Licenses for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 can be obtained through one of three basic channels: retail, original equipment manufacturer (OEM), or Volume Licensing. Each channel has its own unique methods of activation. Because organizations can obtain their operating systems through any of the three available channels, they can choose a combination of activation methods.
Retail
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 products that are acquired through a retail store are individually licensed and are activated in the same way as retail versions of the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 operating systems. Each purchased copy comes with one unique product key (printed on the product packaging), which the user enters during the product installation. The computer uses this product key to complete the activation after the installation of the operating system is complete. This final activation step can be accomplished online or by telephone.
Original Equipment Manufacturer
Most OEMs sell systems that include a standard build of the Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system. Hardware vendors perform OEM activation by associating the operating system to the firmware (basic input/output system, or BIOS) of the computer. This process occurs before the computer is sent to the customer so that no additional actions are required by the user. This method of activation is known as OEM activation.
OEM activation is valid as long as the customer uses the OEM-provided image on a system. To create a customized image, customers can use the image provided by the OEM as the basis for creating the custom image. Otherwise, a different activation method must be used. For further details on customizing Windows and activation impacts refer to the following whitepaper.
Note OEM activation is applicable to computers with Windows installed that are purchased through OEM channels.
Activation Options