Transferring Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit OEM

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  1. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #11

    LewisHolcombe said:
    Yes but you can't use them more than twice can you? And it has OEM in it? That's not normal. I got this from someone the other day. I know it's a fully legit pc.
    Let me add this.
    I passed that screen and now I'm on this screen :I
    You still have not mentioned the application you are using.

    You can use the OEM Product Key again, as long as it is a valid key and you have not changed motherboards.

    If I had a valid Product Key, I'd just do a clean install, rather than move/clone/image.

    A valid Product Key is typically found on a Certificate Of Authenticity sticker on the PC and will have 25 characters in 5 groups separated by a hyphen, like this:

    xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

    You can even call Microsoft and have them tell you if it is a valid Product Key.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 62
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit OEM
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Well do I have to uninstall the one on this hard drive?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #13

    LewisHolcombe said:
    Well do I have to uninstall the one on this hard drive?
    No.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 62
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit OEM
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Okay. Right its not on the pc cause it was a windows vista pc.
    The person/company before me put W7U on it. But you can find it in system properties and it's not quite like yours due to it being OEM it's something like xxxxx-OEM-xxxxx
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #15

    LewisHolcombe said:
    Okay. Right its not on the pc cause it was a windows vista pc.
    The person/company before me put W7U on it. But you can find it in system properties and it's not quite like yours due to it being OEM it's something like xxxxx-OEM-xxxxx
    That's not a Product Key.

    Most likely, that is a Product ID.

    Product Keys have 25 characters.

    I'd be talking to whoever owned this PC before you and ask about the Product Key.

    You can do a clean install without a Product Key, but you need the Product Key to activate.

    I'd guess the prior owner will be no help, which leaves you with cloning or imaging or buying a new license.
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  6. Posts : 62
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit OEM
    Thread Starter
       #16

    Ahh I get it. Theres soft ware out there right? It tells you the product key?
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  7. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #17

    There are applications like Magical Jelly Bean that will attempt to locate your product key.

    But that doesn't mean it is a valid product key.

    Microsoft is the authority on what is and what is not a valid product key. If you recover the key, call them and ask.

    It's anybody's guess if your key is recoverable or valid.
      My Computer

  8.    #18

    If it has "OEM" in the Product ID string then it is either Factory preinstalled OEM (which should be Vista, correct?), builder's OEM which was purchased instead of Upgrade to get a price break, or cractivated using the pirates' favorite BIOS SLIC emulation method.

    If you reinstall you can try the Product Key audited now from HD using Belarc Advisor but there is no guarantee it will work. If it is definitely Win7 and not Vista then it would have to be Builder's OEM retail to be legal. If it won't activate you'll need to buy a new key or reinstall the native Vista license which is good for the life of the machine.

    Or you can clone or image the current install using Win7 backup imaging, Macrium Reflect or the premium Acronis' cloning/imaging apps which come free when any WD or Seagate HD is in the mix.

    However even imaging/cloning may lose activation and require reactivation, may prove be a pirate copy requiring you to either buy a new copy of Win7, or reinstall the native Vista OS which came with the PC. Vista ISO download

    Or you can do none of the above, clean up the OS on the 40gb to include only the OS and Programs you want to keep, copy the User folders over to the 1tb then link them to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums, delete the User folder content on C.

    Last edited by gregrocker; 02 Sep 2012 at 15:57.
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  9. Posts : 62
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit OEM
    Thread Starter
       #19

    Sound risky. The only problem I wanted this on a bigger drive is cause I can't put a seccond one in my graphics card covers slots 2,3,4
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #20

    LewisHolcombe said:
    Sound risky.
    You don't have a lot of choice.

    Attempting to get your product key and calling Microsoft to see if it is legit has no risk.

    As for the rest of it, you can take some risks or buy a new Windows disc.
      My Computer


 
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