Do i need to buy windows 7 again to do a clean install?

[linus2001]

Hi.

i am planing on upgrading my PC.
i am going to get a new CPU an Motherboard and i wan´t do a clean install of windows after the upgrade.

so my question is, do i need to buy windows again to activate it or can i use the same key that i had before?

 

[Joe Porter]

Is your previous copy an OEM copy of windows? If it is you will need a new copy. If it is not you can use your current copy.

 

[linus2001]

Is your previous copy an OEM copy of windows? If it is you will need a new copy. If it is not you can use your current copy.

 

[Alex192]

Hi.

i am planing on upgrading my PC.
i am going to get a new CPU an Motherboard and i wan´t do a clean install of windows after the upgrade.

so my question is, do i need to buy windows again to activate it or can i use the same key that i had before?

If you bought the version of windows you have now i.e it is not OEM, yes you can activate it with your existing key. You might need to uninstall it though as only the home version supports multiple PCs running same windows. I am not sure about the latter though

 

[linus2001]

i have no idea.
How do i find out?

(Sorry for my bad English)

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

If it came pre-installed on the other PC , most likely it's OEM and is tied to that board.


OEM versions of Windows 7 are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:

- OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel

- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on

- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard

- OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system

Microsoft.com ^

 

[Alex192]

i have no idea.
How do i find out?

(Sorry for my bad English)

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 run this and check for license type if it is retail or OEM

 

[linus2001]

i have windows on a cd and i have used it to activate the windows i have now.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

If it's a retail key it will validate here , if not it's OEM.

 

[linus2001]

Tanks everyone for helping me.
And yes i can use it again =D

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Glad to hear the good news.