Windows 7: I have XP on one drive and want to install Win 7 OEM on another drive

I have an existing XP 32 bit PC and want to install Win 7 on a new Drive and do a dual boot- will the Win 7 OEM Activation work- considering I have never installed Win 7 OEM or other on this Motherboard

I want to build a new PC but funds are slow in coming so I figure i would buy a little bit over time in next 4 months and just buy a new copy of Win 7 OEM version when i build the new PC, Motherboard, graphics card, Case, PS etc and then Sell the old PC

thanks

Allen

It should...the only problem I see is if your XP hardware will have drivers for windows 7. Run the windows 7 upgrade advisory for hardware software issues.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows

I would install Windows 7 with the XP HD unplugged, then set preferred OS HD to boot first in BIOS setup, boot the other one using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key. This keeps them independent to come and go as you please.

I would not activate OEM version on that hardware but instead leave Key blank and uncheck "Activate when I connect to the internet" so you have 30 days to decide if you want to use your OEM license on that hardware.

Follow the best practices to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which are the same for retail and are especially important on older hardware to understand how drivers are handled in Windows 7 which is not at all like XP. If you hew to the steps given then you'll get and keep a perfect install based on countless thousands we've helped with here.

Thanks for the info, So I installed Win 7 OEM on a new SSD fin and loaded the drivers -all while leaving XP disks unpowere/unplugged, Windows 7 OEM boots fine loaded additional drivers and Virus soft etc, I understand i now need something like EasyBCD to install to select Win 7 as my prim 1st boot then add XP boot with a prog like or EASYBCD

the issue i have now - i went to Activate the Win 7 OEM over the internet and it says key is invalid or something, Is there any issues the way i installed the Win 7 OEM on its own drive with my existing XP MB hardware etc. should the key activate ok? tried by phone too and it still said invalid activation I still have not plugged in the XP drive yet

Is there any issues the way I did this, or something wrong with this Win 7 OEM key?
Somewhere between now nad Feb I will by new MB CPU etc new build - figured i would just buy another Win 7 oem but having this issue now (it shows on lower corner Win 7 Test mode Windows 7 and a build number

Let's first make sure we're talking about the same Windows 7 here ...

There is Windows 7 for System Builders -- which stores are not supposed to sell to the public, but hey, they need to make money so they do anyway. These come in a small plastic case, or a cheap cardboard case (not the fancy plastic case that contains the retail version). These also have a card inside, or a sticker on the case, containing the activation key you need to enter.

There is also the OEM version. This is preinstalled on a PC by a vendor (e.g., HP, Acer, Toshiba), and is activated using code built into the BIOS chip on that PC. IF you reinstall this version, you often have to contact the Vendor because the activation key on the sticker on the PC might not work. The only legal way to obtain this version is directly from the vendor -- as in a set of restore disks obtained from (for example) HP.

So, which of these to you have? That's important because activation is very different for each of the two versions.

Did you even read what I wrote?

You don't need to install EasyBCD but should keep the OS's independent of each other by setting preferred one to boot first in BIOS setup, then boot other one using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

What about all of these drivers you said you loaded in? If you read the tutorial I posted it says clearly that Windows 7 is driver complete in the installer and after doing all Important and Optional Updates. There only should be a couple missing drivers then (and only then) which you can import.

I also suggested you wait to activate OEM version until you test the OS on your hardware for 30 days grace period you're given. Otherwise it will be locked to the mobo on hardware which might not work well for it.

Now that I"ve had to retype all of this a second time, why dont' you read it this time and ask back any quesitons instead of insulting me by ignoring what I took the time to write based on countless similar cases since before Windows 7 was released?

Hi

I purchased what was labeled as an OEM Win 7 version (it said Branded on it) whatever that meant, When I recieved it- it actually says DELL Restore disk- which was surprising but -? I am an authorized Dell Service technician, and we sell Dells exclusively where I work, and sometimes do our own custom builds when we need specific hardware Dell does not carry.

So maybe my understand of OEM and not understanding system builder was lacking. I have read OEM paks on units we have built, Anyhow so thats what i purchased (Internet site) labeled it an WIN 7 Prof 64 bit OEM (Branded) Since I really wanted to just get my PC up and runningon 7 and slowly buy parts to build a new rig over the next few months on NewEgg and other sites I figured i would just take the hit on the OEM Win 7 cost(cheap enough) and by anotherWin 7 when build Bds CPU etc aquired, Then just sell my old computer

I hope you will tell me the activation key will or should work but now ???? wonder why it doesn't

HI Greg,

thanks I guess i was a bit confused - the part
"using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key" I guess my Win 7 training from last Decemebr im forgetting, Is that part of BIOS where is it in BIOS or how does it work?

The web site info i found mentioned using EasyBCD to after the Win 7 is installed to set the XP as like a secondary boot and tell BIOS where it located was what i rad on research? You are saying this one time BIOS boot Menu key will do the same for me?

As far as the drivers go- I installed an AHCI driver from ASUS for my MB because it was originally IDE and did not show any loaded drivers for AHCI, so I got an Intel ICH9R AHCI SATA Driver update Sata Controller Chng Bios to get the SSD to perform at its best, then after Win & I Installed a Creative Labs Driver for
my SB X-Fi, as well as downloaded the lar=test Radeon 4870 and catylist program for it, I left the CD/USB/ others alone including the NIC's and JBMicron non used Raid cntrl.


The ACT Key my Computer properties says I stll have 28 days- I just wanted to get it going

Win 7 is up and running now its great- So left is the
1 powerup plug in XO drives and
2 set it so Win 7 is prim boot OS and XP etcshows up, comes up with whatever how you set delay to choose OS to boot from method should you want to boot XP
(I guess i need more direction on how exactly u do the one time BIOS boot menu key)
3 is the question I asked Mark Phelps about whether this Win 7 OEM (Branded) activation key should work? its a regular MS activation key sticker that came with the CD/DVD in a cardboard box

I do appreciate the help-

THe one-time BIOS boot menu key for Asus is F8 key tapped repeatedly and vigorously at boot. If it passes BIOS post it will instead trigger Windows Advanced Boot Options.

If you don't like BIOS Booting method you can indeed install EasyBCD (free Download at bottom of page - no name or email required) to Windows 7 set first to boot in BIOS, add XP on Add OS Entry tab by name, OS and then let drive autocomplete.

I would not use Catalyst bloatware or any of the other XP-era-type bloat that comes with GPU or mobo drivers unless you overclock. Windows 7 is not XP and does not need any drivers except those missing after all Updates are done. Win8 doesn't even require any user participation for drivers - those improvements are from Windows 7. Installing drivers is mostly history and can bring trouble, unless performance clearly dictates a change from what Windows 7 wants.

It sounds like you bought a Dell Reinstallation DVD which is meant to reinstall Dell Windows 7 OEM using factory SLP activation which is baked into the disk. It cannot be used except on the PC it came with. I would contact the seller and ask for a refund. If they refuse contact MS Customer Service to complain about being sold non-Genuine Windows 7 for which you may have it replaced if you cooperate with their investigation.

Well I guess I should have research what Branded meant- I was surprised to see it said DELL restore CD on it, Heck I have a slew of those at my office for our Demo Dells, I thought it was good because of the MS Activation sticker that came with it. I did not quetion it as- when I built this XP machine at work - i bought through NewEgg OEM XP version back in 2007 and built it and it worked fine, again my understanding at time was not all that corect on OEM for new builds but it worked,

So i guess i should call for a refund,
QUESTION though, does that mean if i instead buy from NewEgg a Win 7 OEM version in the OEM PAK Package you get when you buy from them, should that work on my existing rig? hate to have to spend the money right now for a full blown version just so i can migrate my old programs over to SSD and Win 7 in the interum

thanks