i want to install windows 7 but what if my laptop breaks

[bigboi972]

I was wondering what if i installed my retailed copy of wndows 7 on this pc that I am useing right now and for some reason it breaks and i have to send it in for repair will I be able to reinstall that same copy of windows 7 on another pc to use although its still on the broken machine? And if not is there anyway to get around this so i can still use my copy of windows 7 in the incident my machine breaks down on me thanks

 

[richc46]

Welcome
The rule is one machine at a time. Unless you have an OEM (which means it came preinstalled)
If you have the full retail no problem
If you have the OEM and the Mother Board is changed you have to call MS and explain. They will let you install.

 

[bigboi972]

im still confused if i have the full retail then can i still use it on multiple machines just in case one machine broke and if its pre installed is it possible to use the key for the preinstalled copy as a key for a retail

 

[richc46]

With the full retail you can put it on 100 machines but one at a time
If you send the computer to the shop and it has Windows on it, you cannot put it on another machine. When it is fixed, you can unistall windows and then put it on another machine.

 

[gregrocker]

Just remove the key from the previous installation to assure no complications. You can do this easily by opening an elevated Command Line, type slmgr -upk

When you attempt to activate Win7 and it registers another hardware profile for that Product Key in MS activation computers, you're asked how many computers it is installed upon. You can only answer "one" to proceed with activation. This gives MS the authorization to deactivate it on any other installation using that Product Key as soon as it connects to the internet.

 

[Bill2]

Just remove the key from the previous installation to assure no complications. You can do this easily by opening an elevated Command Line, type slmgr -upk

Actually, that step is not required and theres no such thing as "Deactivation". Running the slmgr /upk command is a local action with no corresponding resetting of hardware profile to zero at the level of MS servers.

From what I have seen, a call to MS may be required if an inadequate amount of time has passed since the most recent activation using that particular key. But most of the time, in genuine cases, online re-activation works just fine.

 

[bigboi972]

Just remove the key from the previous installation to assure no complications. You can do this easily by opening an elevated Command Line, type slmgr -upk

Actually, that step is not required and theres no such thing as "Deactivation". Running the slmgr /upk command is a local action with no corresponding resetting of hardware profile to zero at the level of MS servers.

From what I have seen, a call to MS may be required if an inadequate amount of time has passed since the most recent activation using that particular key. But most of the time, in genuine cases, online re-activation works just fine.

how do you reactivate it online and if i was to make factory recovery disk useing the preinstalled version of windows 7 i can put that on any machine of my chooseing correct

 

[Bill2]

You re-activate online the usual way.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3408-activate-windows-7-online.html

If you have an OEM computer that came with win7 preinstalled and you reinstall windows using the factory recovery disks, activation will happen automatically, you wont need to do anything.

 

[bigboi972]

i just did a clean install of windows 7 now my ethernet ports and my network adapter does not work i cant get online with it anymore they where working fine before i did the clean install

 

[Abhishek Ghosh]

Download the latest drivers from manufactures website using another computer and install them

 

[mborner]

I wouldn't worry about it. Go ahead and install it on your other PC because you're not going to activate it anyway. You've got 30 days to get you other PC back, if it breaks. Just remember, don't activate the new installation.

 

[gregrocker]

Just remove the key from the previous installation to assure no complications. You can do this easily by opening an elevated Command Line, type slmgr -upk

Actually, that step is not required and theres no such thing as "Deactivation". Running the slmgr /upk command is a local action with no corresponding resetting of hardware profile to zero at the level of MS servers.

From what I have seen, a call to MS may be required if an inadequate amount of time has passed since the most recent activation using that particular key. But most of the time, in genuine cases, online re-activation works just fine.

If the OS is not wiped off the HD then I always remove the key before it is moved to a new machine because my experience is that if the old machine is started back up it can cause problems for whoever might inherit it, not limited to their having an expectation that there is an installed OS.

My understanding of the way it happens during reactivation is that if a hardware profile for that Product key exists in MS activation computers you are then asked how many machines it is installed upon, to which you must answer only "one" to proceed. This gives MS the authorization to deactivate it on any other machine as soon as it connects to the internet. An old installation would normally be deactivated if the key is not removed or HD not wiped, but whoever ends up with that machine could also audit the key off the HD and reinstall it which would deactivate the legit owner's installation.

It is best to guard your Key like a valuable, keeping it closely in your possession.

If there is a better way to handle this, I'd like to know it and Bill is a guy I'd trust to know.