Windows 7: 32 to 64

Hi
I'm currently running Windows 7 32bit on my HP desktop,but am in the process of building a new desktop to replace it.The new rig will be able to run the 64bit version.My query is am I allowed to have both versions running on two separate PC's.Does this break any Microsoft restrictions.As soon as I've got the new one running,and tested all the drivers work,I'll stop using the old one.The version I have is Retail not OEM.
Paranoid eh?

It would be illegal to use the same key on 2 different machines yes.

However,when Windows 7 promts you for the key during the installation on the new pc,skip it and install.
You then have 30days to "try before you buy"
Once your all set up,wipe the other computer and enter the key into the new PC.
Dan

If you try to use the license key to activate the second system, the activation server will tell you that the key is already in use. Wouldn't matter whether the second system uses the same version (X86 or X64) as the first.

Thanks for your replies,but I'm just as confused now.Bobkn your answer seems to suggest that I can't change from 32 to 64 bit no matter what,yet other posts suggest you can with a clean install. If I install my old hard drive(with 32 Windows 7 on)in the new system and then do a clean install is that O.K? Or can I fit a new hard drive in my new rig,install 64 bit before connecting to the internet,then wipe my old drive.How can MS know that I've got it installed on 2 hard drives if they're not connected to the internet at the same time?Maybe I'm not making myself clear - I only want to connect one computer to the internet at a time,but want to make sure the new system works properly before ditching the old.

Yes, as long as you do a clean install. I had 32bit Windows 7 on my computer then I did a clean install of 64bit on the same computer with the same key and it worked.

With one key

You can have Win 7 on one machine at at time.


That being said you can change from 32 to 64 as many times as you like

I think that is a good summary of the current situation

If you follow minotaurs advice (which is what i would do) you can uncheck the box to give you thirty days but you can also reset the 30 day timer a couple of times to give you 120 days.
That should be plenty to get your other system up and running before you register it and disable your old system.

From an elevated command prompt
Start>cmd.exe>(right click run as admin)>type slmgr -rearm

You can switch to X64. It would be legitimate, as long as you stay within the 1 license per machine requirement.

As far as I know, the only check on whether a key is in use is when you initially activate a Windows installation. If the key is in use, you have to activate by phone. You are supposed to remove Windows from an old system before activating it on a new system, but there is no explicit de-activation. I'm less sure about the WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) scheme, but I think that's mainly to detect hacked versions, or inappropriately installed keyless corporate versions.

If you're a sufficiently skilled , um, storyteller (liar), you could probably persuade Microsoft that you have Windows installed on only one machine, and they'd give you the new activation code. Not the sort of thing I'd care to try.

If you want to temporarily run two copies of Windows, the suggestion to run the second without activation may be your best one. You can re-arm the 30 day grace period as many as 3 times, allowing you up to 120 days of use without activation. I doubt that's how Microsoft intends Windows 7 to be used, but it won't get you flagged as violating the license agreement.

As far as I know, there are no online checks for multiple machines activated with the same key. I have known people who activated XP on two or more machines with the same key. They had no trouble doing that because the activation server reset after 120 days. (If the two activations were further apart than that in time, the second machine could be activated automatically online.) It's not clear that the people I knew who did this realized that they were violating the EULA. They blissfully continued to use the two machines, online at the same time.

Thanks for all the info.I think I'll put my old hard drive in the new kit first,get it up and running on 32 bit,then do a clean install of 64 bit.
Once again,many thanks.

Whatever you decide, everyone, here at Seven Forums, wish you the best of luck.