Windows 7 Installation - Question for the pros

[takethistoyourgrave]

Hi,

I have a question about Windows 7 installation. I heard that you have 30 days to input your Serial Number after installing Windows 7, in which you will have functionality before it stops working. My question is this:

I have my rig with everything but the Windows 7 disc I ordered. I ordered Windows 7 Home Premium OEM 64-bit. Is the 30-day "trial" (so to speak) still present in OEM?

Could I download a torrented copy of the Windows 7 Home Premium OEM X64, install it on my computer today, and then just input the registration code I get from the one coming in the mail, as long as it is within 30 days? I'm pretty sure this works for the "retail" version but I wanted to confirm I could do this with an OEM version as well.

Thanks for the help.

[Myth]

Hi,

I have a question about Windows 7 installation. I heard that you have 30 days to input your Serial Number after installing Windows 7, in which you will have functionality before it stops working. My question is this:

I have my rig with everything but the Windows 7 disc I ordered. I ordered Windows 7 Home Premium OEM 64-bit. Is the 30-day "trial" (so to speak) still present in OEM?

Could I download a torrented copy of the Windows 7 Home Premium OEM X64, install it on my computer today, and then just input the registration code I get from the one coming in the mail, as long as it is within 30 days? I'm pretty sure this works for the "retail" version but I wanted to confirm I could do this with an OEM version as well.

Thanks for the help.

I don't see why it wouldn't work. OEM Versions are practically the same as retail except they don't come in a nice box with all the fancy graphics. You just get the CD and manual with your Product key. The 30-day free trial is just the amount of time you have to activate your product with Microsoft, which allows you to download version updates and bug fixes.

[Purrrfect]

I believe I've read that all installs of 7 contain everything, just the key unlocks X features. I can't say for sure about installing a torrent and then using your key later. I'd think it would work, but no promises here. I do know I installed 7pro on my second drive and never activated or gave it a key (selected ultimate at install I think) and while it did prompt me for activation after the time limit everytime I started it, it did let me pick activate later and go right into windows. I didn't use this install on a daily basis though, not sure if that matters.

[Isiolia]

The basic difference between retail and generic OEM is the license. A retail copy can be transferred to another machine/major hardware configuration, an OEM copy cannot. 'course, if you're actually paying for the licenses, you can buy what, around three copies of OEM for what retail costs anyway? Probably not a big deal unless you upgrade every few months.

One catch can still be bulk/site license versions versus generic versions. IE, if you have a 7 disc from a Dell and try to use a generic OEM key with it, it likely won't work. Vista had a "one disc fits all" thing, which they removed for 7, though you can reenable it if you want to tweak/reburn the ISO I think. Either way I've tried using various discs for the occasional personally owned machine format here in the office, and found that the keys won't usually just work to step up to whatever version came on the machine.

If you ordered an OEM copy from Newegg or something, and use an ISO from the same, then that should work though.

[Yabby]

As long as you download the same version as you bought the CD key will work. IE If you bought professional, don't download ultimate from the torrent.

[takethistoyourgrave]

If you ordered an OEM copy from Newegg or something, and use an ISO from the same, then that should work though.

That is exactly what I did. I will give it a shot then, thanks!

[OWS_Tonx]

I did a torrent copy of 7 Ultimate and had an app that will I guess "crack" the key. Just can't have it plugged into network while it does it. Let me find the name of it real quick.

[OWS_Tonx]

lol go figure. It's called Windows 7 Loader

[Cephius]

Like others said it should be fine. As long as the uploader didn't slipstream a crack or something into the install itself it should pass the genuine checks.

And yeah, with OEMs you arent entitled to keep your license when you make hardware changes, though 9 times out of 10 if you call microsoft and ask for a validation code they'll just give you one.

[SubzeroDiabolos]

You can also look on the internet and get windows 7 ultimate. Free.

I know someone that does....

[OWS_Tonx]

4 posts up buddy. lol

[Cephius]

Yes, we're all aware that you can pirate Windows and pretty much anything else. It really has nothing to do with the OP's question. If he wanted to steal it I'm sure he would have done so.

[Bockage]

Could I download a torrented copy of the Windows 7 Home Premium OEM X64, install it on my computer today, and then just input the registration code I get from the one coming in the mail, as long as it is within 30 days?

Like everyone else is saying, this should totally work for you. If you happen to need an additional 30 days to register Win7, go to the command prompt and type 'slmgr.vbs -rearm'. It will reset the days left to register counter to 30 days. You are allowed to do this like 3 or 4 times total.

[Zethren]

lol go figure. It's called Windows 7 Loader

Hey thanks for that, I been getting the non genuine for a while now and had tried many methods to get rid of it, but the loader worked!