Windows 7: Cheap Windows 8 upgrade may now require your Windows 7 key

Hello All,
I am right then in thinking that I can upgrade my sons' PC that is running Windows 7 to Windows 8 and then use the Windows 7 disc and product key for a clean install to my PC (running XP) and it will activate ?
Thanks,Nelly
p.s. Apologies for jumping in

I believe it will depend on whether or not the Windows 7 is OEM or full install. An OEM version of Windows 7 (whether installed by a manufacturer or by your son with an OEM installation disk) would be tied to that one specific computer. But a full install version can be moved from one computer to another as long as there's only one copy activated at a time. If I'm mistaken I'm sure others will jump in to correct me.

What Marsmimar said sounds correct to me.

Thanks for the quick reply.
Another thought : surely the key entered at the upgrade assistant stage must be a Windows 7 key from the PC that was purchased ?

If your son's PC had Windows 7 on it when you purchased the PC new, it is an OEM Win 7 copy which means you can not transfer it to another computer. If his PC came with another Windows (Vista for example) and you purchased a Win 7 Upgrade disk, then you can take the Upgrade disk and put it on your PC after his has been upgraded to Win 8.

Thanks bigmck. I thought as much, thanks for clarifying that for me.

You have to purchase (and download) the upgrade from the PC that qualifies you for the upgrade. This is the point where it will ask you for your product key.

BUT once you have the download, you can turn it into an ISO and install it on any qualifying machine. (ie any machine running genuine Windows). It is also worth pointing out that an unactivated copy of 7 (ie within the 30 day trial period) is running genuine Windows. OEM or not, it doesn't matter. The win 8 key you get is a retail key, and the previous Win 7 key is still valid as well if you choose to install it on a different machine.

Personally, I didn't even buy mine from the Win 7 laptop I bought, I bought it straight from the machine that was going to Win 8, but it didn't actually ask me to prove I had bought a computer. With the new rules they may enforce that bit.