A question about legality.

[Snoble]

The current PC, a Lenovo, I am on previously had Windows Vista installed on it. It was upgraded using a Home Premium Windows 7 Upgrade disk to Windows 7, and is now running it.
Another laptop we own recently had a hard drive failure and was rendered unusable. We've bought a new hard drive, and as such need a version of Windows for it.
Can I use the upgrade disk and do a clean install onto this new hard drive of Windows 7 and use the same product key we used for the Lenovo without breaking an legal agreements and voiding our version of Windows?
I've read the "Windows 7 Upgrade Paths" topic. If it counts, I also have an old desktop in the house that is came pre-installed with Windows XP. Would this affect me being able to do a clean install?

~Snoble.

 

[richc46]

The simple rule, one key can be used on only one PC at a time.

You would need another key to put the OS on another computer at the same time.

 

[Snoble]

Alright, thanks.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If I understand you correctly, I think you are out of luck.

You have 1 Windows disk and 2 separate computers. You can't legally put the same Windows disk o both computers.

I think you would have to buy another Windows 7 upgrade disc.

 

[derekimo]

Welcome to the forum,

I'm afraid you cannot use the same product key on your other laptop with the new

hard drive. What version was on the one that died? You could just put that back on

it, or buy a new key from microsoft if you want to use windows 7.

One key per computer is how it works.

 

[Snoble]

It came with Vista, and the key is underneath it, but the dealer we bought it from gave us no Vista disk.
Thanks for all of your help, but it would seem that I am indeed out of luck.

 

[richc46]

Microsoft knows that if they did not have the rules, people will be using one key for more than one machine.

 

[gregrocker]

On the Vista computer, once the HD is replaced you can borrow or locate any Vista installer, unlock all versions if necessary, to install your version with the Product Key on the machine.

You can also order factory Recovery disks from maker to restore to factory condition, but this reinstalls the bloatware which many want to avoid. It's possible your maker will provide just the Vista DVD if you request it, along with a useful apps/drivers disk.

Or you can instead buy a copy of Win7 Upgrade since you have a qualifying Vista license and don't need to have Vista installed to clean install Win7 using one of the workarounds given here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[J4M13]

Legally you cannot do it. But if you didn't care about the legality YES you can use the product key again, you get 7 days (I think) before you have to do the activation thing, it will say it's failed. Then you have to press the activate by phone button, follow the instructions and you're done.

 

[gregrocker]

Legally you cannot do it. But if you didn't care about the legality YES you can use the product key again, you get 7 days (I think) before you have to do the activation thing, it will say it's failed. Then you have to press the activate by phone button, follow the instructions and you're done.

After install, it counts down 30 days to activate at the link at Control Panel>System.

If the Product Key inserted has been used on another machine, you will be asked if it is on more than one machine, to which you must answer "No" for it to update the hardware signature in MS activation computers and activate the new install.

Once this happens, the key will be deactivated on the old machine as soon as it connects to the internet.

 

[Bill2]

Actually, you can install win7 with the disk you have and leave windows UNACTIVATED. You can run it in trial mode for upto 120 days (4 months). Hopefully that should leave you with sufficient time and pennies to buy a new license.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/875-activation-trial-period-extend-up-120-days.html

 

[fishnbanjo]

Since you have the key on the label available for the PC that had the hard drive failure why not use the Vista disk that came with your Lenovo to install Vista and use the correct key, if you end up wishing to go to Windows 7 then simply purchase an upgrade.

 

[pparks1]

Keep in mind too that these OEM disks are sometimes tied to the BIOS and such and many not even install to the other machine.

 

[kodi]

Contact the manufacturer and request a Restore disk they do not cost a lot of money.

 

[Snoble]

On the Vista computer, once the HD is replaced you can borrow or locate any Vista installer, unlock all versions if necessary, to install your version with the Product Key on the machine.

You can also order factory Recovery disks from maker to restore to factory condition, but this reinstalls the bloatware which many want to avoid. It's possible your maker will provide just the Vista DVD if you request it, along with a useful apps/drivers disk.

Or you can instead buy a copy of Win7 Upgrade since you have a qualifying Vista license and don't need to have Vista installed to clean install Win7 using one of the workarounds given here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Will probably end up doing this, thanks for clearing it up.