Windows 7: Windows 7 Activation

Considering your hardware listed in your specs, Windows 7 prof student prices is a great investment as it can always be moved to another computer or upgrade MB & CPU.

If I could move it to another PC, do I need to deactivate it in the older PC? Otherwise, what's stopping me to install Win 7 Prof in multiple PCs?

I'm thinking alone the line of iTunes authorize/deauthorize a computer. I guess Windows doesn't do that. Is it an honor system thingy?

Yes, it can be deactivated. Or it may take a call to Microsoft to explain that you have moved it to a new computer or replaced with a new MB. Their smart online checking of your product key can detect if used on multiple PC's

No theres no such thing as "deactivating" - just uninstall it completely on the older PC. What'll stop you from using the same retail key on multiple computers is online activation. When you activate online, the key gets tied to a hardware hash unique to that computer, frequent and significant hardware changes will trip MS's piracy alarms.

How do you uninstall an OS?

I mean, normally you would just reformat.

But yeah, if they tied it to the computer and subsequent activation will check it, I guess that's smart.

So, do they tie it to CPU or the mobo? What's consider a new PC? New mobo?

Habibi, if you're going on to dissect every single word, your education stops right now.

Ya, they tie it to several components, most important being the mobo. For MS, a new mobo IS a new PC, you can tinker with other the other ingredients.

If you own a Vista or XP license which either came with the same computer (OEM), or is retail and therefore can migrate, then you qualify to use Upgrade version on that machine whether the qualifying OS is installed now.

However, you'll likely need to do the quick registry workaround which Doc Brown previously posted to get an Upgrade version key to work, unless the current Pro install was installed over Vista/XP and saw the previous install when it was booted or run.

Try inserting the Product Key at Computer>Properties. If it rejects it, then do the workaround given in the tutorial: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

If you want to move the installation to another computer and it also qualifies for Upgrade version, then Sysprep the HD in the old machine then move it or it's image to the new hardware before activating: Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer

Not quite sure what your trying to say here...

update: i should have read your link, thank you so much!
Unless my brother decides to give me a key, I will be planning on getting the upgrade version. So, if the key doesn't work just by entering it in system properties, The workaround is proven to work every time?

The Windows 7 Prof at the student discount price is a great deal for you. Reg price at TigerDirect is $199.00

Plus here at SevenForums you get FREE 24/7 Tech support

I think out team of Guru's have about a 99% success rate with new users as long as they don't give up trying our ideas

alright. and if i have any problems, im always a member here... so thanks guys! i appreciate all your help!