Request Quick Clarification

Hi...

I have a legal retail copy of Win 7 Pro which came with 32-bit and 64-bit discs. I installed a copy of the 64-bit on my machine. Now, my partner will be buying a machine which will come with no OS and I was wondering if she could also install Win 7 Pro on hers. She would probably go for the 32-bit option. Can this be done with the same Key as I used?

Thanks

 

You cannot use the same key to activate Windows in 2 different machines, unless you have the Windows family pack. Ask your partner to legally get an OS.

 

No it cant, that key is for one install on THAT machine but you can use either the 32 or 64 bit disks.

she will have to get her own legal copy

 

OK. Thanks. Just one question based on what "crazycanuk" mentioned. Why is the key limited to only ONE install on my machine on which I have already loaded the 64-bit version considering that what I bought was the Retail pack and not the OEM System Builders' version?

I was given to understand that I can install the retail pack on my machine as many times as I want to. I was told that upto 3 reinstalls and validations can take place over the net, but after that I would need to call MS on the phone and get it validated.

Thanks

 

the key becomes tied to your hardware, you can load it many times or even change the 32/64 bit version you are using on THAT machine. if you upgrade alot of hardware you will need to reactivate just as you did with XP or vista

 

OEM = tied to the machine's hardware permanently.

Retail = not tied to the hardware.

With retail you can reinstall Windows on a new computer if your old one dies or is replaced, but activation is still required.

However on an OEM, the activation will fail if the installation does not detect the proper chipset.

 

See? This is the reason why I asked. What "Forever Melody" posted is what I know. What I gather is that you can't use the activation key twice (or more times) simultaneously, which would accord with what "cool guy" and "crazycanuk" mentions.

Am I getting this right?

Either way, it seems that my partner will have to get a new retail copy with a fresh key if she wants to work with Win 7 Pro on her soon-to-be-bought machine. My copy (though retail) won't work.

 

Yes you're correct. You can reuse the retail activation key multiple times on different machines, but you can't run/use those machines at the same time seeing as the key is for a singular computer at a time regardless of its status as retail.

 

It's not all that hard to understand. The XP licensing model where there were dozens of special cases of OEM, retail, system builder, etc, etc doesn't exist any more. MSFT simplified it considerably for Windows 7.

One key per machine. Once a key has been used it is committed whether that machine is powered on or not. If you have another machine, you need another key. Powered on or not. You can reuse a key ONLY if the machine it was previously used on has been reformatted to bare metal and NOT reloaded. The ONLY exception for the average user is/was the Windows 7 family license pack, which I believe has been legally sold out for months.

When you activate a machine with msft your key will be examined, some behind the scenes evaluations will be done, and you will receive either an instant over the internet authorization **or** you will be required to call in to msft to answer a few additional questions. If the history of your key is such that msft has been seeing constant activation and reactivation, they will likely become suspicious and ask a LOT of questions.

Just buy the correct number of licenses for the number of machines you load Windows to. Then you'll never, ever have to worry about any of this.

Simple.

 

OK. Thanks everyone for the clarifications.