- OEM
- GGK
- Retail
OEM(Original Equipment Manufacturer) - the most affordable licence for installing Windows on a new computer. An OEM licence is only legal if it is purchased with the computer on which it is installed - both the computer and the licence must be visible on the proof of purchase. A Certificate ofAuthenticity(COA) sticker showing the product key must be affixed to the licensed computer. This licence cannot be transferred to another machine and becomes invalid at the end of the life cycle of the computer.
GGK(Get Genuine Kit) - a licence designed to legalise a computer already on the farm. GGK products are on average 25% more expensive than OEM products, but allow you to get a legal Windows operating system for a computer you have bought in the past or assembled yourself from components bought from various shops or even second-hand. The rules are very similar to OEM - you have to stick a COA sticker on the case and you are not allowed to transfer it for use on another computer. The most important difference is that the GGK licence can be purchased at any time, even separately from the computer.
Retail - Unlike GGK and OEM, you won't find a DVD and COA sticker in the packages of Windows 10 and Windows 11 Retail. In the box you will find a USB stick with the installation files and a card with the product key printed on it. The biggest advantages of the Retail version are that you do not need to stick the product key sticker on your computer case and you can transfer and use the licence at any time on another computer, provided it has been uninstalled from the previous system. This is the best option if you are planning to change your computer soon or if you are an enthusiast who regularly changes handcuffs.
