If I re-buy windows 7 what will happen?

[Joe Cross]

So i got windows 7 for an old PC but then had problems with it so i never activated my key. I recently built a new PC with the same hard rive, however because of my new components i had to re-install windows 7 from my disk. I now need to activate my windows 7 key but do not have it, if i buy a new copy of windows 7 can i install it with my current copy still on the PC and will it wipe a lot of my data?

 

[Robert Cook]

yes all the installer wants is a valid key. but it will wipe your data unless you make a new OS partition. I would use a large USB or external HDD and back up your data before hand.