My OEM license for Win7 is about to expire, figure I'll jump to 8.1 since it's a new build & why pay for another license of Win7 at this point? I'm confused though – does the Retail Win 8.1 version update from an existing 7 install, or do I need to re-format & install it from scratch? Really don't want to do that since I have almost everything running smoothly right now.

I thought I'd seen some place that only 8.1 Pro would allow an update from 7 but that seems ridiculous.

I think it will keep your data intact but you will have to re-install all of your applications. Run the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant though and it will tell you what exactly it is going to do before you actually pull the trigger.

Personally I prefer to format and install fresh. I don't trust their upgrade procedures.

Blech, I think you're right. This is my new home gaming PC, and I really didn't want to do that to the SSD - not to mention getting all the drivers etc. back in order. Ugh.

Even if you upgrade you're going to have to fight the driver battle as Win 7 drivers won't work in Win 8.1. Fortunately you have pretty new hardware so you will probably not have much of an issue finding drivers. Upgrading an older PC can be a nightmare finding drivers that work.

Wait, OEM licenses expire in Win7?

Bad phrasing - OEM licenses are tied to the hardware, particularly the motherboard. I could upgrade most of the parts in the old machine that used that license, but like a feeb I used the install on a totally new build and M$ won't allow that.  :embarrassed:

Ok, now I think I understand. I remember reading about that way back when.

I have other... sources where I get my installs from. Even that has been causing issues lately.

Quote from: Slappy on August 28, 2014, 09:10:06 AMBad phrasing - OEM licenses are tied to the hardware, particularly the motherboard. I could upgrade most of the parts in the old machine that used that license, but like a feeb I used the install on a totally new build and M$ won't allow that.  :embarrassed:

If you call or do an online chat with Microsoft and explain to them you ripped out all of the old hardware and installed new they might give you a new activation for the new machine. But the problem with this is that an OEM license is not for consumers to buy and install on a new PC of your own. An OEM license is a specific license for PC makers to use on machines they build for resell only. So if you buy an OEM license and install it on a PC you have built for yourself you are violating the TOS to begin with. They changed this licensing in Windows 8 to allow people to use an OEM version for themselves. But they changed it back in Windows 8.1 to the same as it was in Windows 7.

Since MS's MO is to release a good OS, then a shit one, then a good one does 8.1 count towards this?

My one experience with 8 made me want to throw it out a window.

Many consider Window 8 = Vista

and

Windows 8.1 = Vista + Service Pack 1

I had Vista. It sucked from every angle. Windows 8 wasn't that bad as long as you didn't have to mess with the Start screen but with it you did have to. Windows 8.1 still has the Start Screen but you can at least make it boot to the desktop. But it is still a stupid-ass Start screen. I truly hate it. On a tablet it would make sense. On a desktop PC it is just stupid. Period. Under the hood Windows 8.1 is pretty solid.

That's what I thought. With a touchscreen this wouldn't suck but most don't.

Even post SP1 Vista sucked pretty hard. It did shrink the huge RAM footprint and improved the response but when you multiply by 0...

I'm going to try for a new laptop for x-mas so I better start doing some research.

Quote from: Joe on August 28, 2014, 09:27:21 AM

Quote from: Slappy on August 28, 2014, 09:10:06 AMBad phrasing - OEM licenses are tied to the hardware, particularly the motherboard. I could upgrade most of the parts in the old machine that used that license, but like a feeb I used the install on a totally new build and M$ won't allow that.  :embarrassed:

If you call or do an online chat with Microsoft and explain to them you ripped out all of the old hardware and installed new they might give you a new activation for the new machine.

Yeah, I think I'll try the Sob Story ("Oh noze, my old PC was damaged in a flood!") and see if I can at least get a discounted legit license.

QuoteThey changed this licensing in Windows 8 to allow people to use an OEM version for themselves. But they changed it back in Windows 8.1 to the same as it was in Windows 7.

I saw some references to that, changing the OEM to a "System Builder" license but it's really the same thing I gather. I wasn't aware they had reverted though. No wonder it's so fucking confusing! 

Quote from: Joe on August 28, 2014, 09:44:17 AMMany consider Window 8 = Vista

and

Windows 8.1 = Vista + Service Pack 1

I had Vista. It sucked from every angle. Windows 8 wasn't that bad as long as you didn't have to mess with the Start screen but with it you did have to. Windows 8.1 still has the Start Screen but you can at least make it boot to the desktop. But it is still a stupid-ass Start screen. I truly hate it. On a tablet it would make sense. On a desktop PC it is just stupid. Period. Under the hood Windows 8.1 is pretty solid.

I disagree. I still run Vista, and outside of the networking crap, it actually runs well. I have it on a laptop, and on my MAME box. I am also running 8.1 on my personal desktop and the wife's laptop. Once you figure out how to navigate the damn thing (and not launch anything (you like the old interface from) from the live tiles), it's actually quite nice. Loads very fast.

Quote from: Slappy on August 27, 2014, 07:06:25 PMMy OEM license for Win7 is about to expire, figure I'll jump to 8.1 since it's a new build & why pay for another license of Win7 at this point? I'm confused though – does the Retail Win 8.1 version update from an existing 7 install, or do I need to re-format & install it from scratch? Really don't want to do that since I have almost everything running smoothly right now.

I thought I'd seen some place that only 8.1 Pro would allow an update from 7 but that seems ridiculous.

I bought an OEM disk from Fry's for $99 (wish I had done the promotional $39 two years ago), and installed 8. Then after you run all the updates, you download the 8.1 upgrade, which is (was) free. However, if you want the "Pro" version (which the only legit reason is for networking and windows media center), then that's another $99 but can be done at any time via the internet - no disk required. You can keep 7 intact as a separate partition, but it cannot be done from Vista or earlier. You can also migrate settings and stuff from 7, but not Vista.

So, this is interesting. I hadn't gotten around to getting Win8 or a new license for 7 so of course the PC went into "lockdown" today. I shopped around, thought about just going to BestBuy, Walmart etc. but instead I went to the Computer, Activation & called the 800 number that came up.

Didn't have to deal with a single person, I just entered a long-ass string of numbers, then it generated a new long-ass string of numbers & it's legit again!