Two PC's, Same Product ID Key - Is It Legal?


  1. Windows Boy
    Posts : 12
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
       New #1

    Two PC's, Same Product ID Key - Is It Legal?


    We currently own a desktop PC that came preloaded with Windows 7, already activated and everything. But I recently acquired a little tiny laptop with no optical drive. It ran perfectly well on it's preloaded Windows XP, until I bricked it that is. Instead of trying to find a way to reinstall XP, I went straight to Windows 7. I downloaded the ISO files for Windows 7 Home Premium and created a bootable installation drive on a USB flashdrive, and installed Home Premium on the netbook. I then used the product key from the sticker on the side of my desktop tower, and it started and has been working since then. But everyday it pops up a window saying that I need to activate my system, and to enter a product key. It says I have 19 days to activate my system. So since my old key didn't work, I'm assuming I wasn't supposed to use my old key? And that leads me to believe what I didn't isn't strictly legal? So was it illegal, and if so, what am I supposed to do to when my 19 days are up?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. Brink
    Posts : 72,049
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #2

    Hello Windows Boy,

    Sorry, but it's not legal. A product key can only be activated on up to one computer at the same time.

    In addition since you have an OEM PC with Windows preinstalled, an OEM product key is permanently tied to the motherboard and can only be activated on the specific computer and no other computer.

    You'll need to purchase a new key to activate it on the other PC.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
I recently installed a new motherboard for my desktop Presario Windows 7 64-bit. The same model motherboard that I had already. The first few times I booted my computer there were not any problems. My drivers automatically installed and everything seemed to be as good as it was before my...
I have installed windows 7 home edition on my machine. But it isn't activated, i need cheapest source to buy windows 7 product key for my computer. I have red there are so many tricks to activate windows 7 for home use. Honestly I don't want to go through these things to use illegal. I have around...
Hypothetically, you have bunch of old 16 bit software you want to run. You system comes pre-installed with windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. You want be legal and make sure you don't download a illegal version of windows. So you download the 32 bit iso image from the Official Partner of...
I picked up this lenovo laptop and shortly after I got it the HDD went out. I replaced the HDD and Installed a full version of Windows XP SP2 then used the Win 7 upgrade disc I bought. I did a clean install of the Win 7 then I activated it at that time without any issues. Some time after that I...
So short story, I work at a college tech site that fixes student and faculty computers. A foreign exchange student from Japan with a Sony Vaio (most likely from Japan as well) managed to get a virus on his computer and he was blocked off our network. Our policy is that we wipe and reinstall the OS...
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:42.
Find Us