Updated - Laptop with Broken Expired Copy of Windows

bargdebarg on 08/01/2015 - 18:23
Last edited 12/01/2015 - 05:18

Final update:
After discussing, we decided to go with Windows 8.1 Oem. It made more sense plus there was a chance the key from the old laptop wouldn't work as it was also OEM and tied to the old hardware.

Update:
Thanks for all your help.

The laptop doesn't have any original keys underneath. It was supplied by an international company. But this reminded me I do have an unused windows 7 Home key on an old laptop of mine in the same place so I think this is a good option coupled with a digital river iso. I'll discuss the lack of mainstream support this yeare but 5 years of security is good. Meanwhile win7 meets his needs.

Not interested in using the win10 tech preview for him or unleashing win10 in it's first release on him, I always wait for a little while with a new OS before installing it for friends and family in case of issues. Having said that, I'll certainly be installing it for myself (not the tech preview however).

As for Office, he has his heart set on Microsoft, and doesn't mind paying for it. So with no other suggestions it looks like online via MS website is the only way. However, I'll get him to check with his current employer for any home use licences.

Thanks again.

Original post:

Hi,

My father in law has been given his laptop from his past job. It has Windows Professional 7 and Office 2013. It seems they have remotely disabled the serial number for Windows as it now has the message stating "Your copy of windows is not legal".

To fix this, my plan is to buy OEM Windows 7 Home (he doesn't want 8, nor do I see that this is required for his uses) and Office 2013 outright (not on a subscription). Reformat HDD, install from USB and off we go.

I've had a read about Windows OEM and from what I can gather, the licence will be limited to the life of this computer and non transferable. There is a bit of a grey area around if I should in fact buy OEM rather than the retail licence. My research summary is that OEM is for system builders to use when selling a system and OEM doesn't come with support directly from Microsoft. The retail version has support and anyone can install it. However, my father in law calls me for support and I am rebuilding his system for him free of charge. Therefore I'm erring on the OEM side. It's about $100 cheaper from memory. Thoughts?

As for Office 2013, is there any other was to get this cheaper than directly from the MS website? I'll check with him if his current company has any home use licences but I'm guessing he'll still want to buy it outright to save the hassle as he moves around a bit. No option to get an educational licence.

Tl,dr
I'm fixing software for father in law's laptop, can I use OEM Windows rather than retail licence? How can I get this and MS OFFICE 2013 as cheap as possible excluding any home use/educational programs.

Cheers bargs

Computing

Comments

  • mrmarkau67 on 08/01/2015 - 18:34
    +2

    Windows 8 is a much better OS, and it has better licensing. You can get a fully transferable license for the same cost as an Windows 7 OEM licence.

    If he hates the UI, just get Startisback.

    • ashanrath on 09/01/2015 - 08:20

      +1 for Win 8.1. Don't even bother with 7 anymore.

  • PVA on 08/01/2015 - 18:46
    +1

    agree, I thought win8 sucked but the new laptop has 8.1 and it works great. I only use the desktop (like win7).

  • scrimshaw on 08/01/2015 - 19:37

    Windows 8.1 OEM license can be transferred between computers.
    http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/…

    Here are the terms and conditions.
    http://i.imgur.com/JRRi4uE.png

  • Axelstrife on 08/01/2015 - 19:37
    -6

    Don't get windows 8.1 I bought it and have since
    Resorted to pirateing windows 7 so my system doesn't crash multiple times a day. It's the worst of I've ever used.
    I've had not a single crash or problems of any sort wince going back to windows 7.

    Go for Windows 7 you won't regret it unlike my massive waste of money for Windows 8.1

    • scrimshaw on 08/01/2015 - 19:43

      Resorted to pirateing windows 7 s

      Naughty boy.

      If you are experiencing crashes, that's because you have installed old or incompatible drivers.

      I have Windows 8 installed on many machines, both old and new — my 2009 / 2008 era desktop and laptop runs Win 8.1 smoothly.

      @OP
      My suggestion for now is to grab yourself an OEM copy anyway — what you want to get is up to you. New OEM rules have now been relaxed, meaning the one machine limitation is now gone — you can transfer a license from one machine to the next, providing that the old copy is no longer used on the old machine.

      You may run into Windows activation features when transferring between computers — but a phone call to Microsoft fixes the issue.

      • Axelstrife on 08/01/2015 - 19:50
        -2

        I wish you were in Sydney I'd show you first hand. When I first install the os first problem is usb 3.0 drivers which is a simple fix then after installing catalyst drivers and steam and any game and after I start to play system locks up cemepletely I've tried many versions of the drivers. It happened with my old 270x guy and even my current 280x gpu it always happens it's not limited to games either but they seems to garrentee a system freeze and haveing to hold the power button on my pc to turn off and on again. It's happend on a fresh install with all windows updates and catalyst drivers and steam and a game and nothing else.
        Use good it's a crap os it might work for some people and ALOT it doesn't.
        Also it doesn't crash it just freezes and stays like that till I hard reset

        • iridiumstem on 08/01/2015 - 22:01

          That's weird. My 7850 never had problem with Windows 8.1. I'd assume that GPU driver support would be better for newer GPUs. Plus, R7 and R9 series didn't change much from the previous line ups, according to an article, so I'd assume that they wouldn't be left out when they are adding supports for Windows 8.

        • Axelstrife on 08/01/2015 - 22:06

          @AznMitch: it sucks is what it is lol paid $130 for something sitting in a draw that can't be used.

          I'll definitely pirate windows 10 and test run it before handing my money over.

          I do have windows 8.1 on my laptop and even with its bad gpu I can play black ops 2 fie and it doesn't freeze.

          Only thing I haven't tried is installing it on a HDD instead of the Samsung 840 ssd use as my main drive. Windows 7 us good for me atm and microftsoftgot their money even though I had to pirate windows 7.

        • iridiumstem on 08/01/2015 - 22:11
          +1

          @holden93: Previews are free I think. Try getting those. Also, if 10 is good, you can probably get it really cheap, or even free, because they usually have cheaper pricing for upgrades for a month or so when the new OS gets released.

          Also, I don't think it's HDD or SSD or anything like that. Motherboard? I don't know, honestly, I am using mine on SSD right now from Black Friday, but before that I used it on HDD. I am having better experiences from it than from Windows 7 experiences I had with my old laptop.

        • Axelstrife on 08/01/2015 - 22:17
          +1

          @AznMitch: Ill just pirate the full release for a few weeks then if it's stable and no major problems ill do whatever upgrade scheme they have as im sure they will have it same as for windows 8.

          I don't think it's my hardware as it's all only about 9 months old and i have not a single problems on windows 7.

          i like windows 8.1 but what use is my pc if it freezes when playing 5-10 min of any game or watching movies or tv shows.

          I just really hope windows 10 is a decent build and a good replacement for windows 7.

  • jabbathepom on 08/01/2015 - 20:15
    +8

    Stop! Before you do anything check for the copy of Windows that came with the laptop from the factory. Check under the battery for a Microsoft OS sticker and key.

    The version of Windows and office that were on your dads hdd are almost certainly volume licence editions that were protected by KMS. These editions are seperate from the edition that must (Illegal for tier one manufacturers not to do this)have shipped with the laptop when purchased, unless it originally shipped with Linux.

  • iridiumstem on 08/01/2015 - 22:03
    +2

    Just before buying Windows 7, the mainstream support for Windows 7 is getting discontinued this year, January. They will be doing security support for 5 more years, but if I were at your position, I'd wait for 10, which has far better UI than 8 it seems, or get 8.1.

    • bargdebarg on 09/01/2015 - 17:24

      Hoping for a free 7 now. But yes otherwise I think you're right.

      • tonyjzx on 09/01/2015 - 18:57

        no more mainstream support means you wont be getting any apps or functional improvements

        since when did win7 get anything new for the last few years?

        ie11? meh

        • iridiumstem on 09/01/2015 - 23:37

          DirectX 12? Meh, I was saying it because I'd rather have something that gets update than something that doesn't if you have pay for both of them. Obviously if you don't have to pay for 7, then I'd be hesistant to say, buy Windows 8.

  • Shaw on 08/01/2015 - 22:07
    +2

    10.

  • Nickels n Dimes on 10/01/2015 - 03:05

    Don't both with Windows 7, especially if you have to pay money to replace it. Also, don't waste your time with Windows 8.1 — bear in mind Windows Pro OEM currently retail for AUD$175 here.
    Windows 10 will be released in months and in the meantime you can download a free technical preview version now to try out until the final release — Microsoft is planning that users can then simply upgrade to the final release version. Reportedly, the price will be a fraction of the current price, so it's worth waiting before handing out more cash for an old OS.
    Windows 10 is a brilliant OS and combines all the great parts of 7 and 8.1.

    That said if you have a Windows\Office product key that has (become invalidated\hacked\lost box\label) you can use a tool like 'Magical Jelly Bean' to show you what it is, write them down, reinstall the system using the official Digital River ISO images, and then after activating disable Windows Update.

    As for Office, I have a $50 academic version of 2013, but I prefer to use the free www.ksosoft.com suite, which is fully compatible, more user-friendly and faster than Microsoft Office — it lacks only Outlook.

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