Solved Need to use old Win7 retail copy on new PC

[Foebane]

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?

 

[corruptDNA]

If the harddrive is still working from the old pc, you can recover the key from it (hopefully)

 

[King Arthur]

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.

 

[Sir George]

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?

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

 

[jimbo45]

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

 

[Fejinwales]

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....

 

[Foebane]

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.

 

[Foebane]

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?

 

[Sir George]

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?

There are other ways to contact MS, but I believe you will have better results with a phone call.

HTH

 

[Fejinwales]

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.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

The wonders and marvels of having to use Overseas Call centres two thirds of a planet away -- I think people should where possible start a REVOLUTION against these sorts of HIDEOUS places - it's just as bad for people who WORK in these places as the long suffering CUSTOMERS who have to use them.

Take all TAX breaks away from any company that uses these

Sorry Bangalore - but the business model this city is built on is NOT long term sustainable.

Haq's Musings: Indian IT Sweatshops Exploiting Cyber Coolies?

I sympathize with people who have to try and interpret Un-understandable phone calls -- fortunately Some jurisdictions are bringing stuff HOME at last. !!!

I think the last straw was when I heard of one of these Bangalore Sweatshops trying to teach people how to speak SCOUSE (Liverpool UK dialect) and GEORDIE (Newcastle UK dialect) -- both of which are in themselves fairly difficult to understand even for UK native speakers outside those areas - with probably SCOUSE being slightly the more difficult.

Hearing an Indian speaker trying to speak SCOUSE was even more funny than a poor old Icelander (guess who) trying to mutter a few words of Portuguese !!!.

However if you persist - try and get hold of the boss or shift supervisor - note the people who work in the call centres can only usually reply with prepared scripts so you'll have to mention the word SUPERVISOR about 17 times before you get any sort of sensible non robotic reply -- however you will then get transferred to a UK or US operations centre and you can go from there.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Foebane]

YAAAY! SUCCESSFUL! WINDOWS ACTIVATED!

Although I'm not sure how the automated system works, but I'm guessing that even if the old computer was able to work again, this key would be void on it.

Thanks for the help, all!

 

[jimbo45]

YAAAY! SUCCESSFUL! WINDOWS ACTIVATED!

Although I'm not sure how the automated system works, but I'm guessing that even if the old computer was able to work again, this key would be void on it.

Thanks for the help, all!

Hi there
Although against the EULA Windows wouldn't actually be DE-ACTIVATED on the old computer - the W7 licensing merely detects whether the copy of Windows is activated or not.

Windows 8 and above operates different criteria BTW.

Glad you got it fixed.

Cheers - Nos da !!!! (Had a great time in SWANSEA recently) - getting slightly(?!!) inebrieated in Wind St in centre of town..

Jimbo

 

[gregrocker]

Why not save the original packaging COA?

If you have a Bank Certificate would you throw it away and hope you could retrieve the number later?

Uninstall the old OS by deleting it's partition in Disk Mgmt, using a disk Manager or the Win7 disk.

The Product Key is now tied to the new hardware signature, so upon connecting to the internet the old OS would not hold activation.

 

[Foebane]

Uninstall the old OS by deleting it's partition in Disk Mgmt, using a disk Manager or the Win7 disk.

How? The old computer became useless - did you read my OP?

 

[gregrocker]

If you reuse the hard drive then delete the old OS using one of the methods given, or wipe the HD itself to get it cleanest of all with Diskpart Clean Command

Unlike people PC's do not die, just their parts. Most tech enthusiasts dont' throw out nine good parts because one dies.

The HD condition can be determined with certainty by testing it with maker's http://www.carrona.org/hddiag.html extended CD scan, or from Windows when slaved to another PC.

 

[Foebane]

If you reuse the hard drive then delete the old OS using one of the methods given, or wipe the HD itself to get it cleanest of all with Diskpart Clean Command

Unlike people PC's do not die, just their parts. Most tech enthusiasts dont' throw out nine good parts because one dies.

The HD condition can be determined with certainty by testing it with maker's Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure extended CD scan, or from Windows when slaved to another PC.

I didn't think of that.

In any case, didn't want to put an old HDD into a new build, as I already had a brand spanking new one waiting.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

a Bit OT - but there's say nothing wrong in "Cannabalising" old PC's -- for instance the HDD's can be very useful for Backups - archives etc. Use a SATA==>USB or IDE==>USB connector system and turn them into external HDD's.

Laptop HDD's also work well - although in these cases a simple USB==>SATA connector will work fine.

For Backup / archive purposes or even as external storage for things like Multi-media files you don't have to have the fastest HDD's around --why waste them !!!

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Foebane]

a Bit OT - but there's say nothing wrong in "Cannabalising" old PC's -- for instance the HDD's can be very useful for Backups - archives etc. Use a SATA==>USB or IDE==>USB connector system and turn them into external HDD's.

I already said I was going to do that with the old drive.