' or 'OEM' anywhere, but it does say this:

MS Windows 7 Professional Upgrade kan en mag op één computer geïnstalleerd en gebruikt worden

which is basically dutch for

MS Windows 7 Professional Upgrade can only be installed and used on one computer

.
Now, at first I thought this was a clear indication that it was indeed OEM, but now that I think about it, I think the retail version would say the same thing. You can only install Windows on one PC at a time, but with the retail version you can uninstall it from your old system and install it on a different system, which is not possible with OEM. The website does not say anything about that.

But more importantly, the website does list a few other remarks, which are simply untrue. First of all it says it is only the 32-bit version which will only work on a 32-bit CPU. Now as far as I know a 32-bit version will always work on a 64-bit CPU without problems (it will just not be 64-bit obviously). And in fact, I have previously installed it on a 64-bit CPU without any problems. Even better, I have recently formatted and installed the 64-bit version on the same system, and it is also working just fine. So there's two errors there:
1. I can install it on a 64-bit CPU, and
2. The download also contains the 64-bit version instead of only the 32-bit version.

Moreover, it also remarks that I can only install this version of Windows 7 over an existing, legal version of XP or Vista. This is also untrue. I have managed to create a bootable disc of both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions from the files that I downloaded (the files themselves did not create a bootable disc, I had to use some third party command line utility to do that) and I can install it on a completely formatted system with no other OS installed. Maybe what I'm doing here is strictly illegal but yeah... It is still possible and I did not have to jump through impossible hoops to manage it.


What I'm basically saying is: the website doesn't say OEM or retail, but even if it did I don't trust it. They list at least two false statements, so I need a different way of figuring out whether I got OEM or retail...

Is there some way to do this..?

Thanks!

[baja_yu]

I think OEM only comes preinstalled with a computer you buy, it's not otherwise available for purchase.

EDIT: Did a few searches, maybe this will help

http://www.technibble.com/how-to-tel...-key-you-have/
http://forums.techarena.in/windows-software/1020064.htm

[NickThissen]

I thought that but I wouldn't put it past a website like this selling OEM versions. I got it for only about 50 bucks I think, supposedly got that much discount because I'm a student, but I wouldn't be surprised if they've actually sold me an OEM version which is why it is so cheap...

Anyway, I already found those links but:
1. I don't have that sticker since I have a download version (so I don't have a DVD either)
2. I am in doubt whether or not that applies to Windows 7. There's no General tab and no "Registered to" option either. I can see my Product ID and it does not say OEM though, so I am keeping my hopes up that I indeed do not have an OEM version...

[baja_yu]

I have W7 and Product ID on mine does have OEM as the second segment. So yours probably isn't.

[Lord Orwell]

the only difference between retail and oem is retail comes with the box and instructions. The oem install may not even come with the disk. There is a way to check with most manufacturers. Look as the system properties in control panel. If you see the windows symbol there, it's most likely retail. OEM installers will almost always replace this symbol with their own. Dell or hp or similar. I can attest they are the same install, as i have used my retail disk to repair one of my computer's oem installs. the oem key worked with it.

[Nightwalker83]

@ Nick,

I don't know if this helps but I read it on new egg:

Source: here
You’ll have to purchase at least Windows 7 Home Premium, and it’s important to note that these OEM versions can’t be transferred to different computers. They’ll be tied to whichever one they’re initially installed on. Looks like the Windows 7 Professional OEM offers the biggest bang for the buck as far as savings are concerned.

[Reac]

Well, If its an upgrade kit you can only use it to upgrade.

[Lord Orwell]

Well, If its an upgrade kit you can only use it to upgrade.

that's the official story,but the upgrade i downloaded for students didn't do any kind of check at all. I installed it on a blank hard drive with no issues.

[NickThissen]

Same here. My upgrade "disc" (it was actually a download) simply wasn't bootable, but two seconds of googling fixed that. Now I have a bootable 'upgrade' disc that I can use to install windows on a blank PC. In fact I finally got around to installing the new hardware this weekend, and I could install windows on it. However, activation did not seem to work online. That scared me for a minute as I thought I couldn't install it on new hardware after all, but then I tried the activation by phone (via some automated phone system) and that did work. Bit strange, but it works now so I'm happy

[Lord Orwell]

Same here. My upgrade "disc" (it was actually a download) simply wasn't bootable, but two seconds of googling fixed that. Now I have a bootable 'upgrade' disc that I can use to install windows on a blank PC. In fact I finally got around to installing the new hardware this weekend, and I could install windows on it. However, activation did not seem to work online. That scared me for a minute as I thought I couldn't install it on new hardware after all, but then I tried the activation by phone (via some automated phone system) and that did work. Bit strange, but it works now so I'm happy

it's funny but i had the exact same issue. I had to use phone support the first time. Subsequent re-installs (thanks to a hard drive failing about 5 days later) didn't require it.