A question about legality.

Snoble · 10 Jul 2010

The current PC, a Lenovo, I am on previously had Windows Vista installed on it. It was upgraded using a Home Premium Windows 7 Upgrade disk to Windows 7, and is now running it.
Another laptop we own recently had a hard drive failure and was rendered unusable. We've bought a new hard drive, and as such need a version of Windows for it.
Can I use the upgrade disk and do a clean install onto this new hard drive of Windows 7 and use the same product key we used for the Lenovo without breaking an legal agreements and voiding our version of Windows?
I've read the "Windows 7 Upgrade Paths" topic. If it counts, I also have an old desktop in the house that is came pre-installed with Windows XP. Would this affect me being able to do a clean install?

~Snoble.

richc46 · 10 Jul 2010

The simple rule, one key can be used on only one PC at a time.

You would need another key to put the OS on another computer at the same time.

Snoble · 10 Jul 2010

Alright, thanks.

ignatzatsonic · 10 Jul 2010

If I understand you correctly, I think you are out of luck.

You have 1 Windows disk and 2 separate computers. You can't legally put the same Windows disk o both computers.

I think you would have to buy another Windows 7 upgrade disc.

derekimo · 10 Jul 2010

Welcome to the forum,

I'm afraid you cannot use the same product key on your other laptop with the new

hard drive. What version was on the one that died? You could just put that back on

it, or buy a new key from microsoft if you want to use windows 7.

One key per computer is how it works.

Snoble · 10 Jul 2010

It came with Vista, and the key is underneath it, but the dealer we bought it from gave us no Vista disk.
Thanks for all of your help, but it would seem that I am indeed out of luck.

richc46 · 10 Jul 2010

Microsoft knows that if they did not have the rules, people will be using one key for more than one machine.

gregrocker · 10 Jul 2010

On the Vista computer, once the HD is replaced you can borrow or locate any Vista installer, unlock all versions if necessary, to install your version with the Product Key on the machine.

You can also order factory Recovery disks from maker to restore to factory condition, but this reinstalls the bloatware which many want to avoid. It's possible your maker will provide just the Vista DVD if you request it, along with a useful apps/drivers disk.

Or you can instead buy a copy of Win7 Upgrade since you have a qualifying Vista license and don't need to have Vista installed to clean install Win7 using one of the workarounds given here: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

J4M13 · 10 Jul 2010

Legally you cannot do it. But if you didn't care about the legality YES you can use the product key again, you get 7 days (I think) before you have to do the activation thing, it will say it's failed. Then you have to press the activate by phone button, follow the instructions and you're done.

gregrocker · 10 Jul 2010

J4M13 said:

Legally you cannot do it. But if you didn't care about the legality YES you can use the product key again, you get 7 days (I think) before you have to do the activation thing, it will say it's failed. Then you have to press the activate by phone button, follow the instructions and you're done.

After install, it counts down 30 days to activate at the link at Control Panel>System.

If the Product Key inserted has been used on another machine, you will be asked if it is on more than one machine, to which you must answer "No" for it to update the hardware signature in MS activation computers and activate the new install.

Once this happens, the key will be deactivated on the old machine as soon as it connects to the internet.