Reddit reviews Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit System Builder OEM

Congratulations! It looks like you just found a nice computer! It appears you're missing a hard drive/solid state drive, SATA cable, and operating system.

To begin, you'll want to get an unused hard drive or solid state drive. These can be found on Amazon, Newegg, or in Bestbuy (among other places). I'll supply links to a few examples below. After you've made you're selection, you'll need a SATA cable. This cable allows you to hook the drive up to your motherboard. The last step is to install Windows. All in all, it's a very simple process albeit a bit time consuming (primarily for the Windows installation).

This is a very simple explanation of an also relatively simple installation/resolution. If you'd like more detailed instructions, I'd be happy to help!

Hard Drive Example

Solid State Drive Example

SATA Cable

Operating System (Windows 10)

Ubuntu is also a FREE operating system that is compatible with your hardware. Most users are experienced with Windows, which is why I listed it. Personally, I prefer Windows over Ubuntu.

Buy OEM version, they are significantly cheaper even on Pro. They are not fully supported like retail version, I think that means no phone-hand-holding, but if you know your way around your machine that's not actually an issue.

On Amazon, OEM version of Windows 10 Pro is $94.

Chances are you bought OEM licenses. Those are much cheaper because they are not meant to be transferred to another computer. With an OEM license you're likely to need to buy Windows 10 again in the future when that computer gets replaced.

Retail licenses costs more. The major benefit to retail licenses is they can be transferred to another computer. When the computer gets replaced its license can move over to the new computer. In the long run it can be cheaper.

edit:
OEM Windows 10 Pro on Amazon: $120
Retail Windows 10 Pro on Amazon: $190

Microsoft Windows 10 Pro - $75. Any reason not to trust this?

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/offer-listing/B00ZSHDJ4O/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

The crazy thing is that the listing is still there despite all the complaints of pirated, bad media, incorrect license keys, etc. What does it take for Amazon to see the problem here?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZSHDJ4O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cooler: get it. It's more important than an extra case fan (also important but all cases come with more than 1 fan)

Thermal compound: your compound's fine, this isn't a note but I noticed it came with a spreader. Do people still use those?

Graphics card: Ti all the way.

PSU: Why you spending so much on your PSU? Bronze is all you need, baby! Here's a for instance. but get what you want.

Win 10 Pro OEM

Win 10 Pro multi-system

Yours is between those 2 in price but is only OEM. Shop around a bit.

Storage: 2 things. 1: get a 500GB SSD if you can. 2: get an HDD. You're gonna need it. Just whatever's cheap and 500-1,000GB.

Case: yours is good. I like: Rosewill Case

Reason: First off, before you can even use your case, you have to buy 2 new fans out of the box, replace the front ones so you can use the front ones in this special adapter. Seriously, if you don't use the special adapter, they're LOUD AS FUCK for what they are. Now, Rosewills aren't quiet by any standard. Shit, they have a reputation as being the dirtiest, cheapest fans on the market, but they ABSOLUTELY work and you don't want to tear your eyes out. Second, yours can hodl 3 fans. The one I linked can hold 8 not counting PSU of course. Now, I wouldn't use the foremost fan on the top and maybe not even the top side panel but you set the bottom side panel and floor to blow in, the roof to exhaust and front/back in standard config and you're running a beastly system on cheap-ass fans for some reason.

Cons: it looks ugly af.

For 13? Hell no. Stay away from that.

If you want Amazon, get the real thing.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.OrJzbNW9NZHP

When you see Windows/license keys for dirt cheap, they're almost always guaranteed to be counterfeit.

Microsoft literally sells them through amazon.

Legally, you aren't supposed to use it for personal use, only as a system builder that is loading the software and selling machines, but nobody is checking on that and it doesn't matter.

The only issue you will find is that the license is non-transferrable and you won't be able to get MS support on it. Otherwise you are gold.

Windows 10 is very much not free, it was only a free upgrade (if you had a valid license) from 7 for a while.

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Pro-64-bit-OEM/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1502705606&sr=8-4&keywords=windows+10

I case you missed the memo, windows is a paid software, google services are free which means they can pretty much whatever the hell they want with it, if you don't like it then you can just use bing or duck duck go, that's the difference here, ads on a PAID os (and before you said anything, the windows license price is already included in the machine's price, that's why laptops came with serial stickers before and auto activate now) are unacceptable, pure and simple, in my particular i had to pay the full price of a windows 10 x64 pro license, Which is right now a 100+ dollars in amazon and 200$ in microsoft store to have microsoft pulling this shit off.

Any idea if this OS will be the right pick?

Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit System Builder OEM | PC Disc

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZSHDJ4O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_10&smid=A3GY0PSTHXNOPF

Oh shit, didn't realize I was on /r/buildapcsales instead of /r/bapcsalescanada.

Converting from CAD to USD, that is only $59 even with 13% sales tax.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00ZSHDJ4O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought this and I was wondering how to get it on my computer without an optical drive?

I built my computer from scratch and it's basically been unable to install updates since I put it together. The very first batch may have installed correctly, I can't remember. I have noticed that my (company-maintained, obviously) computer at work has never had any issues with updates, and neither has my laptop (a dual-boot Windows/Linux Mint machine which I clean installed Windows 10 on after attempting to just upgrade from Windows 7 gave me grief). So I'm wondering if it has to do with the method of installation, which in my case was from a Win10 Pro OEM disk I ordered here (risky, I know, but I needed to save money). Or maybe related to my hardware profile.

Your Part Picker link, forgets the Windows 10 Pro

"Centaurus Electra 2 Gaming Computer - AMD Ryzen 5 1600X Six-Core 3.9GHz O/C, 16GB 2800MHz RAM, Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti 8GB, 120GB SSD + 2TB HDD, Aftermarket cooler, Windows 10 PRO, WiFi. Fast Gaming PC!"

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Pro-System-Builder/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O/ref=sr_1_2?s=software&ie=UTF8&qid=1526478151&sr=1-2&keywords=windows+10+Pro+System+builder

$142 + $1212.43 (because who really remembers to do rebates) = $1355.43

$1474 - 1355.43 = $118.57 which while Amazon claims no shipping, we can assume shipping and time built putting it together and installing Windows.

Paying an extra $118 just to not have to mess with those screws is enough for me.

Okay. What are the differences here? Microsoft has it for $200 and Amazon has it for $120.

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Windows-10-Pro/productID.319935900

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-FQC-08930-Windows-Professional-64-bit/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O

not anymore though....

Humbly, the route I'd go would be to wipe the drive via BIOS if it it has a utility built in to do so, and then do a clean install from a W10 USB or W7 disc(note you'll need to sort drivers after install as mentioned). You can purchase an OEM builder's edition of the OS.

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Pro-System-Builder/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O

If no wipe utility is present in BIOS just do it when performing the clean installation, works the same. This shouldn't take very long and makes sure that it's in the best possible state for somebody new to use as a "pre-loved" computer.

I can't state how handy an OEM system builder's OS copy is, has saved my skin many many times over the years.

No problem. I got it here.

Just checked through my order history, lists as (EDIT: "Sold by: Amazon.com Services, Inc." is that right?) shipped and sold by amazon. I threw out the outer packaging but I remember checking to see if it was from amazon and the addresses were correct.

here or here

Yes, from a DVD or a Flash Drive from Microsoft.

Honestly at $150 you're probably best off just buying an OEM disk (or even home use disc) and using the key out of that.

You can probably call msoft and buy a key as well.

Unless you're in a country with messed up prices, it's pretty much the same price or cheaper just to buy a disc that comes with the key.

E; On amazon you can get the win10 pro OEM disc for like $140.

I'm honestly not sure, I haven't needed to buy a key like this before. Just to let you know though, a windows 10 key is only $85 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Home-System-Builder/dp/B00ZSI7Y3U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458413737&sr=8-1&keywords=windows+10

$100 for the Pro version: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-System-Builder-Disc/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1458413800&sr=8-3&keywords=windows+10+key

The $189 quote is for the full retail license that can be transferred to another PC when it's time to upgrade. You can get the "OEM" version for less, though the license doesn't let you transfer.

Windows 10 Pro - Newegg - $139

Windows 10 Pro - Amazon - $139

Both are OEM licenses, meaning that they're only valid for the machine that you activate them on, and "cannot" be transferred to new hardware. Though, this seems to be poorly enforced (when doing phone activation).

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-System-Builder-Disc/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O/ref=sr_1_1?s=software&ie=UTF8&qid=1457628353&sr=1-1&keywords=windows+10+pro

not 50$ I was looking at windows 8.1 by accident, change that windows to 102$

Windows 10 OEM

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Home-System-Builder/dp/B00ZSI7Y3U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1458355540&sr=8-2&keywords=windows+10+oem - Home

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-System-Builder-Disc/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458355540&sr=8-1&keywords=windows+10+oem - Pro

Don't mess around with anything but a pure install of Windows on a nice Alienware computer.

• You buy windows 10 PRO
  
• you install windows 7 pro with a valid code that you get from somewhere
  
• you contact microsoft support, they will allow activation using the automated telephone system
  
  I think it has to be OEM version of windows 10 pro, like this one, retail does not allow downgrading.
  
  I did this and had no problem. I would say MS employees did not really cared. First I called if they allow downgrade and what should I do. They said yeah downgrade no problem just that I need valid windows 7 pro installation using some key, they dont care from where.
  
  So after I had that set up, installing with valid key offline, I called second time, explained what I need and what was told to me the first time, and they just switched me to automated telephone system that activated the windows... none of them asked for that windows10 key that I had on sticker which was rather surprising.. but whatever...
  
  

Simple answer is NO, it is not legit. What you need to be legit is:

Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit System Builder OEM - $143.99
https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Pro-System-Builder/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O

I see, thanks!

Quick question, is this the same as this?

Windows 10 Professional 64-bit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8bFMxbGCNW2GP

Windows 10 Pro is $130. Stop with the $200 bullshit. You are making fake excuses to why you should get a prebuilt.

/r/microsoftsoftwareswap sells OEM keys, they are the same keys used in prebuilts. I have purchased multiple with no issue. They are completely legit.

> those got for free are retail or considered oem?

Not sure what you mean. If you buy a key in a store, online or offline, it often says OEM Key and those are a lot cheaper than others. Those are only good for one activation on one motherboard. Windows that comes with a prebuilt PC is also OEM.

If you buy the more expensive ones, those are considered retail. Those can be used on any number of Motherboards, but only one PC at a time. Unless otherwise stated.

So it really depends what you bought how this is handled.

OEM: https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Home-System-Builder/dp/B00ZSI7Y3U/

Retail: https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-FQC-08930-Windows-Professional-64-bit/dp/B00ZSHDJ4O/

Well for example my Win 7 laptop died recently, and I am on a tight budget atm so I had to get an inexpensive old PC. It still has Windows Vista on it.

It runs like shit, and I would have loved to put my copy of Win7 on it but because when I bought it the first time, I got the "Locked down to this one specific laptop" version that came with the laptop, that isn't possible.

It also isn't possible to get Windows 10 for FREE. I would settle for Windows 10 over Vista but I can't get it. Not eligible. I would have to BUY Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 to be eligible for the upgrade.

It's only at no cost for certain people who have already paid. And in most cases, it's locked to that specific machine as much as my "Compaq Windows 7" disc is. When they buy a new computer, that license doesn't transfer over. They will have to buy it (as part of the price of the computer) again.

It costs $119.99 from Amazon (discounted from the MSRP of $159.99). It's not free.

Edit: And that Amazon version is also the OEM version which is locked to one PC once installed. If you build a new machine you'll have to pay that again.

Country? Amazon has it for $119.99: Amazon