Windows 10: Oem licence not activating, always returning to Retail.

I had in my PC retail licence. I need change to OEM. So i bought OEM licence. When i format my PC and then try to install WIN again and type the OEM licence code, after install when i check version in CMD through slmgr.vbs /dlv. I always end in Retail. Can someone help me with this ? I have no idea what could be causing this problem.Thanks.

:)

 

OEM to Retail

Hi Aravind

Is the Retail licence the same edition (Home, Pro . . etc) as the OEM licence?

Do you have the product key for your Retail licence?

If so, open the Settings App, go to Update and Security - activation

Click 'Change Product Key' and enter your retail licence key . . .

 

OEM or Retail Windows?

Hi AsusX441U

Well, I would be concerned with the USB you purchased online, and when the seller indicated it would activate automatically, because that should not happen for any version of Windows 10 purchased, that should only happen for a pre-installed OEM licence, which
is stored on a chip on the motherboard . . .

You could try removing the licence key for that OEM licence, and then apply your retail licence key, but honestly, I don't know how they have got that licence to activate automatically . . .

Click your Start Button, then just type cmd

On the resulting list, right click Command Prompt and choose 'Run as Administrator'

Paste this into Command Prompt and press Enter

slmgr /upk

Then close Command Prompt, that will have removed the current OEM licence key . . .

 

Retail version or OEM version

Here are the key facts:-

OEM licences are cheaper than retail but (strictly according to EULA) not transferable to a new mobo.

Officially, you cannot buy oem licences as an end user. In reality, you can and MS rarely block such keys.

When you install from 1version 607 onwards, you get a digital licence tied to mobo id.
The digital licence is transferable to a a new mobo using activation troubleshooter.
This works if retail or oem (even though strictly against EULA).

Once you get a digital licence, it is forever even if original key gets blocked.

So, in reality, it does not matter too much if you buy oem or retail.

However, there is one possible additional consideration:

A digital licence can only be transferred a number of limited time (three in my testing), whereas a retail licence has unlimited licence transfers (may need telephone activation though).

So if you are going to transfer licence at least four times over your life to new mobo, then a retail licence could be better.

However, if oem licence is much cheaper, who cares?

Personally, I would buy a cheap oem licence accepting any risks that it might get blocked at some point.