C wrote:
PvdG42 wrote:

"Trev" wrote in message
...

"Craig" wrote in message
...
Hi folks..
Ant truth to the rumour that if you buy the retail
version of win 7 compared to the oem version,you get both x64 AND
x32 bit versions on the retail version so you can make up your own
mind.. Thanks in advance

Craig




Its Not a rumour You do. But surly you can make up your mind before
you buy a OEM too and for a third of the cost.

True, but that's not the only difference between Retail and OEM. Two
things you don't get with OEM that nay affect your decision:

1. Support. When Microsoft sells an OEM license, the OEM (purchaser
of the license) is responsible for support, not Microsoft. So, if
you're comfortable with self-support, buy OEM.

2. Transferability. An OEM license is tied to the hardware on which
it is installed, while a retail license is transferable from one
computer to another. An OEM license does not allow you to *legally*
install Win 7 on one PC, then remove and then install it on a
different computer using the same license. If you have a new PC and
plan to keep it for a while, OEM may make sense.



I heard that if 120 days have past, the hardware hash for your
computer on MS servers is wiped clean and a new slate begins. As to
whether it is legal or not depends on the country's laws where you
live and if and when MS' EULA is ever taken to court and justified as
legal. So one *can* move an OEM copy from one computer to another
although the legality is not clear.

C

I have done that and, when the internet activation failed, a simple
telephone call with an automatic response got thing working on the new
computer. N.B. this was using the XP Home disk.