windows 7 retail install question

[Meridius]

hi all i ordered the retail 2 disk box version of win 7 and i was woundering can i install it on my old machine i have now becasue in about 3 months time i will be building a new machine and want to be able to install it on that but the older machine will be made redundent not used .

is this ok can i install it on my old machine for 3 months to use and then reinstall it on a new machine later on, what would happen would i need to do anything as i was toled you could not do this on a oem version.

how would microsoft let me do this

thanks

 

[jdmoyers]

Aslong as you have the retail version then you own one license of the software to do as you will, so provided you only have it on one computer at a time it is fine. So yes you can install it onto your old computer for three months then later use it on your new one, provided of course that you no longer use it on the old computer. The OEM version you mentioned is the one where it is only allowed to be installed onto one computer ever.

 

[Meridius]

so how do they stop you using the other install on th e first computer or know if you installed it on another 2nd computer i dont understnad how they know if you have it on 2 machines, i will stop using it on the older computer but i was woundering how do they know.

when i install it on the 2nd computer will it ask me anything ?

what its for is my old machine is going to be used as a media centre and then later on will be replaced with a better media centre

thanks

 

[Blotch]

......how they know if you have it on 2 machines.......i was woundering how do they know.

because windows phones home - well not quite, but it does access MS servers to validate your operating system licence key and it will then see if it is already registered on another PC.

 

[jdmoyers]

Well that's just the point. How do they know? No doubt when you install it on the second time you will experience more difficulties when trying to activate it, as it will be for the second time so it may not like doing it automatically online - you may have to ring microsoft to say that you now want to use it on a different machine etc.

I imagine that you could get away with running it on two machines, it's just that you are not legally allowed to do so. Although Microsoft probably would monitor the activity of your copy of Windows and which computer it's running on ( so any updates you download are logged). So if you were running two machines off the same license of Windows and they both downloaded updates then you would probably get caught. Aslong as your old machine doesn't access the internet I don't think Microsoft would find out. It's not like they would send someone round to inspect your PCs!

 

[jdmoyers]

because windows phones home - well not quite, but it does access MS servers to validate your operating system licence key and it will then see if it is already registered on another PC.

Thats only a problem if you have the OEM version where the copy of windows can only be used on one computer ever. The retail version gives the license to the user, who is allowed to install it onto whatever computer they wish provided that only one computer has it at a time. Therefore you are allowed to activate the same copy of Windows on multiple computers - the question is, how do microsoft know if you're still using it on the older computers?

 

[Meridius]

So I think i got it now

when I install win 7 on my machine Microsoft will activate it for that machine and will work with no problems.

I then I build a new machine 3 months later I install win 7 but this time microsoft will reactivate it on that new machne.

Now the old machine I can still use win 7 that I installed but I have to make sure it is not coneted to the Internet as it will be checked or cold try and to install nee updates as if I leave it conected and Microsoft will know I have it on 2 machines and will disable it

so it's best to

1 uninstall it and put xp back on and still be able to use it on the net
2 leave win 7 on and use it. But making sure it never connects to the net as the new machne will of been activated for that serial number

is this right ?

Can you run win 7 on a network system without them detecting it as it might come in handy as amedia centre only on a home network or would win 7 still try to assess the net

 

[jdmoyers]

Yeah I think you've got it. If you don't allow your old PC to connect then there's not really any way they can find you short of coming to your house. As for getting it activated on your new PC, I've never done it so don't know what it entails. Perhaps someone who has done it can help? Though I don't imagine there is any way for you to prove you don't use it anymore, they just have to trust you.

You might want to check out the license information when you get it before you install it. Should shed some light on what you can do with it. Wouldn't want you to get stuck with only using it on your old PC!

 

[Stoofa]

Bottom line is that it can't really tell.
So you can, in theory install your retail copy on more than one machine.
It is the difference between what you can legally do and what you can physically do.

However, as soon as you install your retail version on more than one machine (at the same time) you are breaking the license agreement.
Neither of your machines are any more legal than some theiving scum who downloaded their copy from the net.
If you aren't going to stick to the license agreement then you might just as well spend nothing on your OS and steal it - because you'll be no more legal.

 

[Stiggy]

If you aren't going to stick to the license agreement then you might just as well spend nothing on your OS and steal it - because you'll be no more legal.

Harsh, but true.

The bottom line is always: 1 license per installation (let's not get into the 'family pack' discussion again, please!)

 

[Meridius]

ok so i install it on my old machine and then 3 months later install it on my new machine remove it from my older machine and put xp back on and will the the new install on the new machine ask me to reactivate it ?

is it ok to do this

and thats all i have to do and i dont need to worrie about using it on my old machine for 3 months or so untill i get my new machine

 

[Blotch]

ok so i install it on my old machine and then 3 months later install it on my new machine remove it from my older machine and put xp back on and will the the new install on the new machine ask me to reactivate it ?

is it ok to do this

and thats all i have to do and i dont need to worrie about using it on my old machine for 3 months or so untill i get my new machine

correct if using the full retail version

 

[Theydon Bois]

hi all i ordered the retail 2 disk box version of win 7 and i was woundering can i install it on my old machine i have now becasue in about 3 months time i will be building a new machine and want to be able to install it on that but the older machine will be made redundent not used

If this is the case, then you should be fine to activate it both times. A boxed copy of an OS can be transfered as you see fit, as long as it is only used on one PC at any one time. IF you get activation problems on the new PC, ring, and tell them that you have upgraded your PC etc.

An OEM copy lives and dies on your PC you install it on, and cannot be moved around in this way.

To everyone else, please do not give any 'advice' that tries to circumvent MS licences, else I or another mod wil issue infractions and lock the thread.

 

[Meridius]

thanks its the boxed retail i am getting well 2 of them one is the pro and the other is home.

the pro will be for my new main machine and the home for my media centre

 

[seddy]

Removing it from your old pc and installing on new shouldn't present any problems,there is still a 120 day period for hardware changes where telephone activaton is needed.

Extract from the licience agreement from windows 7 (rtm) biuld 7600-16385-090713-1255.
this is the release version that will ship in October 22.

1. OVERVIEW.
a. Software. The software includes desktop operating system software. This software does not include Windows Live services. Windows Live is a service available from Microsoft under a separate agreement.
b. License Model. Subject to Section 2 (b) below, the software is licensed on a per copy per computer basis. A computer is a physical hardware system with an internal storage device capable of running the software. A hardware partition or blade is considered to be a separate computer.
2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Computer. Except as allowed in Section 2 (b) below, you may install one copy of the software on one computer. That computer is the “licensed computer.”
b. Family Pack. If you are a “Qualified Family Pack User”, you may install one copy of the software marked as “Family Pack” on three computers in your household for use by people who reside there. Those computers are the “licensed computers” and are subject to these license terms. If you do not know whether you are a Qualified Family Pack User, visit go.microsoft.com****************** or contact the Microsoft affiliate serving your country.
c. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors on the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, you may not use the software on any other computer.
d. Number of Users. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, only one user may use the software at a time.
e. Alternative Versions. The software may include more than one version, such as 32-bit and 64-bit. You may install and use only one version at one time.

 

[Meridius]

so what happens after 120 days say i want to change it or install it on a new machine in 150 days ?

 

[Stiggy]

so what happens after 120 days say i want to change it or install it on a new machine in 150 days ?

Don't worry about it, the answer is still the same: as long as you only have it installed on 1 PC at a time, you should be able to re-install and reactivate OK. If you do have any problems, then you might have to call Microsoft to get a new install re-activated.

I don't want to add to your confusion, but another option is to delay activation after you install it on the first PC. Don't put the key in when you install - leave it blank and manually select the version of Windows 7 you want to install. This is effectively a 'trial' mode. You have up to 120 days before you have to activate it or reinstall.

 

[chunky79]

I bought a laptop last week and it has broken already. During the week my wife ordered windows 7 through the upgrade site. Currys are looking into swapping our laptop but when we ordered windows 7 we had to give the serial number of the current laptop.
My question is, if we get a new laptop will we be able to use the windows 7 ordered on it?

Dunc

 

[Stiggy]

I bought a laptop last week and it has broken already. During the week my wife ordered windows 7 through the upgrade site. Currys are looking into swapping our laptop but when we ordered windows 7 we had to give the serial number of the current laptop.
My question is, if we get a new laptop will we be able to use the windows 7 ordered on it?

Yes, the upgrade is not tied to the serial number of the laptop.

You might be lucky and the new one comes with Windows 7 preinstalled!

 

[chunky79]

Cheers for the reply. Pretty unimpressed with the fact that the laptop failed within a week. It was probably on for 4 hours max.
Might look at getting a different model now i know windows 7 will be ok.

 

[swift1]

Hi All, I'm sorry if this has already been asked by before.

I'm getting the Retail Version of Windows 7 Ultimate, and looking to do a clean install on my Toshiba laptop..... my question is after installing it, will I need to download and install the drivers from Toshiba? Reason I ask because I had do this after installing the retail version of Vista.

Many Thanks

 

[Deleted member 293381]

I recommend downloading the drivers from Tosiba and putting them to one side. If you do need them after loading Windows 7 then they are at hand.

I needed the WLAN driver and sound driver for my Compaq laptop because Windows 7 did'nt have the correct drivers.

Alan

 

[mrbobc]

@ op; i believe your required to de-activate your existing copy before installing on another pc, i think i heard your asked to de-activate your old install when you try to activate your new one on online or they will not activate the new install. however ive never done this myself so i cant be 100%.


@ swift; yes you will completely remove everything already on your pc by installing your new os. i'd do what alan suggests and save your drivers to disc or pendrive pre install so to be able to install them again without problem.

 

[jdmoyers]

@ op; i believe your required to de-activate your existing copy before installing on another pc, i think i heard your asked to de-activate your old install when you try to activate your new one on online or they will not activate the new install. however ive never done this myself so i cant be 100%.

Surely that can't be the case, I imagine the main reason for most people wanting to move their OS to another computer is that the previous computer is broken. You can't deactivate it with a broken machine so it would be pretty unreasonable for microsoft to implement such a policy.

 

[swift1]

Alan / mrbobc, thanks for your replies. I also rang Toshiba Technical today and they said Windows 7 will automatically find the drivers from the net. But I've decided to go by your advice anyway and will download the drivers.

Thanks