In regards to the OEM-like upgrade, I'm not sure what you mean. Most store-bought PC's come with the key sticker (not sure about 7/8, but in their case you can get it from the System screen.) My bet would be that if you have the key for your original OS and the key for your free copy of Windows 10 upgrade that you would be able to install and upgrade (though, it wouldn't surprise me for it to be as you stated.) I've personally never run into a situation where I couldn't transfer a copy of Windows to a different PC (I have several keys from laptops/desktops that customers have donated to me after I've built them a new computer and they bought a newer OS and I've been able to install those on other computers/VMs.)

I'm excited for it. I love 8 and from what I've seen they've taken the best parts of 7 and the best parts of 8 and put them together.

OEM licenses will not let you transfer the license to a different machine. Retail licenses let you move your copy from one machine to another. This is generally enforced when you try to register your copy, as an OEM key will already be flagged as in use with a particular hardware setup and therefore the server will deny your authorization request if the hardware differs.

(I do not know if Win10 will use such a license for the upgrade, just stating it as one way they might justify the free cost)

I've never had an issue with OEM installs as long as I used the same installation files the key was tied to.

In regards to the OEM-like upgrade, I'm not sure what you mean. Most store-bought PC's come with the key sticker (not sure about 7/8, but in their case you can get it from the System screen.) My bet would be that if you have the key for your original OS and the key for your free copy of Windows 10 upgrade that you would be able to install and upgrade (though, it wouldn't surprise me for it to be as you stated.) I've personally never run into a situation where I couldn't transfer a copy of Windows to a different PC (I have several keys from laptops/desktops that customers have donated to me after I've built them a new computer and they bought a newer OS and I've been able to install those on other computers/VMs.) I'm excited for it. I love 8 and from what I've seen they've taken the best parts of 7 and the best parts of 8 and put them together.

OEM licenses will not let you transfer the license to a different machine. Retail licenses let you move your copy from one machine to another. This is generally enforced when you try to register your copy, as an OEM key will already be flagged as in use with a particular hardware setup and therefore the server will deny your authorization request if the hardware differs.(I do not know if Win10 will use such a license for the upgrade, just stating it as one way they might justify the free cost)

Ah, I didn't realise that. What really constitues OEM then? I've always bought "OEM" from Newegg and never had a problem installing it on different PCs (at different times; for example one of my 7 copies was "OEM" and I used it on my PC and then installed it on a friends PC when I bought 8.)

As an aside, since tone doesn't show in text, this is a serious question - I've been buying "OEM", but it seems I may be wrong. If this is more of a Server thing, then my only install experience is with SBS. Thanks!

No it's not "more of a server thing", it's there for integrators but you can buy it too as long as you buy it for a computer and stick to that computer. A simple way to understand it is you build your own PC and it breaks in 2 years

- If you had an OEM license, you need a new one for the new pc you'll build

- If you had a retail license it is transferable to your new PC as long as it's uninstalled (or de facto unusable if you the hard disk broke) from the previous one

In all cases you can't "install it on a friend's pc" or "multiple computers even if they're yours". 1 license = 1 computer, just with OEM it can't even be transfered while with retail it can be uninstalled and reinstalled elsewhere.

In regards to the OEM-like upgrade, I'm not sure what you mean. Most store-bought PC's come with the key sticker (not sure about 7/8, but in their case you can get it from the System screen.) My bet would be that if you have the key for your original OS and the key for your free copy of Windows 10 upgrade that you would be able to install and upgrade (though, it wouldn't surprise me for it to be as you stated.) I've personally never run into a situation where I couldn't transfer a copy of Windows to a different PC (I have several keys from laptops/desktops that customers have donated to me after I've built them a new computer and they bought a newer OS and I've been able to install those on other computers/VMs.)

I'm excited for it. I love 8 and from what I've seen they've taken the best parts of 7 and the best parts of 8 and put them together.

OEM licenses will not let you transfer the license to a different machine. Retail licenses let you move your copy from one machine to another. This is generally enforced when you try to register your copy, as an OEM key will already be flagged as in use with a particular hardware setup and therefore the server will deny your authorization request if the hardware differs.

(I do not know if Win10 will use such a license for the upgrade, just stating it as one way they might justify the free cost)

I've never had an issue with OEM installs as long as I used the same installation files the key was tied to.

If you try to do a OEM install of a modern version of Windows on a second PC it won't let you activate and you'll have to phone Microsoft (this happens even on the same computer if it had substantial change, for example once i changed both the vidcard and CPU at the same time, i had to phone Microsoft and explain my case for them to unlock the key for re activation on this machine)

Microsoft mentioned they'd have Win10 ISOs for download, and you should also be able create recovery discs.

Please god can they officially support USB flash drives this time around?

I haven't *owned* a computer with a disk drive in a good 5 years.

In regards to the OEM-like upgrade, I'm not sure what you mean. Most store-bought PC's come with the key sticker (not sure about 7/8, but in their case you can get it from the System screen.) My bet would be that if you have the key for your original OS and the key for your free copy of Windows 10 upgrade that you would be able to install and upgrade (though, it wouldn't surprise me for it to be as you stated.) I've personally never run into a situation where I couldn't transfer a copy of Windows to a different PC (I have several keys from laptops/desktops that customers have donated to me after I've built them a new computer and they bought a newer OS and I've been able to install those on other computers/VMs.)

I'm excited for it. I love 8 and from what I've seen they've taken the best parts of 7 and the best parts of 8 and put them together.

OEM licenses will not let you transfer the license to a different machine. Retail licenses let you move your copy from one machine to another. This is generally enforced when you try to register your copy, as an OEM key will already be flagged as in use with a particular hardware setup and therefore the server will deny your authorization request if the hardware differs.

(I do not know if Win10 will use such a license for the upgrade, just stating it as one way they might justify the free cost)

I've never had an issue with OEM installs as long as I used the same installation files the key was tied to.

If you try to do a OEM install of a modern version of Windows on a second PC it won't let you activate and you'll have to phone Microsoft (this happens even on the same computer if it had substantial change, for example once i changed both the vidcard and CPU at the same time, i had to phone Microsoft and explain my case for them to unlock the key for re activation on this machine)

Which sounds more like it is not tied to the hardware until activation on Microsoft's servers.

In regards to the OEM-like upgrade, I'm not sure what you mean. Most store-bought PC's come with the key sticker (not sure about 7/8, but in their case you can get it from the System screen.) My bet would be that if you have the key for your original OS and the key for your free copy of Windows 10 upgrade that you would be able to install and upgrade (though, it wouldn't surprise me for it to be as you stated.) I've personally never run into a situation where I couldn't transfer a copy of Windows to a different PC (I have several keys from laptops/desktops that customers have donated to me after I've built them a new computer and they bought a newer OS and I've been able to install those on other computers/VMs.)

I'm excited for it. I love 8 and from what I've seen they've taken the best parts of 7 and the best parts of 8 and put them together.

OEM licenses will not let you transfer the license to a different machine. Retail licenses let you move your copy from one machine to another. This is generally enforced when you try to register your copy, as an OEM key will already be flagged as in use with a particular hardware setup and therefore the server will deny your authorization request if the hardware differs.

(I do not know if Win10 will use such a license for the upgrade, just stating it as one way they might justify the free cost)

I've never had an issue with OEM installs as long as I used the same installation files the key was tied to.

If you try to do a OEM install of a modern version of Windows on a second PC it won't let you activate and you'll have to phone Microsoft (this happens even on the same computer if it had substantial change, for example once i changed both the vidcard and CPU at the same time, i had to phone Microsoft and explain my case for them to unlock the key for re activation on this machine)

Which sounds more like it is not tied to the hardware until activation on Microsoft's servers.

Well they can't physically "tie" it to anything untill it's activated, so yes that's what happen in practice, but licensing wise you're restricted at install time (and in most cases you'll install and activate at the same time, is it even possible on modern windows to activate later?). As far as i know (not 100% on this, but pretty sure since it's always been required to "buy hardware" when you buy an OEM license in most shops i know) you can't even buy a computer with Windows preinstalled and not activated, toss it away and use the license elsewhere, it may work but it's not allowed, OEM = license for 1 computer, retail = license for 1 user that he can install on up to 1 computer at a given time at most.