Swap the OS between two computers and keep documents

ratman · 16 Dec 2010

Hello

I have recently built a computer and have installed Windows Seven Home Premium x64 OEM on it. I also have a laptop which I installed Windows Seven Ultimate x64 OEM.

I am wondering if it is possible to 'swap' the two operating systems (because I want Ultimate on my new PC and will install Home Premium on the laptop) but at the same time keep all my documents, pictures, music etc. Also, would it be possible to keep the programs as well?

I have heard of windows easy transfer which i used to get the documents from the laptop to the new PC, but it won't preserve programs will it.

Thanks in advance,
James

Bill2 · 16 Dec 2010

1) Per EULA, OEM licenses are tied to the first mobo they are installed on, the license is not transferable.

2) One can move from a lower edition of win7 to a higher, say from home premium to ultimate using an inbuilt option called Anytime upgrade. This requires a key for the higher edition naturally, such as your OEM key. This method preserves all settings, files and programs and takes just about 10 minutes or so.

3) Why exactly do you want to swap? Unless you want to join a domain or use XP mode, theres no major advantage to using Ultimate.

Given the EULA and unless theres a specific reason you want to swap I would suggest you stick to the current setup.

ratman · 16 Dec 2010

Bill2 said:

3) Why exactly do you want to swap? Unless you want to join a domain or use XP mode, theres no major advantage to using Ultimate.

The only real reason I want to use ultimate is to use XP mode. I would like to try out my hardware virtualisation capabilities

You mentioned 'anytime upgrade'. Does that mean that I could use my Ultimate key to upgrade, and keep the original Ultimate version (so there will be two at once, using the same product key?). The box that I got the OS in said three licenses but I have a feeling that it is actually one license.

Bill2 · 16 Dec 2010

No no, you cant use the same key twice, thats the problem. And theres no Ultimate edition that comes in a 3 pack. can you give some more details of whats written on the box?

As for testing hardware via virtualization, I'll request Kari for help, who's the resident expert in that area whether there other ways to do that, so hold your horses.

Kari · 16 Dec 2010

It's not going to work. Sorry.

OEM is OEM and that's it as Bill already told you. Installed on one motherboard, it can not be transferred to another. Even if you had retail versions, you could only upgrade HP to Ultimate, and that only after paying for Anytime Upgrade. Downgrading Ultimate to HP is not possible.

Your best shot is to keep the Ultimate, and pay for Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade HP to Ultimate, leaving you with two Ultimates and no need to transfer apps and files.

More about Windows Anytime Upgrade: Windows Anytime Upgrade - Windows 7 features - Microsoft Windows

Kari

EDIT: If your only goal is to test virtualization, try VirtualBox. You can install all Windows versions and Linux distros on a VirtualBox virtual machine.

www.virtualbox.org

ratman · 16 Dec 2010

Thanks Kari, that makes sense.

I am currently testing the hardware virtualisation with virtualbox as you said, but I was wanting to try XP mode. But that's ok, i can stay with virtualbox until I pay for the anytime upgrade.

Thanks again

Kari · 16 Dec 2010

If you have XP install media, you can install it to a VirtualBox machine. It's exactly the same than XP Mode, it being a totally normal XP Pro SP3 virtual machine.

ratman · 16 Dec 2010

Kari said:

If you have XP install media, you can install it to a VirtualBox machine. It's exactly the same than XP Mode, it being a totally normal XP Pro SP3 virtual machine.

I have done that, but thanks