I have Professional ver of Win 7, it's boxed software. Can someone knowledgeable confirm or deny information i have that boxed version of Windows allows user to have it installed on up to 3 machines, where OEM version is strictly associated with the one particular machine.
Hello Binks,
Unless that is a "Family Pack" version of Window 7, then the retail product key number can only be used to activate one computer at a time and must be uninstalled from any other computer first. If it is a "Family Pack" version, then you will be able to activate up to any 3 computers at the same time. I've only seen "Family Pack" available with Home Premium though.
Yes, a OEM product key number can only be used to activate on the specific computer that is was first activated on, and no other computer ever.
Hope this helps, :)
Shawn
First off you can but a 3 pac for Windows 7 pro OEM.
NeweggBusiness - Software, Operating Systems, Professionalnm_mc=KNC-GoogleBiz&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleBiz-_-BizSoftware-_-NA-_-NA
With OEM it is keyed for one computer only. You can't remove it and install in another computer.
Retail can be moved from one computer to another as long as it is on one computer at a time. http://www.neweggbusiness.com/Produc...82E16832116993
SORRY. I type slow.
Last edited by Layback Bear; 23 Jul 2012 at 15:37. Reason: added a line.
Shawn I have a question ... if I have a product key not in use, and somebody else come to know that product key, if they try to use that, will they be able to activate , and I will loss the license ?
Hello Archie,
If this is a retail key number, then they may be able to activate it normally, but one or both computers will eventually get a non-genuine notice since it's now activated on both, or more than one, computers.
I also was afraid of something similar . Got the confirmation from you, Thanks a lot Shawn :)
What I learned now that in any situation my software box should not reach to another person; otherwise there is the full chance that my license will become non genuine (if those persons are not trustworthy).
Not a big problem, Arc, at least not as big as it looks like.
I have often installed a retail Vista or Seven on a new computer while having the same product key on another installation, typically when I have bought a new PC with Home Premium or Professional. All my separately bought Vistas and Sevens have been and are Ultimates, so for instance if I get a new laptop replacing another, I use same retail code for Ultimate when installing which I have already used on the laptop that I am replacing. I just "uninstall" the product key first on old rig using the Software Licence Manager (slmgr) command with uninstall product key (upk) switch:
Product Key Number - Uninstall and Deactivate in WindowsCode:slmgr /upk
What happens is logical and simple: the older installation loses it's activation status giving non-genuine error, while the later installation is valid and can be activated. If you do not know who has used your product key and on which PC it is currently used so you can't use slmgr /upk command, you might need to do a phone activation but you can always reactivate your Windows.
Kari
Last edited by Kari; 23 Jul 2012 at 17:26. Reason: Thanks for Brink for adding the tutorial link. I forgot!
The /upk command does NOTHING except remove the Key and activation status on that machine.
It does NOT make any changes whatever to the MS activation database, where the activation history of every Key is stored. That database holds at least the last 200 activation attempts for every Key issued (and, I suspect, for those not issued, as well). You may as well just reformat the drive without bothering about the Key.
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