Will I have to buy a new copy of Win 7

[Wolf0x]

Well I am planning on building myself a new computer and I am using the same hard drive as I am currently and I wanted to reinstall win 7 and clear my hard drive to have a new start as my hard drive is currently full of junk . So I was wondering if I reinstall win 7 on the same hard drive will the copy still work or will I have to buy a new license/serial key.

 

[Tews]

What version are you using?

 

[Wolf0x]

Sorry forgot to mention that Home premium

 

[theog]

Retail or OEM.

 

[Wolf0x]

Retail I believe though I am not 100% sure as I got the UK student deal.

 

[gregrocker]

Any student version is retail so you can migrate it to any hardware of your choice, as long as it is on only one installation.

Most student versions are full retail but if it should be Upgrade version, it will scan the HD at bootup to see the old installation and pass a flag to allow Upgrade version key - even if you then go on to use Custom>Drive tools to repartition and format the HD (as you should).

You will likely have to make the robocall to MS during activation to update your hardware signature in their computer.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[tw33k]

It will work. You may have an activation issue but a quick call to M$ will sort it for you.

 

[theog]

If you go for the upgrdae to Windows7,Make sure you backup your data first.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/615-backup-user-system-files.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/648-restore-backup-user-system-files.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11470-windows-easy-transfer-transfer-computers.html?ltr=W

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?ltr=C
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html?ltr=U
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html

 

[xarden]

A quick call to M$ is like a quick call to your Telco provider.
Try activate online if you have an available network.

 

[Wolf0x]

Thanks for all the quick replies