please answer this question as i have found no solution

[xMotivee]

Hi, please someone confirm if I order an HDD that has Windows 7 preloaded on it, will I need the product key for it, or since it is preloaded or could I just use it as if I bought it like a new computer with no questions about a product key?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Where are you planning on purchasing this, this is not how Windows 7 is sold. And yes, you must have a legal product key in order to activate Windows.

 

[xMotivee]

Well, I was looking at ebay as it may be a better/ cheaper solution since I can't just use the product key from my laptop that I don't use. Or is that possible??

 

[AMDAlexK]

it is possible if it is the same version of windows. i have done this and i confirm it to work.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

No, that's almost certainly not a legal copy of Windows. And, you cannot use the key from your laptop on any other machine.

 

[xMotivee]

Okay, my mom has a desktop that she lets me use. She works in a place where she needs certain files so I CAN'T wipe out the HDD, unless I could maybe back it up on a flash drive and she have it at work. Is it possible that I back it up on multiple Flash Drives and just reuse the software? I'll be able to just buy the software then and reuse the HDD?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

What, specifically, are you trying to accomplish here?

 

[xMotivee]

Was saving money, but I can't use the HDD in this cpu as it is too oudated;