Hard drives, RAID, OS, what to do?

[LsD1977]

Ok, so I ammpicking up my Precision workstation today. It currently has one 2TB hard drive in it. I want to install an PCI SATA card and install 4 2TB drives in RAID 1+0.

Here's were my confusion starts: It currently has dual OS; Windows 7 and Windows 8. I want to replace the current drive because I am going to hybrid drives and would just prefer they all match. I'd really like to have XP, 7, and 8 available. XP because i have some older CNC simulaion software that will not run on 7. I know I can buy XP for cheap. But, how do i get 7 and 8 onto the new drives? I don't want to mirror the old drive because I do not like the way he has it partitioned. What do I do? Can someone explain how to load and use multiple operating systems? And is there a way to gte the product key off of the current Win 7 & 8 efore removing the drive so i don't have to pay for them again?

I'm pretty sure i've got the hardware part of this all figured out, but the software (OS) part is confusing me still.

 

[USAFRet]

1. For any used PC, a full reinstall of the OS is highly recommended.

For multiple Windows OS's...oldest first. Then continue.

Product keys:
From the MS licensing, the seller is required to give you the license keys for any OS that was transferred. But since he apparently didn't, Magical JellyBean or Belarc Advisor can probably retrieve those.

 

[LsD1977]

Once I get the product keys how do I go about the install? I'm pretty sure I won't be geting a disc for the OSs. I am picking up the workstation today, so I will ask him about all of this. But, I'm not holding out much hope on that.

 

[USAFRet]

Once I get the product keys how do I go about the install? I'm pretty sure I won't be geting a disc for the OSs. I am picking up the workstation today, so I will ask him about all of this. But, I'm not holding out much hope on that.

From MS licensing:
" TRANSFER TO A THIRD PARTY.
...The transfer must include the software and the Certificate of Authenticity label.


But....
Windows 7 ISO can be found here:
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

Windows 8, probably here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

 

[LsD1977]

Thank you!

I know you are correct about the product keys and discs, but this is a private party sale and therfor I don't have a lot of faith in that.

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you!

I know you are correct about the product keys and discs, but this is a private party sale and therfor I don't have a lot of faith in that.

Be prepared for those keys to be not legit. Just in case.
On any used PC, do a full wipe and reinstall. You never know what the prev owner had in there. Or the owner before him.

 

[LsD1977]

That's exactly what I intend to do, hence my question. Actually I intend to install new hard drives.