hamlius, dc3, anybody -- do you know if the following scenario is true or not? Both an OEM Windows 7 owner [license-holder] and a Microsoft Windows 7 owner [license-holder] receive Windows Updates, and both go to various Microsoft web sites to add things to their OS. Does Microsoft have a shorter time period of support for OEM W7 folks than for Microsoft W7 folks? Reason for asking: Over a year and a half ago, when I had OEM W8, when I searched Microsoft web sites, it seemed to me that OEM Windows offers just did not "last" as long as Microsoft Windows offers.