Windows 7 - Moving a Windows 7 Installation

Hi folks,

For Christmas I bought myself a new Lenovo laptop. It came with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. For my mobile computing needs, I prefer Ubuntu for most stuff that I do, but like to have Windows on my desktop. As standard practice seems to dictate these days, no installation disc was sent with the laptop.

I would like to know the best way that I can setup my desktop with the copy of Windows 7 I have on my laptop. I won't be using 2 copies simultaneously, and I don't want to just LOSE out on a copy of Windows 7 that came with the laptop.

I am concerned because the Lenovo tools to do backup state that the backup cannot be used on another machine. I was wondering if any of the tools included in Windows 7, whether it be creating recovery discs, making backup images, etc., have the same problem. I want to do everything legally, but don't want to shoot myself in the foot and lose out on a copy of Windows that I purchased.

Thanks and happy holidays!

Sorry you cannot do it legally

Most likely the OS that came with your compuer is OEM

It has a restrictiion that it can only be used on one machine

Not one at a time, but only one.

Sorry, if by some chance you find out that it is not OEM,

We can tell you how to transfer to the othe computer.

Richard

You can do it. Here is what I would do, first find the Product Key sticker attached to the laptop. Probably on the bottom of the laptop's case. It's a grouping of 25 letters and numbers, such as: 1AA11-11A11-AAA11-1A1A1-111AA. Write it down.

Go here to download a copy of: 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium x64 ISO
** Direct Download LINK REMOVED **

It will be about a 3.02GB ISO image file, should take up to 4 hours to download depending upon your connection. Then burn that ISO image file to a blank DVD at not faster than 4X burning speed. Use ImgBurn, its free and will verify the ISO file against the burned DVD to be sure there were no errors.

Then do a clean install on your desktop, be sure you have previously download all the 64 bit drivers you may need for the motherboard's chipsets, video card, sound drivers, NIC drivers etc.

Just remember that if you have already activated your Windows 7 product key on the laptop, then you're out of luck. You'll have to purchase another product key at somewhere like Amazon or wherever. If you haven't activated you should be okay.

I hope this helps, Good Luck!

In my opinion it is not important if it can be done, but if it can legally be done. If he has an OEM version of the OS, it cannot legally be done. It appears to me that the OS came with the computer. Every computer that I bought with an OS installed was already activated. If I am mistaken the OP can indeed make the transfer. If I am correct I advise the OP not to try to make a transfer.

That was a direct link to Microsoft! It's through Digital River, which MS uses for their DL links.

The fact is that you are providing a link to software that has not been purchased and that is piracy..

Wrong. The key on the laptop isn't going to work on just any copy of Windows 7.

Since you say you want to do this legally, then do you have a second license for Windows 7 Home Premium to use on your desktop?

If so, you can use a drive imaging software to copy and then reimage to the desktop. Macrium Reflect freeware is good.

After reimaging, all drivers will changeout with several requests for restart. Then immediately go to Computer>Properties activation link and change the product key to your second license. The license which you have reimaged to the desktop with Windows 7 Home Premium will not work on that hardware configuration.

If the key is rejected, use the robocall option to see if your second license will activate. If you speak with a MS agent, tell them you just installed Home Premium on the machine and want to install the key which came with it. Do not use the word "clone" or "image" to MS as they are allergic to it.

If this fails to work, then you need to run a simple Repair Install from the desktop to re-acclimate Windows 7 to the new hardware and reset activation so it will accept the legal key for that same version of Windows 7.