Win7 Re-Activation/Re-Validation with Hardware Changes?

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  1. Posts : 78
    Windows 7 RC 64bit
       #1

    Win7 Re-Activation/Re-Validation with Hardware Changes?


    I believe I read something before that Windows 7 will require a reactivation or revalidation even on a HDD change. Is this true? If so what things will trigger this? In XP the only things that would trigger it was a CPU or Motherboard change.

    Right now I have a XP computer and use removable Hard Disk Drives with that same XP installed on all of them, but only 1 HDD is ever running, so its basically 1 computer with 3 XPs installed for 3 setups.

    I want to do this with Windows 7 also, but if they are going to require reactivation each time I swap drives, its going to be a pain in the butt. Because it would require you to always have diskdrives that are the same size and model and if you upgraded one you'd have to upgrade them all, which is too expensive.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello s0me0ne,

    It's the same in Windows 7. Usually just a hard drive will not trigger it, instead it's usually something major like a motherboard that may seem like you have it on a different computer now.

    If it does trigger reactivation, then it's just a simple phone activation.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,011
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Retail)
       #3

    I've been cloning my Win 7 hard drive and swapping disks with no reactivation required. The hard drives are the same except for serial number, however, but I don't think that makes any difference. I don't think a hard drive change is enough to trigger a need to reactivate.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 14
    Windows 7 RC 7264
       #4

    Well on Wednesday I installed my new Win7 and activated it, then last night my HDD died! Replaced and reinstalled today and it activated again without problems. HDD was a different make and model.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 78
    Windows 7 RC 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Yes but lets say you swap drives 5 or 10 times in a day, wouldnt MS assume something bad if you have to reactive that much?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 14
    Windows 7 RC 7264
       #6

    I cant really see that happening in the real world?! swapping hdd and reinstalling windows 5 times in a day?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 78
    Windows 7 RC 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I'm not going to be reinstalling, just switching harddrives on that 1 computer, you know power off and on.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,011
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Retail)
       #8

    If you're worried about it, don't activate at all. You get 120 days before you have to activate. Surely you can switch all the hard drives around you need to in that time frame.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 53
    XP/7
       #9

    I've replaced my motherboard after installing Windows 7 and it just continued working without any fuss.
    I hope the rumours about these ridiculous activation limitations in Windows 7 dies out soon...
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 300
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64/x86 Windows 7 Pro x64/x86 Windows 7 Home Premium x64/x86
       #10

    It seems you can activate Ultimate as much as you want.
      My Computer


 
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