Re-use Win741 copy to upgrade another comp (original comp is dead)

This question is kinda long, so please bear with me.

Before my T61p died (faulty G84M GPU to blame), I had bought and downloaded a copy of Windows 7 Professional 64 from the Win741 student deal. Since I had had a 32-bit copy of Windows Vista Business originally on my machine- I followed the directions on this forum to create an ISO of the Win741 file and burnt it to a DVD afterwards, doing a clean install. Unfortunately, about 2 weeks afterwards, the faulty G84 GPU in my laptop died, leaving me with a 5.4 pound brick. I have since removed parts from it (wireless card, and 4GB of DDR2) and used them to either upgrade my dad's T61, or to use with my new T500 that I have ordered (data from the hard disk and the better keyboard from the T61p) . Here's my question: my dad and I want to upgrade his laptop with a clean install of the Windows 7 Professional 64-bit upgrade copy that I downloaded from Win741 and burnt onto an ISO. I still have the license from the student downloaded copy, and I'm not sure if I can use it on two machines...even if one isn't in use anymore and will never be. Can anyone help me out?

 

I downloaded Windows 7 from MSDNAA through my school and was only able to install it on one machine per license. I requested another key from my school's IT department in order to install the OS on another computer. I think it keeps track of the major components of your computer so that if another computer with different specs tries to activate the license it will refuse to allow you to. Best bet is to contact Microsoft and ask them to "free up" the key you have used so that you can use it again. Of course, my copy was RTM so depending on which version you have YMMV.

 

The copies purchased from the student deal is an actual retail upgrade license, so that means they can be transferred from one machine to another, as long as it is uninstalled from the first. Therefore you are allowed legally to use it on your dads T61.
In case activation does fail, just call up Microsoft and explain that the first computer died and you were transferring the license to another machine and there should be no problem then.

 

While we are involved in "blame", had you insured the computer, Lenovo would have replaced it.

At any rate, I'm sorry you lost the computer.

Renee

 

Microsoft would say it's one license per motherboard, that being said you can online activate it quite a few times, and if all else fails, phone activate and lie to the robot.

 

"I downloaded Windows 7 from MSDNAA through my school and was only able to install it on one machine per license. I requested another key from my school's IT department in order to install the OS on another computer. I think it keeps track of the major components of your computer so that if another computer with different specs tries to activate the license it will refuse to allow you to. Best bet is to contact Microsoft and ask them to "free up" the key you have used so that you can use it again. Of course, my copy was RTM so depending on which version you have YMMV.

"Microsoft would say it's one license per motherboard, that being said you can online activate it quite a few times, and if all else fails, phone activate and lie to the robot."

Well Microsoft doesn't say that because for Vista, they changed their licensing policy specifically to allow for changed motherboards for those hobbyists who may change motherboards. By the way, if your an MSDN member the regular licenses do you no good. It's been a couple of years. I'll have to find how that came out.

Renee

 

If I recall, MS has traditionally regarded OEM licenses of Windows to be tied to a particular machine, whereas retail versions are limited to one active machine at a time.
If you're sure the T61p is in fact a brick, this shouldn't be a problem, assuming you don't mind the activation phone hurdles you very well could encounter.

Is the G84M part of the nVidia snafu had a few years back? That and along with the strange nForce4 issues I encountered, nVidia left a bad taste in my mouth. I love how Dell was like "oh just pump more air across it", which means the fan on my Latitude at work is on ALL the time..

 

Yes; it was one of the faulty chips; all of them have the same problems (and the T61p doesn't use MXM; so I would have to pay $550 for a new motherboard....

I've decided just to buy a new T500- I've put the RAM and N-wireless card from my T61p in my dad's T61; and will use the keyboard from my T61p in place of the one that comes installed on the T500.

 

Well- after a few months I've decided to now transfer/free up the Windows 7 Professional License and move it to my dad's computer.. what number should I use to call and make the license available for use on another computer?