Solved New CPU and MB, how to reinstall using my retail upgrade disc.

[rrbum]

Hello, I will be replacing motherboard and CPU with vastly different models. I am currently running W7 installed from a retail upgrade disc from XP.
I plan on using same hard drives and don't mind reformatting system disk. What is my best bet for a successful reactivation. Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[AddRAM]

You can reuse your Upgrade key, but you might need to reactivate by telephone.

It might boot up ok, but it`s best to do a fresh install on new hardware.

 

[rrbum]

OK, Like I mentioned I can live with reformat and fresh install. I just did not know if it was legal with the retail upgrade disc as far as Microsoft is concerned. Thanx.

 

[Ztruker]

See here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[gregrocker]

You can try starting Win7 on the HD first.

If it won't start then you can boot freeware Paragon Adaptive Restore CD
to P2P Adjust the OS to the new hardware so it will start. Then reactivate with the Upgrade Product Key to change the hardware signature in MS Activation servers.

This should work without having to do the workaround to install Upgrade version on cleaned HD, but if not simply do the quick registry workaround in Option 2 of the tutorial Ken linked just above.

If you decide you'd prefer to reinstall, when you boot the installer it should detect an OS on the HD and pass a flag allowing use of Upgrade version key during install, even if you go on to delete all partitions to get the cleanest install. If it rejects the key leave it blank and do Option 2 in tutorial in post above.

 

[rrbum]

Thanks all. Everything went fine using windows7 retail upgrade to format and install using the clean install tutorial provided.