Why Not Buy Windows 7 Retail Licenses?

Organizations can purchase licenses for Windows 7 Professional and other editions through retail stores or online resellers, including Microsoft. However, most organizations will limit retail Windows purchases because of cost and rights considerations.

Both upgrade licenses and full licenses are available at retail. Upgrade licenses can cover computers that have a qualifying prior OS, while full licenses can cover any computer. When bought at retail, both types of licenses have some shortcomings.

Prices will typically be higher, because retailers typically do not usually offer the same discounts as large OEMs and volume licensing resellers.

Downgrades are not permitted by retail licenses, so an organization that has standardized on an earlier OS version may not buy a retail Windows 7 license and deploy the older version.

Reimaging with volume license media is permitted, but the edition and version licensed at retail must match the edition and version deployed through reimaging. Only Windows 7 Professional retail licenses meet these requirements.