I have Win7 Ultimate (retail), and I recently built a new PC just after the old one died. Since the old PC has died, I should be able to migrate Windows to this new one, right? I'm currently using the new PC with this copy of Windows, except it hasn't been activated yet. How do I transfer the key to this new PC?
If the harddrive is still working from the old pc, you can recover the key from it (hopefully)
Just enter the key that you should have with you as this is a retail copy, and then activate it. If it doesn't activate and you're certain you entered the key correctly, call Microsoft and badger them for help with activation.
Microsoft contact information;
Microsoft Activation Centers Worldwide Telephone Numbers:
Microsoft Volume Licensing - Activation Centers
(This site is for Volume License Activation but if you call they may help you)
Microsoft Wordwide contacts:
Microsoft Worldwide Sites
Activation and registration of a Microsoft product
Activation and registration information of a Microsoft product
Windows activation: (888) 571-2048
HTH
Hi there.
ABSOLUTELY perfectly legal to install W7 (retail any version) on a new PC. As others have said simply phone activation if it doesn't activate automatically.
Under the EULA though you are required to remove W7 from the old machine.
I'll make two suggestions here.
1) If the old machine was x-86 you CAN install the x-64 version on your new machine - it's the same serial nr / key.
2) you could simply image your old machine and restore to new one - you'll get a few hardware driver messages and you might have to re-boot a few times but you should be able to get a Working system and then hunt down any missing drivers etc from manufacturers site / internet. That would be my approach in the first case unless you were changing from X-86 to X-64.
Always keep OS and pgms in a SEPARATE partition / HDD to your DATA such as music, photos, documents etc.
Note also your NEW machine might have UEFI / Protected boot if it comes with W8 -- disable the protected boot in the BIOS and decide whether or not you need a UEFI version or not. The Windows install will install the right version.
If there is an ENABLE LEGACY BOOT in the BIOS of your new machine enable it otherwise you won't be able to install the Windows 7 system from the external media !!!.
Free macrium or similar can be used for creating your image and restoring it to the new system if you use that approach.
Cheers
jimbo
I had to do the same with my Windows 7 Pro after I bought a new computer and gave my old one (with a new installation of Vista) to my nephew.
I installed it and then activated it but the activation was unsuccessful so I did the following:
Select 'Show me other ways to activate' and then the 'Use automated Phone system' options. Choose your country, and then phone the number shown.
On the screen you will see blocks of numbers and empty boxes beneath them - stay on this page!
You need a pen and a quiet room....
You will need to enter into the phone via the keypad a set of 9 blocks of numbers when asked (each block is 6 numbers long)
Then the phone will read back another set of 8 numbers which you have to write down. Once you have done this you can hang up.
Now put the new set of numbers into the boxes A - H
Click 'Next'
and it should be done....
I had the key stored in an HTML file but the old PC failed to restart and I was left with a blank screen, which is how it died.
I assumed I had a hard copy of the HTML key file, but I didn't.
Luckily, I had a third (very old) computer from 2006 to access the HTML file just long enough for me to write down the key.
I took the old system apart but salvaged the HDD, and am thinking of putting it into a USB 3.0 enclosure to act as an external storage device. Could come in quite useful, if the static didn't get it.
Just tried activating Windows - didn't work.
Just tried calling the UK Activation Centre - said something about the key being out of warranty, then got transferred to Tech Support who couldn't hear me at all - terrible phone lines both times.
Is there a way to resolve this without phones?
I agree. Phone contact is better. They may ask for some of the details from the labels on the original packaging - at least that what they did for a friend of mine until he proved it was his copy. The point it is is a legally owned copy, what the hell as a warranty got to do with it as long as you are only putting it on one computer.
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