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W7 License Regarding New PC!

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exbrum
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Posted October 11, 2012 at 2:09PM

Hello,

I am considering in the near future to either buying two replacement PC's or to have two custom built. Now regarding the custom build, I was talking to the techie here in Cyprus and he told me that I can use my original W7 Home Prem discs to reinstall to the new PC's? I asked him is this permitted as I am sure that you can only use the license once per disc. He was adament that I could use this on the new computer.

Does anyone know where we stand regarding this?

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johndrew

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Posted October 11, 2012 at 3:00PM

Full versions of Windows with a licence for a single PC can be used on any single machine and moved between them, but it is not permissible to use the licence on more than one PC at a time.

You can buy upgrades to Windows licences (volume licences) that will permit more than one PC to be used and this would be an option.

The actual CDs can be used for any number of installations to any number of PCs, it is the Product Key that restricts the legal number of PCs that can be activated.

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johndrew

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Posted October 11, 2012 at 3:03PM

A bit more on Product Keys.

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exbrum

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Posted October 11, 2012 at 4:15PM

Hello johndrew,

So from what you said my Techie friend was correct, in that if I have a new pc built, to replace my existing PC, then I can legally use my W7 disc to install to that new one. I don't intend using the old computer but will keep for spares maybe.

One thing I have to consider is sometimes, when you buy pc's from shops here some have been known to have pirated copies of Windows installed which I don't want.

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exbrum

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Posted October 12, 2012 at 11:47AM

Oops, forgot to mark this thread as solved.

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Forum Editor

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Posted October 13, 2012 at 2:50PM

"...if I have a new pc built, to replace my existing PC, then I can legally use my W7 disc to install to that new one"

Yes, you can, as long as it's only running on one machine all will be well, as johndrew says.

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exbrum

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Posted October 13, 2012 at 9:05PM

Many thanks for your answere's.

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D@ve

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Posted October 13, 2012 at 11:48PM

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned already - if your original Windows license was an OEM one (and the majority of home licenses are), then the license lives and dies with the machine it was installed on; you're not technically allowed to use the same license on a new machine, even if the old one is taken out of use.

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rickf

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Posted October 14, 2012 at 9:36AM

Dave is right. It depends on whether it's a full retail version or OEM. The latter lives and dies with the machine it is installed.

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johndrew

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Posted October 14, 2012 at 10:32AM

D@ve & rickf

If you bother to read my post, above, in response to the question posed, I start by saying:

"Full versions of Windows .."

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D@ve

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Posted October 14, 2012 at 10:40AM

johndrew

I did bother read your post thank you. exbrum did not specify whether his version of Windows was a full retail one or an OEM one. I never said you said anything that was untrue.

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