Windows 7 Version Issues

[FXGuy3369]

So I am fairly tech savvy been tinkering for years, and excuse me for asking such a newb issue but I could not find a simple answer on google or here pre existing. I am finally getting a fair amount of friends with Windows 7 machines that want to F&R. Well 99% of pcs sold now do not come with restore discs. So I have downloaded all kinds of "OEM" discs off torrents, but I am a little confused on the differences between versions. And by that I mean for instance I downloaded a Windows 7 Home Premium 32 Bit OEM copy and used it on a friends gateway laptop as that is what it said it was stickered for. Well in 30 days it said it could not activate, may be pirated, etc, etc. I even tried phone authorizing it with microsoft, no luck. What do I need to be looking for to signify what disc to use. Also when I look on torrent sites and search for instance "Windows 7 pro oem sp1" I see too main things popping up a "RTM" version, or a "N" version. Please help! Sorry for the dumb question

 

[Anteaus]

"Well 99% of pcs sold now do not come with restore discs."

What do you mean by restore disc? A actual Windows install disc or a disc that includes an image. I beg to differ with the statement above because while I build my own desktops, the last 3 laptops I have purchased all have come with discs. I know for a fact that Gateways (at least the ones i've seen) come with discs because a friend of my just purchased one and a Windows disc came in the box.

In the cases where media is not supplied, there is usually an image supplied on the hard disc that you create a set of discs from. Check with your manufacturer because they usually provide a method to get discs in the event you lose or don't have them.

As for the torrents, I can't really offer any advice other than it's a route I wouldn't take. Your OS is something you really don't want tampered with and with torrents you never know what your getting.

 

[FXGuy3369]

Regardless.... a large majority of pc's (ANY sold at Wal Mart etc) do not come with discs, they come as you mentioned with a restore partition or instructions on making restore discs. The point being I do not want to go that route, I prefer a clean fresh install of Windows without all the Manufacturer 3rd party bloatware. Also aside from the origin of the discs I use, lets say for the sake of getting an answer to my question and not a lecture I want to buy OEM discs of Newegg or etc, what is the difference between a RTM and a N disc, does anybody know? And if I have a retail "OEM" disc shouldnt it work with any major brand pc (HP, Dell, Gateway) if I use the serial off the sticker attached.

 

[RU482]

OEM activation requires matching bits in both the BIOS and in the image.

In the image, under Windows\System32\OEM there should be an xml-ms file that corresponds with data that is programmed into the BIOS.

In other words, if you have a dell computer, you have to find a dell recovery disc of the same Windows version as the OA/OEM Activated COA sticker on your machine.

Each OEM has a unique xml-ms file for each version of Win7 OS they sell.

 

[FXGuy3369]

So if I have a HP or etc I have to find a disk of the correct version from that manufacturer?

 

[oynaz]

The N version is the result of the EU lawwsuit against Microsoft. It comes without Windows Media Player and a few other applications IIRC.

 

[Ketchup]

I don't know if this works with 7, but with XP any OEM version disc will work. When I worked retail I would run into this problem every now and them when a customer would come in with malware that could not be removed in a timely manner. One day I discovered that if I used an OEM (non-retail) Window XP disc, I would still have to call Microsoft for activation, but they would activate it. Might be worth a shot. Definitely safer than downloading garbage from torrent sites.

 

[JackMDS]

So you are loading from so called ""torrent sites"" and you are expecting to get normal positive results?

In anycase, Win 7 has two lines. Regular with Win Media Player, IE8, and other media stuff.

N line, that is meant to be sold in Europe where they force Microsoft to sell versions with No Media Player and Browser.

RTM means the official final release as oppose the Beta, and Pre-releases.

All of this as nothing to do with Keys and Activation.

When you buy regular Windows (OEM, or otherwise) from NewEgg you get media and key.

When you pirate, or buy from thieves on line, or off line, you end up getting "Sc**ed".

 

[Auric]

To clarify, is Windows 7 from restore discs the only version which can be activated with the included license? Or, if installed from an authentic Microsoft image (i.e. SP1 integrated and desiring a clean install without OEM crapware) can it then be activated automatically or failing that by telephone?

 

[Dahak]

To clarify, is Windows 7 from restore discs the only version which can be activated with the included license?

No, but it is the preferred method

Or, if installed from an authentic Microsoft image (i.e. SP1 integrated and desiring a clean install without OEM crapware) can it then be activated automatically or failing that by telephone?

Yes

 

[Noid]

MS checks for 'authentication' on new installs.

Even changing a MB will force a call to MS.

You will NEVER get a 'authenticated' install without calling MS.
( about a 20 minute process )

 

[Ketchup]

MS checks for 'authentication' on new installs.

Even changing a MB will force a call to MS.

You will NEVER get a 'authenticated' install without calling MS.
( about a 20 minute process )

From what I have seen, this is not exactly true. I changed motherboards (went from Intel chipset to nVidia) and re-installed Windows 7 last week. It activated perfectly, no call necessary.

I remember with XP there is a time period in which the activation "resets" as it were, and if you are under that time frame, what you are saying would be true.

 

[Auric]

Is it a retail license? Since freely transferable they would presumably activate automatically. Whereas OEM is only valid in the case of hardware replacement due to failure and thus requires manual confirmation. N'est ce pas?