My win7 HDD crashed and I am installing win7 on new HDD but it will not accept t

[Lee Jones 1954]

Is the win7 product key stored in flash memory so that it cannot be used again on a new HDD?

It's not like I am trying to cheat the system - I just want to reinstall my copy of win7 onto a new HDD.

 

[dodger46]

You can load Windows without entering a product key and use it for up to 30 days at which point it will insist on you activating with a valid key.

 

[willard]

Is the win7 product key stored in flash memory so that it cannot be used again on a new HDD?

I'm curious to find out exactly what you think "flash memory" is.