Transferring Windows7 from laptop to identical spec laptop?

Geodark

NiftyDigits wrote: »

If I wanted to explain, I would have already done so.

But for the sake of a debate.... the sequence of events written above have been entirely fabricated by you.

I have highlighted them in bold. Perhaps you can show me quite where the OP has written it.

Avoriaz wrote: »

Hi, I have a four year old Acer 8935g laptop with Acer OEM Windows 7. I have the original installation CD

The laptop came with a 500gb hard disk. About a year ago I replaced that with a 125 gb SSD and reinstalled Windows 7 from the CD. It activated with no problems and I have no issues with regular Windows 7 updates.

My laptop has been heavily used and has a few physical faults. The top cover has become a bit loose in places, one of the screen hinges has broken and the power connector plug is faulty. It still works fine but the power connector and hinge may well completely fail sometime soon.

I like this laptop so I have bought a second hand Acer 8935g laptop with the same specification as mine but in better physical condition. It will arrive later this week.

This laptop has Vista installed so I want to use my Windows 7.

I am aware that OEM Windows 7 is limited to the original computer on which it was first installed.

If I swap my SSD (which has Windows 7 activated and updated) into the new laptop, will I have any problems with Windows updates? Will Microsoft see it as a different computer and deactivate it? Will they be able to tell that I have changed computer, albeit to one of the same specification or do they only do basic checks on specification and not look at serial numbers of components or whatever it is that they can do?

Swapping the SSD will be a lot less hassle than transferring hinges etc from one laptop to the other.

I'm not trying to cheat. I will only use Windows 7 on the one laptop as my old laptop will be kept for spares.

Thanks

That's how I read that - unless I am missing something?

NiftyDigits

Geodark wrote: »

That's how I read that - unless I am missing something?

It's how you read it, not what the OP wrote.

Yes, you are missing something. I've already given you a clue as to what is is.
Since it is not your problem, there is no need for me to explain further, other than to re-affirm that the OP will not need to attempt to transfer a licence from one machine to another nor would they need to resort to illegal methods.
In this case, it will just work.

Geodark

NiftyDigits wrote: »

It's how you read it, not what the OP wrote.

Yes, you are missing something. I've already given you a clue as to what is is.
Since it is not your problem, there is no need for me to explain further, other than to re-affirm that the OP will not need to attempt to transfer a licence from one machine to another nor would they need to resort to illegal methods.
In this case, it will just work.

Never had any doubts about it working, just questioning licencing grey areas. Anyway cheers for the debate fella, haven't had a good one in ages! Off out to get the wife now - have fun

NiftyDigits

Geodark wrote: »

Never had any doubts about it working, just questioning licencing grey areas. Anyway cheers for the debate fella, haven't had a good one in ages! Off out to get the wife now - have fun

It's not a 'grey area'. You just jumped to a conclusion as to what the OP would do and how it would work.
In fact it will work in exactly the way prescribed by Microsoft.

I_have_spoken

Yep, it'll probably want to activate and ask you to ring Microsoft's automated system and key in all the numbers.

If that fails, ring the call centre and say you mobi failed and was swapped.

You can do that with a clear conscience IMHO

NiftyDigits

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Yep, it'll probably want to activate and ask you to ring Microsoft's automated system and key in all the numbers.

If that fails, ring the call centre and say you mobi failed and was swapped.

You can do that with a clear conscience IMHO

Not necessary in this case..... though it's a 'fallback' position.

Avoriaz

The laptop arrived today. It is in almost perfect condition and has clearly had far less use than mine.

Surprise surprise, it doesn't have Vista in it as advertised, it has Windows 7 Home Premium, the same as on mine, with a COA on the base.

I've updated the bios on it and put my SSD in and powered it up and all appears to be working fine.

“System” is showing “3 days until automatic activation” so it appears that Microsoft have already identified that the version of Windows7 on my SSD has a new set of components.

I presume I can just change the product key to the key on this newer laptop.

I'll do that tomorrow and see what happens.

Thanks for all the comments and advice.

NiftyDigits

Avoriaz wrote: »

The laptop arrived today. It is in almost perfect condition and has clearly had far less use than mine.

Surprise surprise, it doesn't have Vista in it as advertised, it has Windows 7 Home Premium, the same as on mine, with a COA on the base.

I've updated the bios on it and put my SSD in and powered it up and all appears to be working fine.

“System” is showing “3 days until automatic activation” so it appears that Microsoft have already identified that the version of Windows7 on my SSD has a new set of components.

I presume I can just change the product key to the key on this newer laptop.

I'll do that tomorrow and see what happens.

Thanks for all the comments and advice.

No, don't do that. You have a missing component now that you have swapped the drive.

Will replace via PM.

Avoriaz

I changed the product key for Win7 on my SSD to the key that came with the new laptop and it was accepted. :j

I am now up and running with the newer laptop with the SSD from my older laptop and Windows is fully activated.

I haven't had to "cheat" as the newer laptop has a genuine OEM Win7 license and not the Vista license I was expecting.

I may keep my older laptop for spares, or I might buy new hinges and a new power cable connector and sell it.

Thanks again to everyone for your comments, advice and help. It is appreciated. :beer:

chanz4

Microsoft activation works on the motherboard chipset, if its identical their will be zero issues and it can be used as long as only in 1 machine. And yes Im a registered VAR