Will my OEM key work Twice

[Lemons48]

im about to reinstall win 7 SP1-OEM, onto an SSD from HDD, will my product key work twice?
Thanks

 

[Heironious]

If it's the same motherboard...yes. If you change motherboard brand / spec / type...no.

 

[Saga Lout]

Almost certainly not. Many OEMs make sure you have to buy replacement hard disks from them if the original fails, otherwise you don't pass activation. If your Coa has OA printed on it, that will be the case.

I suggest using cloning software to make the change while both drives are slaved into a second system. Acronis True Image is my choice but there are others available, some of which are free but I can't recommend any.

 

[Lemons48]

umm... who is right here
BTW i will have all the same hard ware i just want to move the OS from my HDD to my new SSD

 

[gamer96]

I think you have to call microsoft support and they give new activation key for free.

 

[Heironious]

umm... who is right here
BTW i will have all the same hard ware i just want to move the OS from my HDD to my new SSD

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/windows-7-oem-reinstallation-on-new-hard-drive/f0d32820-deca-4a44-b74c-74695dca5b0a

Edit: If you are asking about a pre built computer from dell / HP than the moderator with the blue words is right. Windows OEM on your own built computer is no problem (as long as same motherboard).

Or just do a google search asking "can I reinstall windows 7 oem on a new hard drive". WIndows OEM gets tied down to the motherboard.

 

[Saga Lout]

Heironious is a good and valued poster and may have difference expiences of trying than my own but as recently as three weeks back, I rerinstalled for a customer who's HDD had failed, and it fell over at the activation stage. It was a Packard Bell and Acer flatly refused to give me a code to modify BIOS that Microsoft wanted to let the new system go through.

I was told the hard disk should have been bought from them and not from my local trade counter.

For me, cloning is the safest option because it takes away the need to activate. There's nothing to lose going about it the other way - your original hard disk system will still work but you'll be left with an expensive SSD. At that stage, you can use my method if the other fails.

 

[Lemons48]

Heironious is a good and valued poster and may have difference expiences of trying than my own but as recently as three weeks back, I rerinstalled for a customer who's HDD had failed, and it fell over at the activation stage. It was a Packard Bell and Acer flatly refused to give me a code to modify BIOS that Microsoft wanted to let the new system go through.

I was told the hard disk should have been bought from them and not from my local trade counter.

For me, cloning is the safest option because it takes away the need to activate. There's nothing to lose going about it the other way - your original hard disk system will still work but you'll be left with an expensive SSD. At that stage, you can use my method if the other fails.

It is my own gaming pc that i built, i have backed up all my files so i think im gonna do a clean reinstall and if it fails im going to use the cloning method. Thanks

 

[Lemons48]

Thanks guys, i typed the same key and it worked. Thanks for your help