Windows 7: New MB and hard drive... can I reinstall Windows 7?

Well, thanks for the info. I'll just chalk it up as a lesson learned and buy Windows 7 the regular way.

Actually the rumors are that MS is working on ways to totally limit who OEM can be sold to.

I had a power surge that destroyed some of my hardware once and when I rang microsoft and told them the new mobo and hd was due to powersurge they let me reactivate it, try that approach.

There are many reports of MS making exceptions to allow mobo change on Builder's OEM. So it is certainly worth a try to move it to the new hardware.

If they won't allow it, then just reinstall it on your Dad's computer where you moved the mobo since that is the only piece of hardware that must remain constant at all times to reactivate. And I would keep a few other pieces of the old hardware in case they are needed to enable reactivation. There is a threshhold of changes that cannot be passed and it may involve more than mobo.

You can still use the OEM copy on your dad's computer since it will be the same motherboard.

Jim

Hoping you can clear up a bit of confusion for me.

I have an OEM (PC manufacturer supplied) with a COA sticker on the side for Windows 7 Home Premium. Now I thought people on the forum were quite sure that you can do a clean (non bloated) install using the product key on the label.
Is this correct?
But based on what has been said above, it will still be tied to my Motherboard/BIOS. Is that correct?

Yes, you can clean reinstall using any Windows 7 retail installer for your version, and the Product Key on the COA sticker will work to reactivate after a quick robocall to sort specific key from batch key on sticker.

And, yes, Factory OEM like Builder's OEM is tied to the mobo so that it should not allow reactivation if mobo is changed. Your manufacturer can help you swap the mobo in such a way that activation won't fail, such as replacing exact same mobo.

Hi lads,
my first post here and dont want to sound to stupid.
I have windows 7 ultimate 64 retail,but am having alot of trouble with my harddrives.
So i just bought two new SSDs to replace the old harddrives,so correct me
if im wrong?
If i put the new SSDs in without changing anything else in the computer i can
reinstall windows 7 and still use the original product key without having to
call M.S and ask for a new key,or is it a case of regardless of the facts that i
have to call them for a new key anyway.

The Product Key which came with your Windows 7 retail is good for life. You can move it to different hardware of your choice as often as you want as long as it is on only one machine at a time.

If reactivation is required then you may have to make a robocall to MS, but the numbers exchanged are to update the hardware signature in their computers and not a new Product Key.

You are absolutely right, Greg. I've been doing that with my XP key for 5+ years. In fact, I just virtualized my old XP install and upon booting the virtual machine I had to re-authenticate it yet again. Worked flawlessly.

I have reclaimed the XP partition I had allotted for dual booting Win 7 with XP and now run my old dual boot XP partition in a virtual machine.