Editing Original equipment manufacturer (section)

=== Windows ===
[[Microsoft]] is a popular example of a company that issues its [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] operating systems for use by OEM computer manufacturers via the [[bundling of Microsoft Windows]]. OEM [[product key]]s are priced lower than their retail counterparts, especially as they are purchased in bulk quantities, although they use the same software as retail versions of Windows. They are primarily for PC manufacturer OEMs and system builders, and as such are typically sold in [[volume licensing]] deals to a variety of manufacturers ([[Dell]], [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]], [[Asus|ASUS]], [[Acer Inc.|Acer]], [[Lenovo]], [[Wistron]], [[Inventec]], [[Supermicro]], [[Compal Electronics]], [[Quanta Computer]], [[Foxconn]], [[Pegatron]], [[Jabil]], [[Flex Ltd.|Flex]], etc.). 

These OEMs commonly use a procedure known as [[System Locked Pre-installation]], which pre-activates Windows on PCs that are to be sold via mass distribution. These OEMs also commonly bundle software that is not installed on stock Windows on the images of Windows that will be deployed with their PCs (appropriate hardware [[device driver|drivers]], anti-malware and maintenance software, various apps, etc.).

Individuals may also purchase OEM "system-builder" licenses for personal use (to include [[hardware virtualization|virtual hardware]]), or for sale/resale on PCs which they build. Per Microsoft's [[end-user license agreement|EULA]] regarding PC manufacturers and system-builder OEM licenses, the product key is tied to the PC [[motherboard]] which it is initially installed on, and there is ''typically'' no transferring the key between PCs afterward. This is in contrast to retail keys, which may be transferred, provided they are only activated on one PC at a time. A significant hardware change will trigger a reactivation notice, just as with retail.<ref name="General Info on Microsoft OEM COA's, CDs, Ect">{{cite web|title=General Info on Microsoft OEM COA's, CDs, Ect.|url=http://www.ebay.com:80/gds/General-Info-on-Microsoft-OEM-COAs-CDs-Ect-/10000000003637322/g.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212035253/http://www.ebay.com:80/gds/General-Info-on-Microsoft-OEM-COAs-CDs-Ect-/10000000003637322/g.html|archive-date=2014-02-12|access-date=2015-09-09|website=[[eBay]]}}</ref>

Direct OEMs are officially held liable for things such as installation/recovery media, and as such were commonly provided until the late-2000s. These were phased out in favor of recovery partitions located on the primary storage drive of the PC (and available for order from the manufacturer upon request) for the user to repair or restore their systems to the factory state. This not only cut down on costs, but was also a consequence of the gradual obsolescence and phasing out of optical media from 2010 onward. System builders also have a different requirement regarding installation media from Direct OEMs.<ref name="Licensing FAQ">{{cite web|title=Licensing FAQ: System builder licensing|url=http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_faq.aspx#fbid=8EGnlL9ralk?hashlink=faq1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002232801/http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_faq.aspx#fbid=8EGnlL9ralk?hashlink=faq1|archive-date=2015-10-02|access-date=2015-10-01|work=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref><ref name="OEM System Builder Licensing Guide">{{cite web|title=OEM System Builder Licensing Guide|url=http://oem.microsoft.com:80/public/worldwide/licensing/OEM_System_Builder_Licensing_Guide.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308035536id_/http://oem.microsoft.com:80/public/worldwide/licensing/OEM_System_Builder_Licensing_Guide.pdf|archive-date=2014-03-08|access-date=2015-09-09|work=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref>  

While a clean retail media of Windows can be installed and activated on these devices with OEM keys (most commonly using the SLP key that's embedded in to the system firmware already), actual OEM recovery media that was created by the PC manufacturer (not system-builder, nor retail Windows versions) typically only works on the PC model line that was designed for it. For example, a recovery disc/USB for a [[dynabook Satellite|Toshiba Satellite]] P50-B will only work on that model, and not a Satellite S55T.