Windows 7 OEM disc

[blink]

Hi All, I have just ordered a Windows 7 Lenovo disc set from a company in the US who were selling them online. It is meant to be able to install on many models. A couple of questions, has anybody else on here done this & can they confirm if they are genuine?
I understand it is not permitted to post a link to the site &therfore wont do so.

Another thing as they are OEM discs i have looked into the situation & it appears that according to microsoft they are only eligible with the original machine. I intend to use on a x60s so will this be ok? The thing is i quite often change laptops & if everything is ok i would like to use on other machines in the future (not running the same copy on 2 or more machines but deleting & just keeping on my main machine at the time) Any problems with doing this or not?
Thankyou

[Harryc]

These recovery discs are meant to be installed on a machine with a matching COA/license for that OS version. So for an X60s that never had Windows 7 originally, that would be done against the terms of the license. 'Genuine' is a relative term in this instance. I think they are a copy of the genuine Lenovo discs.

[blink]

Many Thanks for the quick reply Harry. I understand i wont have the coa until i have a later machine. Very interesting though that you say they may be copys of original lenovo discs. They did state they come with a product key, although no coa obviously.
Hopefully the product key is genuine & would you say that should be my no 1 major concern?
I suppose in a similar scenario I have installed windows xp on a 600e & had no problems Well speed aside anyway ).

[Harryc]

I would say that if the discs come with a product key you can install them on any machine that you wish to. The thing is that no 'genuine' Lenovo recovery disc set ever came with a product key. So now I am questioning what you will be receiving. Let us know.

[bill bolton]

The thing is i quite often change laptops.....

If you want to be able to legally transfer a Microsoft OS between different systems over time, Microsoft makes it quite clear in the EULAs that the licence concerned must be based on a retail product key.

Hopefully the product key is genuine......

Given the method you have described for acquiring it, the chances of having a key that you can legitimately use under any Microsoft EULA are miniscule, at best.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[billp117]

I think he said it was a Lenovo OEM disk with no mention of "recovery". They do exist and will work. It would be helpful if he identifies the seller or at least lets us know the exact wording from the seller's online site..

But if he is refering to this seller:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Windows-7-Home- ... 19c23dac69

The auction is poorly written and mentions it is a recovery and is an upgrade for Vista. I think it is simply an upgrade from Vista to Windows 7. I have the same upgrade disk but only used it as an upgrade...but we all know you can do a clean install with an upgrade disk.

[blink]

Thanks for all the input guys, Cheers Harry I will report back & let you all know how i get on when i have the discs.
Bill i hope the seller wasnt being too sheepish about their legitamacy but i totally understand your point & Microsofts position regarding OEM & retail licence.
OEM discs are obviously sold in bulk by many of the big retail stores with scant regard to the official position. transffering at a later date to another machine may be a step to far?
billip - not purchased through that seller or on ebay but probably a similar kind of deal thanks for the heads up.
sorry i cant post a link.

[billp117]

Let us know what you get...good luck.

[blink]

Just to shed some more light on what i might be getting?
Noticed this for sale on ebay swiss i think & its got the same fru p/n as one of those stated from the place i ordered from.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... NA:GB:1123

[bill bolton]

Just to shed some more light on what i might be getting....

OK, the licence attached to that upgrade disk set is only valid for use on a single instance of a Lenovo system that has a Vista Business COA on it. Given the nature of the upgrade fulfillment process, it should be valid with any single instance of any type of Lenovo system that has a Vista Business COA on it.

It may be well installable under other circumstances but will be in breach of the EULA attached to the key in that case.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[blink]

Thanks Bill, Have Vista business installed so that should be the ticket. (provided the discs arrive & work!)
Oh i see you live in Sydney, out with a friend at the weekend who flew over yesterday.Spent a wonderful Sunny Christmas, New year about 7 or 8 years ago in the City, stayed in Darlinghurst Happy days . Raining here now as usual! Hope you have got over the Ashes

[RealBlackStuff]

I got a set of DVDs from this unmentionable website.
2 disks, one with W7/Pro Enhanced Edition 32-bit, and the other one (Companion Disk) just installs SystemUpdate for W7.
Disk one says:
For Distribution only to End Users who purchased a qualified Lenovo or IBM system with Windows.
Noteworthy: NO specification of WHICH Windows version.
There's also a Product Key printed on the first disk, which you need to enter during install.
It activates fine and Windows Update recognizes it as genuine.
It doesn't install a recovery partition (which I don't want anyway, space-waster...).

I installed this on a T61 with the special "Middleton" BIOS, which adds a Slic2.1 table (for Vista/W7) to the BIOS, lets the HD run at SATA II speed, has no whitelists for wifi cards and bypasses/ignores thermal sensor errors.
Don't know if the Slic table has/had any influence on activation/recognition.

[craigmontHunter]

If it went online to activate, I doubt that the silc tables had anything to do with it. I don't know how long they were intergrating the tables prior to windows 7 - that is probably the biggest issue.

[bill bolton]

For Distribution only to End Users who purchased a qualified Lenovo or IBM system with Windows.[/b]
Noteworthy: NO specification of WHICH Windows version.

The version of Windows would need to be one which was qualified for an upgrade to Windows 7 to satisfy the EULA conditions.

The normal "free" distribution of these disk by Lenovo during the upgrade period immediately the offical Windows 7 release filtered out unqualified systems through a check against the original sale invoices, but this cowboy resale doesn't..... so while the images will install, use of them is not in compliance with the relevant Microsoft EULA.

[underclocker]

FYI, I processed a request form and received a set up upgrade disks in 2009 when the actual program was in effect. It was for an R500 with Vista that I had purchased. The disks were typical Lenovo disks with high quality black printing and a Windows 7 COA was included on the disk sleeve.

While the disks from the online sellers may work, they are almost definitely not from Lenovo or Microsoft, and are probably bootleg. The disks that I have seen are printed on white disks with a low quality color printer, judging by the smudging (that rhymes!) Assuming the product keys are unique, they may have been from key generation software or elsewhere. The disks do not seem right and Microsoft does not release software like this without the COA's.

Without question, the upgrade qualification period is over. That program required a new ThinkPad purchase of specific models with specific OS's between specific dates. Manufacturers used this as an incentive to keep sales going as people like to wait for new OS releases.

Generally, when something seems to be to good to be true, it is. Like $40 for Windows 7 Professional!

See this link --> http://www.microsoft.com/hk/windows/buy ... e-faq.aspx

How does the Windows 7 Upgrade Option work?

The Windows 7 Upgrade Option is available through participating PC manufacturers on selected PCs and through Microsoft on qualifying purchases of the Windows Vista packaged product. The Windows 7 Upgrade Option applies to Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate editions. Your Windows 7 upgrade will be to the comparable version: so you'll get either Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional (the upgrade to Windows Vista Business), or Windows 7 Ultimate, respectively. The Windows 7 Upgrade Option program runs from June 26, 2009 through January 31, 2010. Individual manufacturers may choose to offer the option for a shorter period on their PCs. Offer details, prices, and upgrade delivery methods will vary. For details for new PC purchases, please check the manufacturer's web site.


What is the Windows 7 Upgrade Option program?

Specifically designated PCs that are pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, or Windows Vista Ultimate may qualify for an upgrade to the equivalent Windows 7 product. Similarly, in some markets, retail packaged Windows Vista software products (sold separately from PCs) may also qualify for an upgrade to the equivalent Windows 7 product. The upgrades will be provided to qualifying customers when the Windows 7 product becomes available in the market (also known as "Windows 7 General Availability").

[ParatoOptimal]

The experts here can tell you how a COA works.
I believe a COA works on OEM discs and perhaps another type.

I think the X60s has a COA for XP-Pro.
Purchasing an oldish laptop with a COA does not entitle you to a free upgrade to the MS' latest/greatest OS offering.

W7 is available online for DL. There's a free trial period. After that, you need to purchase a license.
W7 comes with every version of W7 on the disc except MAYBE it doesn't have the OEM version.
I don't see how it could if every OEM computer manufacturer wants to include their bloatware and insignias.

I'd rather purchase a license from MS than a fly-by-nighter.

Are you a student? Taking any classes? Have a student in the house?
I heard there's still a program for students to get W7 for free or less than $10 or $20.
Aside from various groups, societies, clubs and professional societies that have special deals, many college book stores or college computer stores have W7 EXTREMELY CHEAP, say $6.79 if you ask.

[craigmontHunter]

If they have intergrated the SLIC certificate into the disk, then it would install without a key (or if it did ask for a key, you would not need to activate), but I don't know how they could do that since the t6x did not have the windows 7 certificate in them, since they were only released with vista.

The upgrade program is only run for a specific (~6 month) period of time before the release of windows/office, after which point it becomes null and void (hence the reason that the price for office 2k7 has dropped - it is old stock) If you do not get your new media soon eneough (IIRC ~6months after availibility), then you are SOL, and will not be able to get the free upgrade media, and will be required to purchase it as a full priced upgrade. This means that right now there is no legal way to get the free upgrade to windows 7, irrespective of wether or not the media is genuine.

[underclocker]

Furthermore, to qualify for the upgrade during the specified timeframe that has long expired, you had to submit the qualified ThinkPad serial number plus a copy of the invoice!

The upgrade disk kit from Lenovo, which are the same part numbers offered by online sellers, included a COA, professionally created DVD/CDs (black lettering/grapics on clear disks), and a Lenovo instructions booklet. Again, not poorly printed disks (smudged color inkjet lettering/graphics on white disks) with a product key on one disk - no COA.