Using Windows 7 Upgrade Retail Version on new PC

bpatters69 · 19 Jan 2015

Hello All,

I have a new PC and I am in the process of transferring all of my files from my old PC to the new PC. I have a retail version of the Windows 7 64 bit software and it is an Upgrade version. I downloaded Windows 7, SP1 with the help of one of the tutorials from this forum and I used that version to install Windows 7 on the new PC vs the CD that came with my upgrade version. Windows has installed sucessfully on the new PC. I did not connect the PC to the Internet and I did try to enter the retail key from my upgrade copy but Windows would not accept it. I then downloaded the file in option 3 from this tutorial. I was able to get to the point where Windows wanted to connect to the Internet to verify my activation but I did not connect my new PC to the internet as I wanted to ask some questions.

1. Once I activate Windows 7 on my new PC, will that immediately invalidate the copy on my old PC?
2. As I said, I have a retail Windows Upgrade CD but I used a version of Windows that I downloaded which had SP1 on it. I did this so I would have the latest version of Windows.
3. If the answer to #2 is it will not work, should I install from my retail CD?
4. Am I missing anything?

Thanks, Bill

Brink · 19 Jan 2015

Hello Bill,

What will most likely happen is that you may have to activate by phone on the new computer if doesn't do so online since that key number has been activated on the old computer.

Once activated on the new computer, it will eventually no longer be activated or genuine on the old computer. As long as you format the old computer when finished transferring what you wanted to the new computer, you'll be fine and acting within the EULA. :)

bpatters69 · 19 Jan 2015

Thanks so much Brink. Really appreciate it. I thought I had to go back to the retail CD with the older version of Windows 7 and install from that version. I am glad that the downloaded copy will work with my Upgrade Key. Saves me a lot of time and aggrevation.