Does a windows product key need to match up with a specific disk?

[coolmanfoo]

So I am currently building 2 computers for work. The first build i put together and installed a windows 7 pro install disk. I was given the error that windows failed to load because of a missing kernal. I swapped windows 7 discs (since i bought 2) and the second disk installed the OS just fine

So now i have one disk with the OS and two product keys. Can i use the same disk for the second computer but use the product key from the bad disk?

Thanks for the help.

 

[RCFProd]

They are not tied to each other. The Windows file on the CD is just the same one for every CD, you could download the same Windows to a USB stick and use the same key for that too for example.

Can't activate Windows on multiple PC's.

 

[abaday789]

You can use any key with any install disk yes. The key essentially is only telling the OS that it has been purchased legitamtely along with Microsoft's servers.

A lot of people don't even use the disk any more to install windows and instead download the ISO onto a memory stick for install via USB then just use the key that they have bought to activate. That's the main way I do my installs now due to a lot of PCs I work with having no optical disk drive.

Just remember it's one key per PC. The install disk can be used as many times as you like as long as you have enough keys to go with the install

 

[Benkberg97]

You can use any key with any disk as long as it matches the edition and service pack of the install disk.

As for activation, it depends if the keys you have are retail, OEM, or volume license keys. Retail keys can be transferred to different PCs as long as the key is no longer in use by the old install.

OEM keys can't be transferred to new hardware. It may still activate, but it would violate the MS licensing terms.

Volume license keys can be used on any PC as long as you have not exceeded the number of keys you purchased.