Can I reuse my old hard drive in a new build and cleanly boot win7?

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alexben99

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Jun 19, 2014
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So,I recently bought a cheapo PC from gumtree purely for the software (win7 ult. and ms office 2010). My question is, can I expect to boot windows cleanly? Effectively, I think I am upgrading the RAM and slapping everything in a new case, but later on, I will buy a more powerful AMD, as oppose to the current Intel CPU, a new mobo and a video card. Will I be able to boot then? And if not, how can I fix? My current PC has Win7 Ultimate OEM from HP Compaq, but I don't have any product keys or suchlike. The seller may do.

Thank you in advance for your help.
 
Solution
USAFRet
actually, you can use your windows 7 licence in a new machine:
Click to expand...

No, that is false. You may be able to 'deactivate it', but that has nothing to do with what it was.
An OEM Windows license it tied to the first motherboard it is installed with. They sell it to you cheap for a reason.

Having said that....MS may, I repeat may, allow that specific license to be used with different hardware, e.g. a different motherboard.
They are under no obligation to do so.

For the OP...taking that hard drive out and putting it into a whole different PC is two levels of weirdness.

1. Will it boot? Probably not
2. Will the license be valid? Only MS can tell you.

And an additional #3 - why did you specifically purchase Win 7 Ultimate? It provides...
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ss202sl

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May 23, 2012
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The Win7 Ultimate OEM license is tied to the motherboard. When you go to activate it on a new motherboard, you could run into issues. Also you would need to re-install the OS if moving the HDD to a new Motherboard due to the different hardware and stuff on the MB's. Some people may tell you to go ahead and dot it, but you'll run into problems at dome point, and it's better to just avoid any issues with a fresh(clean) install.
 
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alexben99

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Jun 19, 2014
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So I have to re-buy windows? What about MS Office?
 
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schives

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Jun 27, 2014
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actually, you can use your windows 7 licence in a new machine:
1. Deactivate windows on the old machine
2. Install windows on the new one
3. Activate windows

done!

how to deactivate windows 7:
http://www.howtogeek.com/124286/how-to-uninstall-your-windows-product-key-before-you-sell-your-pc/
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
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actually, you can use your windows 7 licence in a new machine:
Click to expand...

No, that is false. You may be able to 'deactivate it', but that has nothing to do with what it was.
An OEM Windows license it tied to the first motherboard it is installed with. They sell it to you cheap for a reason.

Having said that....MS may, I repeat may, allow that specific license to be used with different hardware, e.g. a different motherboard.
They are under no obligation to do so.

For the OP...taking that hard drive out and putting it into a whole different PC is two levels of weirdness.

1. Will it boot? Probably not
2. Will the license be valid? Only MS can tell you.

And an additional #3 - why did you specifically purchase Win 7 Ultimate? It provides zero performance benefit.
 
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Solution
USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,468
17,926
184,590
Also...you did not buy a PC from 'gumtree' (I had to look it up).
You bought a PC from some dude. With any used PC, it is highly recommended you do a clean install of the OS. THere is no telling what the previous owner has on there.

And now you delve further into the boot/licensing issues.
 
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