Windows 7 - How to remove win 7

I purchased 3 win 7 product keys for my computers, one of my computers a laptop has decided to die, i need to know how i can use the product key from the dead machine on to another machine.

Well, you just install it on it on the new machine and then put in your Product Key and activate, if you have issues, you can call the number provided by the activation window and call up Microsoft.

Activate Windows 7 by Phone

Zepher is spot on. I have done this.. You may have to talk to a live person. I did and all is fine. I even passed WAT's scrutiny.

This is all assuming you have a retail license, and not OEM. If you installed an OEM license on one system, technically, you aren't supposed to move it to another computer. Take that as you will.

Hello Fishslice, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unless you installed a retail copy on your laptop, then it most likely is a OEM copy of Windows 7. OEM product key numbers are permanently tied to the computer that they are first activated on. You will not be able to use the product key number on another computer if it is not a retail copy of Windows 7.

Hello Fishslice, welcome to the Seven Forums.

I have had no problems transferring a retail license and activation to a new computer or hardware setup when first uninstalling, 'un-activating' Windows product key. Notice that transferring an OEM license is against the EULA.

Open an elevated command prompt*, type slmgr /upk and hit enter. Close the command prompt. You'll should now see a warning on desktop and an License is expired watermark:






Reboot the computer. After reboot you can see your licence is deactivated:



Click Ask me later or Cancel, shut down the computer and you are free to use your retail key on a new computer.



Kari

* = right click Command Prompt icon or shortcut, choose Run as administrator.

what part of the laptop died? If you can salvage the Harddrive, you could put it in a different Laptop. I don't know what will happen though as others have said due to OEM issues.

Or you can get a 2.5" to 3.5" HD bracket and put the Laptop HD in a desktop tower.

I agree with Brink here. If your laptop came with Widows 7 already installed, you have an OEM version that is tied to that computer. Retail versions are licensed to be used on one computer only, meaning you can only have it one computer at a time. As Zepher said, if you are using a retail version and want to put it on a different computer, you will need to call Microsoft to activate, but you shouldn't have problems with the move.

Cheers,
Cassandra
Microsoft Windows Outreach

what would happen say if a hard drive died and you needed to reinstall on a new hard drive with a OEM copy. could you use the key on the new hard drive even tho there one use keys?

MS sometimes makes exceptions for Builder OEM reinstalls with hardware changes. They are using a hardware signature to determine this where any hardware or combination of hardware can be replaced and not invalidate the OEM license except the mobo, but there are reports that mobo changes are being allowed in some cases.

There are never exceptions made for factory-installed OEM Windows being reinstalled on the same machine, but again the hardware signature rules and the only deal-breaker is a mobo change. This is why maker's will replace the mobo with same exact model - to keep from invalidating the OEM licenses.

Other combinations of hardware changes on OEM will often not require more than a robocall to MS to refresh the hardware signature (that is what the number exchange is about). The only areas where you might expect problems are (almost always) mobo, LAN, or multiples of other hardwares changed.