Differences between Windows 10 OEM, RETAIL, and VOLUME licenses
Windows has always been a paid operating system, so in order to activate it and be able to use it legally and without problems, it is necessary that we purchase an operating system license. However, if we have ever tried looking at a Windows license, we will surely have come across several types, such as OEM, RETAIL and even VOLUME licenses , and each license has a different price. How are these licenses different and which one should we buy to activate Windows?
If we have already activated our Windows, it is very easy to know if our license is OEM or RETAIL, the two licenses which, as we will see below, are more frequent among users. To check the license type we need to open the Equipment Properties and in the window that we will see next we look at the end of the Product ID section.
If this ID ends with OEM, the license will be OEM type. Otherwise, it will be of type RETAIL.
In addition, from the "winver" command, we can also see if the license is linked to a natural person (the Windows user), so it would be RETAIL or, if not, to a hardware manufacturer, being OEM type. .
OEM license: ideal for a single piece of equipment
The licenses that we usually find on the Internet, and the cheapest, are OEM licenses. These licenses are the ones that usually come when we buy a computer, laptop or desktop, already assembled, and that is, when we connect to the Internet and activate Windows, the hardware of our computer is bound to the license and, as long as you don't change the essential components, you won't have any problems.
With OEM licenses, in general, we can change the RAM or the graphics card without having any activation problems, however, if we change other components such as the hard drive, the processor and, most importantly, the motherboard, the license will be unnecessary. And, to reactivate Windows, we will have to buy another one.
Unless we buy a computer and they give us that license, it is better to go for a RETAIL license.
RETAIL licenses, the best if we think long term
RETAIL licenses are generally more expensive than previous OEM licenses, however, in exchange for this, they can be installed without problems on all the computers we want, with all the hardware configurations that we can imagine. This way, if we have a license of this type and we change the hardware of our computer (even if we change absolutely all the components, from the board to the hard drives), the license will remain fully valid.
Of course, you should not confuse the possibility of activating Windows on any computer with its activation on several computers at the same time. Although the license is RETAIL, it only allows us to activate it on one computer at a time.
VOLUME or GVLK licenses, licenses that can be activated on several computers at the same time
In addition to the previous two, there is a third type of license which, although designed for medium and large companies, must also be taken into account: the VOLUME licenses.
Businesses that have dozens or hundreds of Windows computers to activate, rather than purchasing an OEM or RETAIL license for each, often contact Microsoft and purchase a GVLK license. Being a purchase also important, Microsoft generally applies a considerable discount when purchasing the joint license.
In this way, all computers of the same company can be activated with the same Windows license. The main advantage of this type of license is the gain in volume, which is why, for users, it usually does not bring anything.
So which license should I buy?
As we said, the licences OEM are generally those sold by the manufacturers themselves and are linked to a specific material. If we have assembled our computer by parts, moreover, the license terms of these keys do not allow us to activate Windows with it, then having to opt for RETAIL licenses.
Therefore, if we have a computer that we bought assembled, from a specific house, or a laptop that we want to update to a newer version, we can purchase an OEM license. However, if we have a computer that is piecemeal or we plan to update its components in the short or long term, then we need to purchase a license. RETAIL.
The price difference between the two licenses (original, not bought from strangers on the Internet) is around 20 euros, a little less depending on the store.
Windows OEM, RETAIL, and VOLUME Licensing FAQs
Can I install an OEM license on a computer that I build in multiple parts?
Until the arrival of Windows 7, if we bought and assembled our own computer, we could activate it perfectly with an OEM license, however, these licenses started to get out of hand, so with the arrival of Windows 8, that was limited to the fine printing of the license terms. Therefore, OEM licenses are reserved exclusively for manufacturers and if we assemble our own computer we have to activate it yes or yes with a RETAIL license if we want to have it really legal.
What are the limitations of OEM licenses?
While the biggest difference between these licenses is the hardware in which we can activate them, OEM licenses also hide some limitations, such as:
- We do not have direct support from Microsoft, but the support must be provided by whoever assembled the equipment (the manufacturer).
- While a RETAIL license is valid for 32 and 64 bit, the OEM license is only valid for 32 or 64 bit, we have to buy the one corresponding to our architecture and we will not be able to update later.
- OEM licenses cannot be used to upgrade Windows to a new version, although with Windows 10 Microsoft has given more possibilities for this.
Have you ever purchased a Windows license individually? What type of license does your PC have?
