New MB and hard drive... can I reinstall Windows 7?

[Try4ce]

I'm getting a new motherboard, hard drive, and graphics card today. I want my Windows 7 installation to be on this new hard drive instead of the old one. Am I going to have problems getting it activated? Is there some sort of proper deactivation process I need to do? I heard that your hardware is taken into account for whether it's a legitimate reinstall on the same system... is this true? Are these changes going to make the system "different" to the point that it won't consider it the same computer?

For the record, my old motherboard works, it's just that I'm swapping it out for a new one. I'm putting my old one in my dad's computer. So, if there's something I need to do while the old parts are still in my computer, that is still very doable.

 

[DocBrown]

Is you windows version a Full Retail or a Mfg. OEM version ?

 

[Lemur]

This answer pretty much applies to your situation. Courtesy of Brock...
http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/39431-windows-7-uninstall-install-question.html

 

[Try4ce]

Oh, right, I should have clarified. It's OEM, but I installed it myself. Does that make a difference? I bought the disc at New Egg: Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - Operating Systems

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Try4ce, welcome to Seven Forums!







That type of OEM Windows is forever tied to the first motherboard it is installed to and can never be legally moved to another PC, it lives and dies with that mobo.

 

[Try4ce]

What's the best option, then? Buying another copy at New Egg, or can I install my current disc and buy another code for the same or less?

 

[Lemur]

What's the best option, then? Buying another copy at New Egg, or can I install my current disc and buy another code for the same or less?

Buy a full copy from a reputable source. Since it's coded to the mobo, moving the hard drive wouldn't help.

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

 

[Try4ce]

Ah well. I'd assumed the low prices on the OEM versions was the way to go, but I guess I've learned I may as well buy the retail box.

If I make upgrades and want to reinstall in the future with a retail copy, can I call Microsoft and get permission to reinstall and reactivate? I guess it'd make it worth the extra cost.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You don't have to contact MS at all except on-line for the re-activation with full retail.

 

[Lemur]

If I make upgrades and want to reinstall in the future with a retail copy, can I call Microsoft and get permission to reinstall and reactivate? I guess it'd make it worth the extra cost.

Yes.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

 

[Try4ce]

Well, thanks for the info. I'll just chalk it up as a lesson learned and buy Windows 7 the regular way.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Actually the rumors are that MS is working on ways to totally limit who OEM can be sold to.

 

[Kinggo]

I had a power surge that destroyed some of my hardware once and when I rang microsoft and told them the new mobo and hd was due to powersurge they let me reactivate it, try that approach.

 

[gregrocker]

There are many reports of MS making exceptions to allow mobo change on Builder's OEM. So it is certainly worth a try to move it to the new hardware.

If they won't allow it, then just reinstall it on your Dad's computer where you moved the mobo since that is the only piece of hardware that must remain constant at all times to reactivate. And I would keep a few other pieces of the old hardware in case they are needed to enable reactivation. There is a threshhold of changes that cannot be passed and it may involve more than mobo.

 

[Phone Man]

You can still use the OEM copy on your dad's computer since it will be the same motherboard.

Jim

 

[mjf]

Hoping you can clear up a bit of confusion for me.

I have an OEM (PC manufacturer supplied) with a COA sticker on the side for Windows 7 Home Premium. Now I thought people on the forum were quite sure that you can do a clean (non bloated) install using the product key on the label.
Is this correct?
But based on what has been said above, it will still be tied to my Motherboard/BIOS. Is that correct?

 

[gregrocker]

Yes, you can clean reinstall using any WIn7 retail installer for your version, and the Product Key on the COA sticker will work to reactivate after a quick robocall to sort specific key from batch key on sticker.

And, yes, Factory OEM like Builder's OEM is tied to the mobo so that it should not allow reactivation if mobo is changed. Your manufacturer can help you swap the mobo in such a way that activation won't fail, such as replacing exact same mobo.

 

[falconeire]

Hi lads,
my first post here and dont want to sound to stupid.
I have windows 7 ultimate 64 retail,but am having alot of trouble with my harddrives.
So i just bought two new SSDs to replace the old harddrives,so correct me
if im wrong?
If i put the new SSDs in without changing anything else in the computer i can
reinstall windows 7 and still use the original product key without having to
call M.S and ask for a new key,or is it a case of regardless of the facts that i
have to call them for a new key anyway.

 

[gregrocker]

The Product Key which came with your Win7 retail is good for life. You can move it to different hardware of your choice as often as you want as long as it is on only one machine at a time.

If reactivation is required then you may have to make a robocall to MS, but the numbers exchanged are to update the hardware signature in their computers and not a new Product Key.

 

[mikedl]

You are absolutely right, Greg. I've been doing that with my XP key for 5+ years. In fact, I just virtualized my old XP install and upon booting the virtual machine I had to re-authenticate it yet again. Worked flawlessly.

I have reclaimed the XP partition I had allotted for dual booting Win 7 with XP and now run my old dual boot XP partition in a virtual machine.