What Microsoft wont tell you about Windows 7 licensing. Microsoft offers many ways to buy Windows 7. You can buy the operating system preinstalled on a new PC, upgrade an existing PC using a shrink wrapped retail package, purchase an upgrade online, or build a PC from scratch and install Windows yourself. In each of these cases, you can also take your pick of multiple Windows editions The price you pay will vary, depending on the edition and the sales channel. There are different license agreements associated with each such combination. Those license agreements are contracts that give you specific rights and also include specific limitations. This might sound arbitrary. Indeed, a common complaint I hear is that Microsoft should simply sell one version of its OS at one price to every customer. That ignores the reality of multiple sales channels, and the fact that some people want the option to pay a lower price if they dont plan to use some features and are willing to pay a higher price for features like Bit. Download Memorias De Idhun Comic Pdf. Locker file encryption. Buy the Office thats best for youOffice 365 gives you the power and flexibility to get things done from virtually anywhere. This page andor pages linked from this page contain Third Party Software Licenses andor Additional Terms and Conditions applicable to the use of the Software as. If youre not a lawyer, the subject of Windows licensing can be overwhelmingly confusing. The good news is that for most circumstances you are likely to encounter as a consumer or small business buyer, the licensing rules are fairly simple and controversy never arises. But for IT pros, enthusiasts, and large enterprises knowing these rules can save a lot of money and prevent legal hassles. I have been studying the topic of Windows licensing for many years. As I have discovered, Microsoft does not have all of this information organized in one convenient location. Much of it, in fact, is buried in long, dry license agreements and on sites that are available only to partners. I couldnt find this information in one convenient place, so I decided to do the job myself. IC667180.jpeg' alt='Microsoft Licenses Price List' title='Microsoft Licenses Price List' />I gathered details from many public and private sources and summarized the various types of Windows 7 license agreements available to consumers and business customers. Note that this table and the accompanying descriptions deliberately exclude a small number of license types for example, I have omitted academic and government licenses, as well as those provided as part of MSDN and Tech. B52F5FE.png' alt='Microsoft Licenses Price List' title='Microsoft Licenses Price List' />Net subscriptions and those included with Action Pack subscriptions for Microsoft partners. With those exceptions, I believe this list includes every license situation that the overwhelming majority of Windows customers will encounter in the real world. The table below is your starting point. The license types listed in the columns of this table are arranged in rough order of price, from least expensive to most expensive. For a detailed discussion of each license type, see the following pages, which explain some of the subtleties and exceptions to these rules. And a final, very important note I am not a lawyer. This post is not legal advice. Mods For Race 07'>Mods For Race 07. I have provided an important disclaimer on the final page of this post. Please read it. Click image to open full size in its own windowAlthough the table above is packed with information, its not the whole story. Please click through to the following pages for detailed explanations. Page 2 OEM versions. Windows 2000 Advanced Server Sp4 Iso'>Windows 2000 Advanced Server Sp4 Iso. Microsoft Licenses Price List' title='Microsoft Licenses Price List' />Page 3 Upgrade versions. Page 4 Full and Volume License versions. Next page All about Windows OEM versions lt  See introduction and full table on previous page. Windows 7 OEM versions. According to Microsoft, roughly 9. 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 2. 0 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. Heres 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 3. 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 3. 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 3. 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 2. 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 2. 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 3. If you receive both types of media, you can switch from 3. Windows or vice versa by performing a custom reinstall using your product key. Update As a consumer, you can buy an OEM System Builder copy of Windows from countless online shopping outlets.