Solved Win 7 installation twice

[beauparc]

My current setup has two 1GB drives labelled "C" and "E" and connected to Sata 1 and 2, "C" being the boot drive.

The installation of Win 7 64 is a direct upgrade from Vista 64. I have no trouble with it at all. It is fast and stable.

Just as a matter of interest, is it legal for me to install the same copy of Win 7 as a clean install on "E" and dual boot between them?

I understand that I am not allowed to use the same copy of Windows on two different machines but can I use Win 7 twice on the same computer, albeit on different drives?

Greatly appreciate any help given.

 

[Prof Kerfuffle]

Hi, you can use the install disk but not the same activation key.

 

[YTBOY83]

I would say it is legal, as long as you have two valid keys. Then again, i might be wrong.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

If you just want to play around, don't enter an activation key when prompted and you can activate up to 120 days before you have to reinstall; have a look at this tutorial at the link below.

How to Extend the Windows 7 Activation Trial Period Up to 120 Days

 

[gregrocker]

It's a good idea to try the completely clean install next to an Upgrade to compare performance. You might want to keep the clean install and delete the in-place Upgrade. We can help you do this when/if the time comes, by marking it active and running Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write the System boot files to the clean install. You can then resize into the deleted first partition space using free Partition Wizard bootable CD.

Even easier is to use another HD and unplug the in-placed HD during clean install, then boot one via BIOS boot order and the other using one-time BIOS boot menu key which every computer/mobo has. This keeps the Os's separate to come and go as you please.

 

[mborner]

From a legal standpoint, Microsoft's EULA specifically states that only one copy of Windows may be installed per computer.
View attachment Windows 7_Professional_English_7bb89e9f-20ea-4555-892f-394539ec1090.pdf

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Greg has an excellent idea if you decide to go that way, make a clean install using this tutorial at the link below, move everything you want to the 'new' Windows and get it all set up then use this second tutorial, it lists everything from start to finish to recover the space from the 'old' to the 'new' install.


Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Partition : Recover Space Used by an Older OS

 

[gregrocker]

I would not expect to run the test clean install beside your in-place Upgrade for more than the 30 day trial period, which should give you enough time to decide which you want to keep. It is not legal under the EULA to have two installs of the same license even on the same machine.

You could extend the activation period up to 120 days using this method: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/875-activation-trial-period-extend-up-120-days.html

If you decide to keep the clean install you can activate it at Computer>Properties after deleting the old install recovering MBR into new one.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have a look at Option One in this tutorial for the preferred method to recreate a new set of boot files to the 'new' Windows 7 if that is the direction you choose to go.


Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

 

[beauparc]

Thank you all for taking the time and trouble to reply.

mborner Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, each time I click on it IE9 dies This does not surprise me as I have found it to be very flaky - but then, it is a beta. The legal thing is good. "One copy may be installed per computer". The way I read this is that I will be installing the same copy - twice. Therefore I will have one copy on my computer with two installations. Since they are on seperate disks and obviously only one running at a time, how will MS know?

Anyway......

BFK and gregrocker Your suggestions sound good. A clean install, not activated for a while, then becoming the main OS with the upgrade removed. My only slight reservation is that, as I said in my opening post, my current system is perfect. I am being driven by a sense of curiosity only. And you know what curiosity killed....

Actually, I've just thought of another option. I still have the manufacturers disk which came bundled with the machine when I bought it about 18 months ago. Vista 64bit. Now before you all throw up your hands in horror at the thought of me installing it, consider this........I upgraded from it to Win 7 because Vista was also faultless, no crashing, no troubles at all.

Once again I thank you all for your interest. I am greatly obliged.

 

[gregrocker]

Unfortunately you can't use Vista under the EULA now that you've used it as the qualifying OS for Win7 upgrade version. So you'd have to go back to Vista to use it as a licensed OS. Perhaps you have an old XP retail you can use as qualifier for Win7.

When you do the clean install, remember you can browse for drivers in the factory install's C:Windows/System32/Drivers and /Driverstore files if you have any drivers missing in Device Manager after clean install. But the installer is mostly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates.

Here are the steps for Dual Booting two Win7's or a Vista: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5166-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-vista.html

 

[seekermeister]

Contrary to the popular opinion, I believe that you can install the OS on the same computer as many times as you want, with the same activation key. If someone could provide actual legal text otherwise, I would be interested.

EDIT: I have to retract my statement, because of this found in their EULA:

License Model. The software is licensed on a per copy per computer basis. A computer is a physical hardware system with an internal storage device capable of running the software. A hardware partition or blade is considered to be a separate computer.

 

[beauparc]

gregrocker I'm probably being extremely stupid but I can't understand why I am unable to use Vista again. Vista 64 came preinstalled on this machine together with disk and licence. I bought the full version of Win 7 64 (not the upgrade version) and upgraded from Vista using it. Surely now that Win 7 is installed and working I can install Vista again on the other disk and as a seperate OS, dual booting between them. I apologise for being thick but I just can't see the problem.

I may just bite the bullet and beetle off out at Christmas to buy another copy of Win 7, do a clean install using it, transfer everything I want over to it, delete the installation I am currently using and then sell the original Win 7.

I thank you again for your continued interest and patience.

 

[gregrocker]

Sorry I assumed you had bought an Upgrade version since you say you Upgraded Vista.

If you have the full version of Win7 then you don't need a qualifying OS to upgrade and can use Vista which came on that machine for as long as you want.

If you in-place Upgraded Vista to Win7, have you been satisfied with the performance? Often times a clean install will solve issues related to corruption imported from the old OS.

I'm not sure why you would need to buy another Win7. Once you buy a retail copy you can install it wherever you want as often as you wish for life.

 

[beauparc]

Sorry for not replying sooner. Got struck down by some bug for a couple of days.

I have more than enough information now to enable me to press on with one of the plans.

Once again, thanks to all who replied.

 

[Prof Kerfuffle]

Sorry for not replying sooner. Got struck down by some bug for a couple of days.

I have more than enough information now to enable me to press on with one of the plans.

Once again, thanks to all who replied.

You could buy a triple pack

Get Windows 7 for the whole family.

It is Windows 7 with a key that can be used 3 times