Motherboard failure. Can I reinstall Win 7 to new PC?

[TableLeg]

My parents computer has died and after carrying out some tests I believe the MB has died. The board, cpu and memory are now a bit dated and having looked at replacing the MB I am unable to find one of the same spec.

By far the easiest option is to buy a new base unit but this would come without an OS.

Is it possible for me to retain the current Win 7 OS and use it on a new PC?

Is has been a while since I have had to reinstall Windows on a PC so realise things may have moved on.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer any advice.

 

[Berton]

Is it possible for me to retain the current Win 7 OS and use it on a new PC?

Maybe, maybe not. Is the computer a brand name? If so the installed copy of Windows stays with the computer. If it is a Custom computer Windows may be a Retail version which can be moved to a Replacement computer. If it is a Custom computer but had the OEM version installed, again it's stuck with that computer. That is the 'gist' of the legals. I have seen an OEM copy from a Custom computer be moved to another Custom computer but not exactly legal. The branded OEM versions usually are coded to allow installing only on that brand, i.e. never able to get a Dell version to install on an HP.

 

[TableLeg]

Thanks for the reply.

PC was a custom build and the Win 7 OS is an OEM system builder disc.

 

[TableLeg]

Anyone with any other thoughts?

 

[Ztruker]

OEM system builder is legally tied to the computer it was installed on.

What do you mean by Base Unit? Do you mean just the tower? If so, why would it come without the OS? You can get system with 8.1 or 10 on them now.

 

[TableLeg]

Yes just a tower but the ones I have looked at from several companies all offer the option of having an OS installed. I want to be sure my parents are not going to pay out unnecessarily for a new OS if they could use the one from their old PC. As they have the original Win 7 install disc I wondered if it could be utilised. It is only really the motherboard, cpu and memory that would be replaced. The original HDD with the Win 7 OS would be reused if possible.

 

[Ztruker]

It will work. May have to use the Activate by phone method but it will work.