win 7 installation and product keys.

goneracing

I have 2 PC’c

PC 1 runs 32 bit Win 7 Home premium. I can’t find the paperwork or disk for it but have identified the product key in the registry by using Belarc Advisor. This PC has developed a problem (which I’ve asked about on another thread here) and I was given a Win 7 home premium disc to help sort it out. Alas it turns out this disc is a 64bit variant only and the key for it has already been used.

PC 2 currently running XP pro sp3. for which I have original disks and keys.

Basically PC 1 needs sorting and may require a rebuild also I would like to update PC2. Is the following possible?

I am led to believe a retail win 7 disc holds both 32 and 64bit variants of win 7 but will only install the one relevant to the key installed at installation. Can somebody confirm this?

If the above is true is it possible to do the following:
First, buy a legit retail variant of Win 7 Home premium.
Install the 32bit variant onto PC 1 with the key already identified on that machine.
Upgrade PC 2 with a 64 bit variant using the new key?

Would that be feasible so I end up with both machines running Win 7?

Figment

You can get a disk image of Win7 from here, then use your existing key (which should be on a sticker somewhere on the case) Note what it says about OEM installs requiring telephone activation.

If you were to buy the full retail version, it comes with 2 disks (32bit/64bit) and one key which can be used with either disk (but not with both). You can use the disks as many times as you wish, provided you use a different key each time.

You can only install the 64bit version on PC2 if the hardware supports 64bit software

spud17

goneracing wrote: »

I have 2 PC’c

PC 1 runs 32 bit Win 7 Home premium. I can’t find the paperwork or disk for it but have identified the product key in the registry by using Belarc Advisor. This PC has developed a problem (which I’ve asked about on another thread here) and I was given a Win 7 home premium disc to help sort it out. Alas it turns out this disc is a 64bit variant only and the key for it has already been used.

PC 2 currently running XP pro sp3. for which I have original disks and keys.

Basically PC 1 needs sorting and may require a rebuild also I would like to update PC2. Is the following possible?

I am led to believe a retail win 7 disc holds both 32 and 64bit variants of win 7 but will only install the one relevant to the key installed at installation. Can somebody confirm this? Almost correct, 2x disks, 1x 32 bit and 1x 64bit. Key will work with either.

If the above is true is it possible to do the following:
First, buy a legit retail variant of Win 7 Home premium.
Install the 32bit variant onto PC 1 with the key already identified on that machine.
Upgrade PC 2 with a 64 bit variant using the new key?

Would that be feasible so I end up with both machines running Win 7?

It could depend on which variety of Win 7 you have on PC1. If this is an OEM version, you possibly could have problems with using a retail disk.
Others will correct me no doubt.

The other potential problem is whether PC2 is capable of running Win 7 64 bit.

NiftyDigits

If PC1 does not have a Windows 7 COA sticker, then the install has likely been hacked in some way. The key that you have found is unlikely to work for you.

Does this PC1 have a brand name?
Does PC2 have a brand name?

Lum

You have been told pretty much the opposite of the truth.

Windows 7 product keys work for both 32 and 64 bit versions of windows, and official Windows DVDs only contain one bit-level, not both.

You should be able to use your original product key with that 64bit DVD and be fine.

prowla

The digitalriver site has downloadable ISO images of Windows media that can be burned to disc.

The key is likely to be tied to a particular media set (Home, Professional, etc.) and may also be OEM or even specific to a given manufacturer's hardware (Lenovo do that, and Dell supposedly do but I think the keys can be used on other kit).

The same key should be usable for either the 32-bit or 64-bit release of the given version.

Usually (unless it is a multi-use licence) a key can only be used on one PC at a time.

So, normally each PC needs a key, and a given key needs the right media set to use it on.

Davve

You can use any Windows 7 DVD with any key (version dependant though, so you can only use Home premium with home premium, professional with professional etc. Disks are not limited to keys).

You can also install W7 on your old XP machine (assuming it is capable) using the old key you have (assuming it's legit) using any W7 HP disk (32 or 64 bit, again assuming it can handle).

There are ways to use the same key for multiple machines, but if you want to do it properly there are plenty of places (possibly your local PC repair shop?) which will sell you a (legit) CD-key for pretty cheap, with no CD (you can make your own from links above).

-TangleFoot-

Davve wrote: »

version dependant

That's largely down to a tiny file that tells the installer what to do.

prowla

Davve wrote: »

You can use any Windows 7 DVD with any key (version dependant though, so you can only use Home premium with home premium, professional with professional etc. Disks are not limited to keys).

You can also install W7 on your old XP machine (assuming it is capable) using the old key you have (assuming it's legit) using any W7 HP disk (32 or 64 bit, again assuming it can handle).

That's not correct - if you try and use a Pro disk with a Home key it will say it's the wrong version (unless you hack the install image, which I assume is outside of the context of this thread).

Davve wrote: »

There are ways to use the same key for multiple machines, but if you want to do it properly there are plenty of places (possibly your local PC repair shop?) which will sell you a (legit) CD-key for pretty cheap, with no CD (you can make your own from links above).

We're also assuming that it's the legit road we are following here.

goneracing

Ok I have found out that my install of Win 7 is dodgy.

As I now have genuine disks (digital river) where can I buy a new legal key?
Can I buy just the Key without having to get the disks?

A well known auction site have plenty but I don’t want to risk another dodgy install and ending up in the same situation in time to come.

The few that still appear to be selling Win 7 offer full retail or "OEM install for builders" with a fair price difference so what exactly is the difference?

Thanks

prowla

If you have a computer fair near you (we have one a month), you can usually get Windows 7 keys for £20-25; they are typically "rescued" from scrapped systems.