Is it possible to de-activate Windows 7?

[Narsil]

I'm currently running an activated/validated Windows 7 Home Premium (full retail) installation. I'm planning to change my motherboard to one with onboard graphics to use ATI's surroundview for 3 monitor support along with my PCI-E graphics card (I was given this advice in the graphics card forum), so no doubt I will have to re-activate W7.

BUT I'm also giving my old board to a mate (actually, I'm rebuilding his PC for him with it) who only has an OEM XP installation so effectively he will have no OS. I was planning on doing the following:

1. Rebuild his PC then install/activate/validate/update my W7 on his PC whilst it is in my possession to make sure there are no problems with compatibility or updates or whatever. Then wipe the hard drive before sending him on his way with the advice to buy W7 rather than getting XP again.

2. Rebuild my PC with the new motherboard. Reinstall my W7 on it.

Now that is at least 2 re-activations of the licence. Hardware compatibility problems could mean that this becomes 3 or 4 or 5 re-activations etc.

Obviously, it would be ideal if I could just deactivate the licence on one PC before activating it on another without having to call MS support. Is this possible? If not, are they likely to get a bit arsey if I call them 5 times in a week to reactivate my licence?

 

[Thorsen]

You can only have your Win7 on one PC at a time. One Key - One Comp.

 

[fseal]

That woiuld be nice... but unfortunately not.

For OEM versions they are only licensed for the hardware they were originally installed on (OEM keys are half the price of retail) so even if youcould deactivate windows, that would probably be shut off on OEM versions.

For retail keys, you can move them from one computer to another (As in a complete machine rebuild) if it's more than 6 months between activations (I believe). You just reactivate like normal and it's fine. If not you can get it reactivated on the phone. But an OEM key may not reactivate (At least it's not supposed to, but what happens in reality isn't always so clear)

So in your case, you can reactivate your retail key on your new machine, but I wouldn;t put it on the other machine just for a test, he'll have to do that himself with his key (which may or may not work) or upgrade to a retail key.

 

[Thorsen]

Additionally, even if you were able to activate both, the problem of validation would arise as you have to have it validated and win7 makes a list of your hardware assigned to the key. you wouldn't be able to have two different computers with the same key validated.

 

[profdlp]

... I was planning on doing the following:

1. Rebuild his PC then install/activate/validate/update my W7 on his PC whilst it is in my possession to make sure there are no problems with compatibility or updates or whatever. Then wipe the hard drive before sending him on his way...

You list four items but really only need to do the first one to make sure the system you are building for him with your old motherboard will work alright together. Why not have all the drivers handy on a disc or thumb drive before you start, build the system, install your updates, then wipe it? You could leave it disconnected from the Internet during this process so there would be no chance it could accidentally try to activate on its own, since that might further complicate your intention of reactivating with your new board.

Since you are going to nudge your pal in the Win 7 direction anyway, wouldn't it be easiest to just sell him your old license? It's already tied to the board he's getting from you. Then take the money and buy yourself a new license for your new system.

 

[Narsil]

Cheers guys, but maybe I didn't explain myself well enough. I'm not trying to activate two PC's at once. Or transfer an OEM key to a different PC.

Essentially, I'm trying to move my retail key from my PC (let's call it PC 1) to a new build (PC 2). When I'm happy PC 2 works, I then want to move it back to PC 1, which I won't be using at the same time. But because PC 1 is also being changed, it will probably become PC 3 as far as the licence is concerned. If I hit any hardware problems, and have to exchange stuff during the build, windows may decide that this is a 'different' PC again and there may be a PC 4 then a PC 5 or whatever. Basically, I may end up performing multiple migrations of my licence in a short space of time and wondered if there was a way of doing it that didn't involve phoning Microsoft every five minutes.

I only mentioned the XP OEM key in case the question "why don't you test this guys new build (PC 2) with his current OS?" came up.

I've never had to activate an OS on the phone before and I don't know how much hassle it will be to do it three or four times inside a few hours. I was rather hoping for an lazy option

 

[Thorsen]

Ah I gotcha. you just want to test on his comp to make sure Win7 will work?

 

[Thorsen]

You could possibly install the Enterprise 90 Day trial. If that works, Home and Pro will work: Windows 7 Enterprise | Trial, Evaluation, Test, Download

 

[Narsil]

Since you are going to nudge your pal in the Win 7 direction anyway, wouldn't it be easiest to just sell him your old license? It's already tied to the board he's getting from you. Then take the money and buy yourself a new license for your new system.

Ooooh, can't believe I didn't think of that. Obvious, really. He's a show-off, though and will probably want Ultimate.

 

[Bill2]

Just install your copy of win7 on the friend's PC but DONT ACTIVATE. You can continue in this unactivated state for 120 days max after which you need to get a genuine copy. That should give you sufficient time to try out drivers etc. on the friend's machine.

 

[Narsil]

You could possibly install the Enterprise 90 Day trial. If that works, Home and Pro will work: Windows 7 Enterprise | Trial, Evaluation, Test, Download

Excellent! Probably the workaround I was looking for! I didn't realise there was a trial version of any kind of Windows 7 available, other than the old 7100 RC build. Will this trial version update though? Actually, I can check it out myself. I'm lazy, but not THAT lazy.

Thanks

 

[Thorsen]

I would also look into what Bill2 said:

Just install your copy of Windows 7 on the friend's PC but DONT ACTIVATE. You can continue in this unactivated state for 120 days max after which you need to get a genuine copy. That should give you sufficient time to try out drivers etc. on the friend's machine.

 

[fseal]

Just be real careful if you are using your own copy. Activation is automatic by default. Don't want to accidentally activate on the new machine which would then invalidate your original machine.

Personally I might go fo rthe explicit 90 day trial key thorsen mentoined just to be safe

 

[Bill2]

Just be real careful if you are using your own copy. Activation is automatic by default. Don't want to accidentally activate on the new machine which would then invalidate your original machine.

Personally I might go fo rthe explicit 90 day trial key thorsen mentoined just to be safe

lol...you need to actually enter the key to make it activate online by default or by accident. Just dont enter the key and uncheck the box "Activate automatically when I go online", that'll make sure.

 

[steve-pressman]

Yes the trial version will update.


Steve

 

[Narsil]

Just install your copy of win7 on the friend's PC but DONT ACTIVATE. You can continue in this unactivated state for 120 days max after which you need to get a genuine copy. That should give you sufficient time to try out drivers etc. on the friend's machine.

I don't think you can get windows updates on a non-activated copy though, can you? To be honest, that is exactly what I was planning to do, but if something needs a windows update to work, then I'd have to be prepared to activate/validate/update it to see if it fixed it. Otherwise, I'd end up getting numerous "The screen's gone all blue again" calls if I let him try and sort it himself. Wish I'd kept my mouth shut about the spare board now.

Thanks, anyway

 

[Bill2]

Just install your copy of win7 on the friend's PC but DONT ACTIVATE. You can continue in this unactivated state for 120 days max after which you need to get a genuine copy. That should give you sufficient time to try out drivers etc. on the friend's machine.

I don't think you can get windows updates on a non-activated copy though, can you? To be honest, that is exactly what I was planning to do, but if something needs a windows update to work, then I'd have to be prepared to activate/validate/update it to see if it fixed it. Otherwise, I'd end up getting numerous "The screen's gone all blue again" calls if I let him try and sort it himself. Wish I'd kept my mouth shut about the spare board now.

Thanks, anyway

Who says?

 

[Narsil]

Cheers, fellas.

I've repped everyone who replied (I think!). I'll start with the Enterprise trial, I didn't even know it existed. Potentially saved me a load of grief, that.

 

[profdlp]

...He's a show-off, though and will probably want Ultimate.

Windows Anytime Upgrade: Windows 7 Home Premium to Ultimate - Buy from Microsoft Store

 

[Narsil]

Who says?

You mean it's possible to update a non-activated installation? I'd just assumed you couldn't because you had to validate it first. Go on, I'm all ears :shock: