Replies to post #27676 on Dream Machine

[P2O I'm from MO]

You do not need the OEM preinstallation kit. The OEM kit is used by OEM's and resellers to make an image to preload on computers so that the new owner gets the out of box experience and all applications installed as the OEM or reseller desires.

You can install just from the DVD that you purchased. Set the computer to boot from the DVD, insert the DVD and boot and follow the instructions.

[Bruce A Thompson]

Ditto Reseller Mike's post

Just boot from the CD and install from scratch.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

[PMS Witch]

This puts you in a tricky spot. . .

The disk you get will install Windows 7 on your machine.

If you study the licensing terms, you'll see that to meet your obligation, you must install your Windows using the builder kit.

You'll also see that the license says you can install this windows only on a machine you'll sell to someone else -- for your own use is not allowed. (The theory is that you're now a system builder, not an end user.)

It's profoundly difficult to follow the letter of your User Agreement with Microsoft. It's also incredibly easy (and tempting) to ignore.

Cheers, PW.

P.S. Whatever you do, don't enter the Product Key during the installation. Do it later, after you're sure your Windows is installed and running the way you want. You have 30 days to activate -- use them wisely.

P.P.S. I'm not advocating for or against Microsoft. They wrote a torturous User Agreement. Reasonable people disregard it.

[Bruce A Thompson]

Use system builder packs all the time

Just comes with limited written instructional info that would be in retail packaging. Will work just fine for what you are doing.