Will my Windows 7 product key still work?

alexkensit · Jun 4, 2016

Hi,

I have a 120GB SSD and I upgraded from Windows 7 to WIndows 10. I then did a clean install of W10, and with W10 I've heard your product key is stored on the MS servers. What I want to do is partition my 120GB SSD and have a primary partition with W10 and a 32GB partition with W7. But will my W7 product key still work?

Thanks, Alex Kensit

Ironsounds · Jun 4, 2016

Hello... The key for the install media will work... but you will not be able to "Activate" it in the 30-day time period... without an addition purchase of a "License"

Darkbreeze · Jun 4, 2016

No, your license for windows 7 will not work for anything other than activating future installations of windows 10, and only on that motherboard. That activation key is now registered to windows 10, so that is what it will work for if you need to do a clean install and do not have an actual Windows 10 specific key.

alexkensit · Jun 4, 2016

I thought W10 gave you a new key...could I install it and still use it?

Ironsounds · Jun 4, 2016

Hello... There is a 30-day 'trial period" with that product... theres' no way around it... you Gave up the WIN7 license with the "FREE" WIN 10 upgrade... When is giving up something FREE? B /

Typically the KEY is just for the install MEDIA to Work/install... there needs to be "activation" in 30 days with this product.

alexkensit · Jun 4, 2016

Couldn't I just call Microsoft support up and ask for a new key? I'm sure you don't even have to enter the key during the install, you can skip it.

Ironsounds · Jun 4, 2016

Hello... You Buy a "License" for This product... and Yes you can do that on-line and over the phone.

alexkensit · Jun 4, 2016

Yeah I'll ask them.

Darkbreeze · Jun 4, 2016

The bottom line here is that you cannot use both the Windows 7 AND the Windows 10 products. If you upgrade to 10 or activate a clean install using the Windows 7 product key, and 30 days has passed, the Windows 7 license is no longer valid except for use with the Windows 10 OS. If it is within the 30 days, you can revert the upgrade or re-activate the Windows 7 OS by performing another clean install of Windows 7, but that will de-activate any installation of Windows 10 that is related to that Windows 7 product key or motherboard ID string.

There is no way to use both and you cannot revert after 30 days. After 30 days, you are stuck with Windows 10. Microsoft does not want users continuing to use Windows 7 in any case, so while there is an outside chance that you could contact them via Microsoft help desk or tech support phone number, that they MIGHT be willing to allow you to reactivate the Windows 7 license FOR Windows 7, and de-activate the Windows 10 license, if you tell them you need to revert due to a lack of hardware driver support for your system in Windows 10, the chances are extremely unlikely that they will since most users would have known they were going to have problems within those thirty days.

alexkensit · Jun 4, 2016

They said the W10 key I gave them was a "default" key.??

alexkensit · Jun 4, 2016

Darkbreeze :

The bottom line here is that you cannot use both the Windows 7 AND the Windows 10 products. If you upgrade to 10 or activate a clean install using the Windows 7 product key, and 30 days has passed, the Windows 7 license is no longer valid except for use with the Windows 10 OS. If it is within the 30 days, you can revert the upgrade or re-activate the Windows 7 OS by performing another clean install of Windows 7, but that will de-activate any installation of Windows 10 that is related to that Windows 7 product key or motherboard ID string.

There is no way to use both and you cannot revert after 30 days. After 30 days, you are stuck with Windows 10. Microsoft does not want users continuing to use Windows 7 in any case, so while there is an outside chance that you could contact them via Microsoft help desk or tech support phone number, that they MIGHT be willing to allow you to reactivate the Windows 7 license FOR Windows 7, and de-activate the Windows 10 license, if you tell them you need to revert due to a lack of hardware driver support for your system in Windows 10, the chances are extremely unlikely that they will since most users would have known they were going to have problems within those thirty days.

Could I just dual boot and not activate? Just want to have a spare W7 copy, I just generally like the OS, I also really like W10.

Ironsounds · Jun 4, 2016

Hello... As stated before... "Typically the KEY is just for the install MEDIA to Work/install" for 30-days B )
1) Did you ask them about purchasing a WIN7 "license" for your personal use? OR directing you to a "preferred re-seller/retailer" for this product?
2) Did you Ask them if any WIN 7 products was still available for purchase?

alexkensit · Jun 4, 2016

Nah, just asked if it was possible with the w7 key.

Darkbreeze · Jun 4, 2016

He doesn't want to buy a license. He wants to use both, for free, which isn't going to happen. That product key that is "default" is a generic key used by upgraded systems. The Windows 7 product key is the key for your Windows 10 OS now unless Microsoft specifically issues you a Windows 10 product key like they did me in a couple of cases.

What you "can" do in regard to dual booting has little to do with what is "permissible", and constitutes using an illegitimate copy of windows which equates to piracy and which cannot be discussed here. You are stuck with Windows 10 unless they allow you to revert or you buy another license for Windows 7. Personally, I see little to no benefit of running Windows 7 unless there are hardware driver issues due to older or unsupported hardware.

alexkensit · Jun 4, 2016

Oh okay. This w10 key business has always confused me. Thanks!

USAFRet · Jun 4, 2016

alexkensit :

You can have a 'spare Win 7 copy'. If you buy another Win 7 license.
You don't get to Upgrade your Win 7 to Win 10, and continue to use your old Win 7.

Its like this:

Back in summer 2012, you went down to the car dealer and bought a brand new Zoom7. 'ooohhh.shiny'
It has served you well for the last few years.

Fast forward to Summer 2015. You get a letter from the car dealer:
"Bring in your Zoom7, and you can trade it, for free, for a brand new zero miles Whizzer10."

You go down to the dealer, give him the stink eye and ask..."really? A new one for free?"
'Yup. Free. Just give me the keys for your Zoom7, and off you go'
"OK! Here ya go"

And off you go in your new Whizzer10.
You don't get to take home the Zoom 7 as well.
One or the other.

Ironsounds · Jun 4, 2016

Hello... Typically they would ask for the 'Title" in the above scenario... and the Reality/Legality of the situation would sink in. B )

Darkbreeze · Jun 4, 2016

In this case, Microsoft owned the "title" all along. You were just renting it indefinitely for a flat fee.

Will my Windows 7 product key still work?

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