What is mean by Windows OS embedded in the laptop? What are the pros and cons?

modeonoff

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Hello, I asked a manufacturer how to move all the pre-installed software including Windows OS to a higher capacity SSD which I plan to upgrade. They said that Windows OS is embedded in the laptop. How does it work? What are the pros and cons? They said that if I want to upgrade from Home to Pro, I just buy the license and enter the license to convert Home to Pro version. What if few years later Windows come up with a major release such as Windows 11, 12, 2020, etc.?
 
Solution


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System Support (10:41:52 AM):The Window OS is already embedded on the laptop itself.
Me (10:42:24 AM):D o you mean even I change the SSD, Windows OS is still in the laptop?
System Support (10:42:35 AM):You got it right!
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Change the word "embedded" to "installed"
It is already installed on whatever drive it comes with.

"You got it right!" is...

why_wolf

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Aug 28, 2015
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The OS isn't "embedded". The licensing key is. Since you are going from a smaller drive to a larger drive you can just clone your existing drive to a new one and swap them. Windows won't care.
 

USAFRet

Illustrious
Moderator


You talked to a front line help desk dude who has no clue.

What laptop is this?
 

USAFRet

Illustrious
Moderator


In that instance, no one on the planet, including Microsoft, has any clue.
Because it hasn't happened yet.

What happened when Win 8 came out?
You could easily upgrade from 7.
Or when Win 7 came out? Upgrade from Vista.

Etc....
 

modeonoff

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Razer Blade 15 2018.
https://www.razer.com/gaming-laptops/razer-blade

I talked with Tech support. The guy was able to answer lots of technical questions but this answer is a bit strange. Here is a snapshot of the chat. Does it make sense?


Me (10:39:53 AM):1. If I get a 1TB or 2TB SSD myself, how do I move all the pre-installed software from the SSD which comes with the machine?
System Support (10:40:38 AM):Going back to your concern, our new laptop does not have pre installed programs.
Me (10:41:12 AM):I mean Windows OS and some programs Razer put in as mentioned in the product page.
System Support (10:41:52 AM):The Window OS is already embedded on the laptop itself.
Me (10:42:24 AM):Do you mean even I change the SSD, Windows OS is still in the laptop?
System Support (10:42:35 AM):You got it right!
Me (10:43:02 AM):Which version of Windows is that?
System Support (10:44:25 AM):All of our laptops are using Windows 10 Home edition.
Me (10:44:39 AM):If I want Windows 10 PRO, what should I do?
System Support (10:45:46 AM):You can contact Microsoft if you want to upgrade it to PRO. Once you purchase the upgrade, it will give you another Product key so that you can put it in your laptop and will be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro.
Me (10:47:04 AM):I see. I have not used laptops with Windows OS embedded. What will happen when future version of Windows come out in 2-10 years? Do I need to replace the hardware that Windows 10 OS is embedded?
System Support (10:48:02 AM):You don't need to worry about it, all you need to do is use the new Product key for the Windows version.
 

modeonoff

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He said the OS is embedded in the computer. Given that the max warranty is 2 years only, I wonder what will happen when new OS come out? Maybe I need to replace a hardware component inside the computer to get an up-to-date OS? By that time, the warranty will expire and they can charge whatever they like.
Please refer to the chat I posted.
 

USAFRet

Illustrious
Moderator


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System Support (10:41:52 AM):The Window OS is already embedded on the laptop itself.
Me (10:42:24 AM):D o you mean even I change the SSD, Windows OS is still in the laptop?
System Support (10:42:35 AM):You got it right!
----------------------

Change the word "embedded" to "installed"
It is already installed on whatever drive it comes with.

"You got it right!" is completely wrong.
If you change the drive, the new drive has no OS until you put one on there. Either clone from the old drive or a clean install.
The OS license, however...is linked to the laptop hardware. You do not need to purchase a new OS.
Unless you wish to change from Win 10 Home to Win 10 Pro.


"He said the OS is embedded in the computer."
It isn't. It exists on a drive. Take that drive out, and you need to do something about getting the OS on a new drive.

Bottom line - Don't listen to the front line help desk idiot. He knows not of what he speaks.
 
Solution

modeonoff

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Thanks for the clarifications.

I am trying to decide between the Thinkpad and this Razer computer. After asking tones of questions to them for the past few days, I found Razer's support quite good in general except for the strange thing posted here. I can't tell their after sales support which is is also very important.

The problem is that they only have an extended warranty of 1 extra year. It means that they can charge whatever they can after 2 years of use. As for the Thinkpad, I think they have a total of 4-year extended warranty. Razer has Intel 8th gen 6-core CPU and Nvidia GPU in it but I don't know how reliable their computers are. There is also no review (only previews) on this laptop. Don't know about possible heat/noisy fan/thermal throttling issues unless I buy it and test it. They also do not announce the number of hours different LCD/GPU configurations can run before recharging. Too bad the Thinkpad line has no 8th gen 6-core CPU yet.

Both Lenovo and Razer cannot guarantee that their laptops with Ubuntu Linux installed will be compatible with eGPU. Looks like eGPU is not matured yet?

Not going to buy the 2017 MacBook Pro since the hardware is too outdated and the keyboard sucks.

What suggestions do you have? The computer is for work. Reliability and performance are important. Below 2kg with 10+ battery life is also desirable.

 

USAFRet

Illustrious
Moderator
The whole eGPU concept is a lost cause. Don't buy a laptop with the intention of doing that.

Yes, you can maybe do it. But you're turning an OK laptop into a mediocrly performing desktop.

Apparently this Razer is a brand new line? That's why you're not seeing any in depth reviews or testing.
Do you want to be the worlds test subject?
 

modeonoff

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That is a very good point.

I consider to buy a laptop with Nvidia 1060 Max-Q or 1070 Max-Q GPU, 32GB RAM and 6-core Intel 8 Gen CPU such as i7-8750H or i9-8950HK. If not enough power, add an eGPU with Nvidia's up-coming 2080 GPU rather than get a desktop for heavy duty work. Is it true that although it may sound high performance machinel, in practice laptops with these 6-core CPU and/or Max-Q GPU have heat/noisy fan/thermal throttling issues?

Is it better to choose a laptop with i7-8650U and Nvidia MX150 2G or Intel UHD 620 such as those available in Thinkpads?
 

USAFRet

Illustrious
Moderator


"Is it better..."
I don't know.
I'm not in the market for high end laptops. All my laptops are strictly low power, high battery life travel devices.
High performance lives in the desktops.