Two windows boot drives in one desktop

[kofman13]

Hi all, i want to get another SSD in addition to my current Windows 7 boot drive, and two boot drives with the same copy of Windows 7, or even have one on windows 7, and one on Windows 10. I want to do this to basically seperate my workflow into two categories, my audio production needs favor windows 7, but i want to use windows 10 for everything else so it would be great to have two boot drives in my desktop. Is it possible to use the windows 7 media that came with my pc, to install windows 7 on another hard drive(inside the same desktop), and then i guess upgrade to windows 10 while on the new boot drive so i essentially have the Windows 7 boot drive I am using right now and another drive with windows 10. can this be done? or I would need to buy a new copy of windows? I am wondering if I can do it with one license and disk. I mean the computer its running on is the same. And of course both hard drives wouldn't be running windows at the same time.

 

[AddRAM]

You would need another windows 7 license, you can not use the one you already have as you will still be using windows 7. But why upgrade, just buy Windows 10 at your local Bestbuy. There is no reason to buy another Windows 7 license.

or Newegg

Microsoft Windows 10 Home - 64-bit - Newegg.com

Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit - Newegg.com

as far as 2 boot drives, of course you can, just install windows 10 on the new ssd with your windows 7 and any other drives unplugged. Then just use the boot menu key to bring up the boot menu (not the bios) to choose the ssd with 10 to boot into it whenever you want to.

Anymore questions, just ask.

So I`ll make this simple statement one more time, if you DO NOT HAVE another windows 7 license then you simply have to buy windows 10.

In your case that`s what I would do anyway.

 

[kofman13]

Yes you would need another windows 7 license. But why upgrade, just buy Windows 10 at your local Bestbuy.

or Newegg

Microsoft Windows 10 Home - 64-bit - Newegg.com

Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit - Newegg.com

as far as 2 boot drives, of course you can, just install windows 10 on the new ssd with your windows 7 and any other drives unplugged. Then just use the boot menu key to bring up the boot menu (not the bios) to choose the ssd with 10 to boot into it whenever you want to.

Anymore questions, just ask.

thanks! but i was just thinking... and some people on reddit agreed with me, why would I need to buy a new license if its the same computer? For instance, in the past for example, i got a new hard drive because i wanted more space or old one died, i would clone over my windows installtion to new drive or install clean with disc... wouldnt this basically be the same thing? different hard drive, same system, since I am only booting from one hard drive at any given time, not both at same time

 

[AddRAM]

I`ll say it one more time, you need ANOTHER separate license if you wanted to upgrade windows 7, you can not use the license you have if you want to keep running your original Windows 7.

These are the facts, but you can always try anything you want.

Using your Windows 7 install dvd is neither here nor there, that does not matter.

You can use the same install dvd on 1000 computer, but in your case you would still need another windows 7 key.

 

[kofman13]

I`ll say it one more time, you need ANOTHER separate license if you wanted to upgrade windows 7, you can not use the license you have if you want to keep running your original Windows 7.

These are the facts, but you can always try anything you want.

Using your Windows 7 install dvd is neither here nor there, that does not matter.

You can use the same install dvd on 1000 computer, but in your case you would still need another windows 7 key.

im not arguing with you i just am trying to understand what you mean. if I use my key twice on two hard drives but on the same desktop. and only one hard drive is plugged in at a time and inside my computer( only plugging in original in case of emergency, what would happen when i try to boot from my older original drive? it wouldnt boot up because I installed windows with my license key on the new hard drive?

 

[AddRAM]

Yes it would boot up.

It would eventually unactivate one of the installs, tell you windows is not gnuine, and ask for a new activation key.

You never said anything about only using Windows 7 in an emergency, you asked about having a dual boot with windows 7 and windows 10.

And of course you won`t be using each OS at the same time, that`s impossible. But going back and forth with a dual boot on the same machine is technically, in a sense, using both OS`s at the same time.

Bottom line is: You need a separate key for 10, if you want to continue running W7.