Current Events > If i upgraded to W10 from W7 can i use the original W7 disc on another computer?

(+) Yeah! (+)

???
---

i mean, you can install windows but you won't have a license to activate it with
---

I think it'll ask you to validate, or activate the O.S. when you try.
---

once you use a W7 on W10 key it transforms that key into an OEM key so you can only ever use it on that computer.

Only the expensive W10 key can be used on multiple computers.

Depending on how often you change computers it may be worth it to just buy a $25 OEM key off ebay periodically.
---

It's all about the license key, not the disc.

WMWMWMWMWMWMWMW posted...

It's all about the license key, not the disc.

holy hell that user name
---

Tyranthraxus posted...

once you use a W7 on W10 key it transforms that key into an OEM key so you can only ever use it on that computer.

Only the expensive W10 key can be used on multiple computers.

Depending on how often you change computers it may be worth it to just buy a $25 OEM key off ebay periodically.

This is tied to the motherboard right?

This is the scenario. Computer A i bought from my friend, with Computer B being my old computer.

Computer B had Windows 7 originally, then i upgraded it to windows 10. I was able to take the SSD with windows 10 from computer B and put it into computer A with no need to reinstall the OS.

So computer B was the original computer that windows 7 was installed in.
---

LookANinja posted...

This is tied to the motherboard right?

It's tied to something hardware related but don't know what exactly. It's not the HDD/SSD or video card. Motherboard is a safe bet but don't know if the CPU is included in that as well.
---

Tyranthraxus posted...

LookANinja posted...

This is tied to the motherboard right?

It's tied to something hardware related but don't know what exactly. It's not the HDD/SSD or video card. Motherboard is a safe bet but don't know if the CPU is included in that as well.

eh ill just try it.
---

LookANinja posted...

Tyranthraxus posted...

LookANinja posted...

This is tied to the motherboard right?

It's tied to something hardware related but don't know what exactly. It's not the HDD/SSD or video card. Motherboard is a safe bet but don't know if the CPU is included in that as well.

eh ill just try it.

the worst case scenario is that there is an annoying thing at the bottom right corner that says "activate windows"
---

Tyranthraxus posted...

LookANinja posted...

This is tied to the motherboard right?

It's tied to something hardware related but don't know what exactly. It's not the HDD/SSD or video card. Motherboard is a safe bet but don't know if the CPU is included in that as well.

it definitely is the motherboard, and just the motherboard. You can replace the CPU on a mobo just fine (if the socket is the same obv) and it won't screw up your OS.
---

OEM W7 to W10 can't be transferred.

Retail W7 to W10 can be transferred once.

Sounds like the W7 came preinstalled, so you can't. But if it was a retail copy, it can be used again.

Also if you had grabbed the preinstalled key before you upgraded, there's a way to still activate it (though I wouldn't really recommend that)
---

So.... I believe the SSD i formatted and took out of my computer contained the boot files for my current W10 installation... I was unable to boot until i did some funky things in like boot mcb and diskpart, and now i windows 10 is booting... only when i have my windows 10 USB inserted. I'm pretty much forced to clean install windows 10 huh?
---

Computers are notorious for not having backwards compatibility.

It's fucked up.
---

Well luckily it's a reasonably fresh SSD, so i didn't lose too much when i reformatted it. Just a pain getting all the software back on.
---

The key is only valid on one physical computer. You can install windows fine but you aren't legally entitled to activate Windows on two different machines with the same license key.
---

I was able to reinstall windows 10 using the W10 license key that i "extracted" from the upgrade. The software i used (I know, the risks, etc.) showed both the windows 10 license key and the windows 7 key.
I have the original windows 7 disk, which i plan to try to use on the freshly formatted OLD SSD.

Now i know you guys are talking about it being tied to one computer or something etc. But i'll try it out. I've used this windows 7 disk and key on a few different computers(and motherboards) without any issues, but never two computers at the same time and never after upgrading it to windows 10.

Just trying to keep you guys updated on what i'm planning.

Oh yeah, and i need a different PSU for the computer i'm putting the old SSD in. So i won't be able to try it for a while.
---

what file format did you format the SSD to? It should be the active partition by default.
---

Update: Windows 7 has been successfully installed and activated on old SSD.
---

Yes