How to transfer retail key from 1 pc to another?legally

[GreeKNastY]

so i installed a retail win7 on my laptop..well im getting ready to build a new pc and i was wondering what steps do i take to transfer my key to the new pc...i plan on putting my xp back on this laptop...will installing XP and formating the drive be all i need to do or what?..
i just dont want activation issues during installation of my new pc...

 

[cloud8521]

just format it. then install xp. install Windows 7 on new pc and then activate.

 

[Brink]

Hello GreeKNastY,

As long as this is a retail Windows 7 and not a OEM, then you can use it on the other computer as long as it as been uninstalled (formatted) from any other previous computer first. Since it has been activated on another computer, you may need to do a phone activation instead of the normal online activation.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[GreeKNastY]

how will microsoft know that it deactivated off my laptop?..reason im asking is because i dont want later on when i have everything on my new pc set up properly to have activation issues..

 

[kronwhon]

I work for MS Licensing. As long as it is Retail and not OEM or Upgrade versions, you will be fine. OEM will only work with the same hardware configuration.

You may have an issue with Activation, but if so, there will be a phone number provided and they will help you activate again.

 

[GreeKNastY]

oh ok thanks shawn..will do

 

[GreeKNastY]

thanks guys its all i needed..this may be moved/deleted/closed n what not

 

[gregrocker]

how will microsoft know that it deactivated off my laptop?..reason im asking is because i dont want later on when i have everything on my new pc set up properly to have activation issues..

They don't necessarily know for sure it has been removed from the previous machine, which is why you have to do phone activation if that same computer's MAC/config has not shown up with another key since you activated, or a certain period of time has passed.

What you are doing with the robocall is trading a series of numbers which deactivate your key on the old machine and activates it on the new machine, thus keeping it on only one machine at a time.

 

[GreeKNastY]

i see..thanks for the info bud

 

[Brian6121990]

wait a minute...wtf?
u serious? i cant do the same with an OEM copy? o_o
i am selling my laptop and buying a new one (still have a desktop) and i cant transfer it to my desktop? =/

 

[bjproc]

wait a minute...wtf?
u serious? i cant do the same with an OEM copy? o_o
i am selling my laptop and buying a new one (still have a desktop) and i cant transfer it to my desktop? =/

no, an OEM copy goes with the first PC it's installed on, then dies with the machine, their non-transferable

 

[Brian6121990]

wait a minute...wtf?
u serious? i cant do the same with an OEM copy? o_o
i am selling my laptop and buying a new one (still have a desktop) and i cant transfer it to my desktop? =/

no, an OEM copy goes with the first PC it's installed on, then dies with the machine, their non-transferable

but i was told that i can only reactivate the product key once if i were to transfer to a new pc x_x
i feel like i got jipped for buying windows 7 "OEM"
originally i asked for a upgrade

 

[Dwarf]

An OEM license ties that copy of the OS to the first machine it is installed on - this is non-transferrable and the license dies with the demise of the machine.

A retail license, on the other hand, can be transferred from one machine to another providing certain criteria are met. The main one of these is that the OS must be removed from the old sysytem prior to being activated on the new one - and you will more than likely need to do this over the phone as the automated system won't work in this instance. Note that if you try to be clever and have both systems activated (MS do periodic checks whilst you are on-line) that won't work, and you could end up with the key being black-listed meaning that it will be rendered unusable.

 

[Brian6121990]

i guess i am stuck with the laptop then...hard for me to sell it for $450 WITH windows 7 home prem OEM
thanks alot frys...

 

[gregrocker]

I also have only ever heard that OEM is locked to hardware once installed, but check out this thread in here yesterday, particularly this post: http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...-retail-oem-osb-sb-versions-3.html#post404303

 

[GreeKNastY]

oh and 1 more quick question..in the retail box they gave me both 64 and 32bit..i can use the same key for both right?..i had 32bit on this laptop..can i use it for 64bit on my desktop?

 

[Dwarf]

The same key can be used for both, however you can only install either the 32-bit OR the 64-bit version (not both) and the key may only be activated on one machine.

A retail license, on the other hand, can be transferred from one machine to another providing certain criteria are met. The main one of these is that the OS must be removed from the old sysytem prior to being activated on the new one - and you will more than likely need to do this over the phone as the automated system won't work in this instance. Note that if you try to be clever and have both systems activated (MS do periodic checks whilst you are on-line) that won't work, and you could end up with the key being black-listed meaning that it will be rendered unusable.

 

[DeaconFrost]

i guess i am stuck with the laptop then...hard for me to sell it for $450 WITH windows 7 home prem OEM
thanks alot frys...

If you bought a laptop with Windows 7 preinstalled, of course you can't move it to a new PC. That isn't Fry's fault. If you bought the OEM licenses yourself (aka System Builders), then it still isn't Fry's fault, but your own for not understand what you were getting, or why it was so much cheaper than retail. If the second option is true, you may have some options though, depending on how you feel about EULAs.

 

[kronwhon]

Sorry Brian, OEM licenses are non-transferrable. That is why they are so cheap.

 

[kronwhon]

I also have only ever heard that OEM is locked to hardware once installed, but check out this thread in here yesterday, particularly this post: http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...-retail-oem-osb-sb-versions-3.html#post404303

Hi, from the windows 7 OEM EULA:

​

2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Computer. [FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]The software license is permanently assigned to the computer with which the software is distributed. That computer is the "licensed computer."
b. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors on the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, you may not use the software on any other computer.

The European EULA states:

23. APPLICABLE LAW.
a. United States. [FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]If you acquired the software in the United States, Washington state law governs the interpretation of this agreement and applies to claims for breach of it, regardless of conflict of laws principles. The laws of the state where you live govern all other claims, including claims under state consumer protection laws, unfair competition laws, and in tort.
[/FONT][/FONT]b. Outside the United States. [FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]If you acquired the software in any other country, the laws of that country apply. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]The post you reference suggests there is something in European law that prevents MS from limiting software to one machine. If this is the case, I'm unaware, as I specialize in US licensing. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]The above EULAs can be downloaded at[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/default.aspx[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]"N" means European[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]"K" means Korean[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]"NK" means EU or KO[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma][FONT=Tahoma,Tahoma]
[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]