Win 7 plus Win 7 on 2 partitions?

Thanks Ted (and Greg). Yep, Magical Jellybean reported the same basic 2 keys as Belarc. Good to know there isn't really a mysterious 3rd key hidden somewhere. I would be astonished if I had mislaid something as important as that, though I did start to doubt myself at one point.

Looks like I am ready to go. I am about 50% of the way there in terms of installing and then configuring apps, but have some paying work to do tomorrow (that's what Sundays are for??).

Will let you know how I get on.

Cheers
Adrian

Bare Foot Kid said:

You can remove the key from the old one and add it to the new one now if you like, the old one will still function with no issues.

Aha - well if that's the case Ted, I will leave the old Win 7 partition for a week or so before wiping it and then (deleting?) that partition before reclaiming the space.

So I guess when I remove the key from the old Win 7, somehow that gets noted by Mr Gates's crew online?

I am having a day off from installing apps on C:, have some client stuff to do.

Cheers
Adrian

merlincorp said:

So I guess when I remove the key from the old Win 7, somehow that gets noted by Mr Gates's crew online?

The key remains in MS computers tied to the same hardware signature until it is overwritten by a new one.

If the key is reactivated on new hardware, it it may require a robocall to MS to update the hardware signature by exchanging a series of numbers.

For OEM version reactivation will be rejected if the mobo changes, however there are reports that MS will make exception in some cases.

Well guys - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

I finished installing the last of my apps and added the many tweaks they need, then about 4 hours ago I booted into the old Win 7 installation and removed the Product key as you advised.

I left it for a few hours before booting up into the nice new (fast) Win 7 on C: and then activated it ... this went smoothly and I wasn't asked to provide anything at all, Mr Gates just automatically checked the Product ID that I used when installing the OS.

So I guess my last task (in a week or so) is to do a Disk Wipe using Partition Wizard and then delete that old partition? That would leave unallocated space which I would then add to the other partition on that drive. I am correct with that?

This was a hair-raising process at times, yet both of you gave such clear and detailed instructions I was able to pull it off without a heart attack!

I can tell you that the new OS and apps are behaving much better and everything seems faster too. It WAS worth the time and trouble, for sure.

Thanks guys
Adrian

Great news, Adrian.

If you'll post back another Disk Mgmt screenshot we can look it over to make sure everything is correct and ready to delete and wipe G using Partition Wizard, then Resize the adjacent partition into the space.