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Reinstalled Windows 10 but it showed as RETAIL channel

Anonymous
2021-08-21T17:51:27+00:00

First of all I would like to say that I am not that good with computers. I bought a computer in 2017 with the OEM, and I decided to change it to a Linux OS, and after a few years when I decided to come back to Windows, I went to a local computer shop, he reinstalled Windows 10, but it showed up as Windows logo at boot instead of company logo, and most of all, it's in Vietnamese. (I don't speak Vietnamese, but perhaps they used the Windows 10 Vietnamese installation disk). So I downloaded the Windows 10 again and install it. This time it is better, it is now in English and showing the company (manufacturer) logo at boot. But what it has not come with is the OEM channel, it still shows up as RETAIL channel. I did not put the product key and I used the license that come with the computer.

Any ideas on how can I install the OEM channel in English (I mean the menu in English)? Perhaps I put the wrong version of it?

(I don't care whether which version is better, OEM or retail, but I want OEM)

Thanks

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Licensing and activation

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  1. Virginia M 40,825 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-08-23T08:39:37+00:00

    To reinstall the OEM you would have to install Windows from the manufacturer’s recovery environment. This may return you to an older Windows version.

    If you upgraded to Windows 10 from a previous Windows (7, 8/8.1) then it does show retail even though the license is OEM.

    If you clean installed Windows 10 after trialing Linux then the manufacturer’s recovery partition will have been removed so you’d have to contact them to see if they offer a DVD recovery set.

    There’s no difference between OEM & Retail other that what I mentioned. It’s just a question of naming - OEM doesn’t give you any extra benefits & tbh usually comes with the PC maker’s bloatware like trial for various AV software.

    If this isn’t clear for you then I’m sorry.

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Virginia M 40,825 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-08-21T18:42:49+00:00

    Hello, I’m Virginia, I have 20 years of expertise in fixing my own & friends’ PC problems.

    Sorry to hear you’re experiencing problems. May I ask which Windows 10 build are you running - 1909, 2004, 20H2 or 21H1?

    A retail license is better than an OEM as it allows you to move the license to another PC.

    Also if your OEM license is for Windows 7 or 8/8.1 & you upgrade to Windows 10 then it will show as Retail even though the underlying license/key is for OEM.

    If you clean installed Windows 10 then it would pick up the license from your Microsoft account or the embedded key within the BIOS.

    As long as the correct language is showing then I would not worry.

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  3. Virginia M 40,825 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-08-21T19:01:48+00:00

    I’m sorry to see that you’ve marked my reply as not helpful.

    As stated if you’ve clean installed Windows & it is showing a retail license then there’s nothing you can do.

    If the PC came with it’s own recovery partition & this is still available then you can use this but it will give you the Windows version the PC came with which may be an older OS which may no longer allow you to upgrade to Windows 10.

    As stated there is no difference between OEM (Windows came with the PC & cannot be transferred) & Retail (can be transferred), there’s really no difference in the general use of Windows.

    9 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2021-08-21T18:56:34+00:00

    No, that is not the concern. I would like to have OEM version despite the other may be better. My question is, how can I get the OEM version? The version I am currently using is the latest one.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2021-08-21T19:30:19+00:00

    You don't get the point.

    I want one short answer: How can I reinstall the Windows 10 with OEM? Like what have I done wrong?

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