Sometimes, you cannot see a computer part number or the motherboard details when looking at system properties. It is either blank or displays To be filled by OEM. In this post, we will discuss this message and how to fix it – rather how to get the details of the motherboard displaying “To Be Filled by OEM” so that you can obtain its drivers. First, let us understand why this message comes up.
When Windows releases any software, for example, a new operating system, it does so in two versions: one for personal use by a user and one for bulk installations by different product manufacturers. The second version is called the OEM version of the software. Since Windows does not know what kind of equipment these manufacturers will be using, it does not fill up the fields related to the motherboard, etc. details. It is the job of the company that is building computers to fill up motherboard details so that people can get to download relevant drivers. Of course, they do provide a copy of drivers either on a separate disk or the local drive. Some OEMs also place the software copy on the local disk instead of giving away a separate disk containing that software.
What is To Be Filled By OEM message
The main difference between the retail version and the OEM version is that you have to keep the OEM-installed software on a particular computer – the one that you purchased. In other words, the OEM versions come preinstalled on the machines and you ‘should not’ transfer the software to any other machine. However, in the case of retail versions, the license is tied to the person and not to the machine so you can transfer the software from one machine to another – depending upon the license type (if it does not permit two installations, you’ll have to remove the software from the previous computer before you can activate your product on the other machine).
Coming back to OEM software, which is mostly the operating system in the post’s context, when you try to install it on a machine different from the one you brought or purchased, it fails to recognize the motherboard model number, etc. details in some cases. Another case can be local manufacturers who do not bother to fill in the info assuming you will not be reformatting or reinstalling the product on the same or another computer. In that case, too, the operating system cannot identify all the hardware, especially the motherboard and hence you see the “To Be Filled By OEM” message.
If your operating system can use the Internet to search for related drivers on its own (under System Properties -> Hardware tab in Windows), chances are good that Windows could find the motherboard version correctly to some extent and thus relieve you from problems. However, if the machine came with a CD or DVD having drivers, I recommend using it first – before you connect the computer to the Internet.
Get Drivers to fix To Be Filled By OEM message
As said above, some local computer manufacturers fail to provide you with drivers assuming you will not be reinstalling or using the software on a different computer. This creates a problem where you are not left with any drivers to make the computer work properly. You might take a chance to let Windows decide the hardware for you, but with no records, chances are you might not get or get the wrong set of drivers.
If it is a reinstall on the same machine, check the local disk for any folder containing the driver set. Normally, they are placed along with the operating system on a separate partition. You can get the drivers from there. If you used the software on a different machine, the method would not work as the hardware configuration will be different from the original equipment.
If you installed the OEM copy on a different computer and could not find any local copies of driver installers, you have to look up the product’s serial number and the motherboard details so that you can look for related drivers on the Internet.
The best bet is to contact the place where you purchased the computer. They can find the machine information and install the relevant drivers. But it is not feasible to carry the computer, especially if it is a desktop, to the place of purchase. In that case, read our article on how to Find Computer Model and Serial Number. You can give out the information on the phone to the vendor, and they’ll help you get the drivers.
This explains what is “To Be Filled By OEM” problem and how to get drivers for it.
