Is there a fundamental difference between the Win8 OEM (for system builders) and the Win7->Win8 update?

Question

Microsoft

On the MS website, the cost of upgrading to the eight is almost 6,000 rubles. At the same time, the OEM version (MS calls it the " system builder version ") costs only about 3-3.5 thousand. Is there any difference between them, other than the lack of user support in the OEM version? If I buy an OEM version, will I not be able to use the upgrade key and will I have to clean the system?
And does anything happen to the key from the old version (from which the upgrade is made)? That is, having upgraded win7 to win8, can I then demolish everything and reinstall win7 with its native key?

Answer 1

So, googling a little more carefully, the following things were found out:
1. The version for system builders as a whole does not differ from the version for updating in anything, except for the availability of support.
2. The system builder version key can be used both to install Win 8 cleanly and to upgrade from another version of windows.
3. After updating Win7->Win8, nothing happens to the old Win7 key, it remains absolutely valid, although its use simultaneously with Win8 will be a violation of the EULA, but technically it is quite possible.
Thanks everyone for the replies ;)

Answer 2

Anonym is not quite right, at the moment it is written on the OEM box that if it is installed on a self-assembled computer for personal use, then you need to be guided by www.microsoft.com/windows/personaluselicense , and it allows reinstallation on another computer and even resale ( i.e. this is not an OEM version) :) Unfortunately, I will not say anything about the update.
PS: For example, you can see photos on nix www.nix.ru/include/view-photo.html?good_id=145393&pid=3159

Answer 3

You will not be able to buy an OEM version. Box only .

Answer 4

The oem version is usually hardcoded to the hardware.

Answer 5

Oem is the developer's version, which is tied to the hardware.
The fundamental difference lies in the rights to downgrade. The bottom line is that having, for example, windows 8 pro oem, you can downgrade, for example, to windows 7 pro, provided that you have a 7ki distribution and a product key for it.
If you have w8 oem go to microsoftstore and click on upgrade to 8.1 which is free. It's about updates.
Certainly! If your Windows has crashed, or if there are serious problems, you can simply reset everything to factory settings, which will entail a rollback to the original pre-installed version, namely oem.
What about the key:
1) The sticker on the laptop contains the key
2) If there is no sticker, the key is sewn into the mother. Until you change your mother, you will not lose the key.
And finally: There is a frequent story when an oem version user wants to replace hhd with ssd, such an operation takes place exclusively in manufacturers' service centers. On your own, you just throw your pre-installed OC into the bucket.