Transferring Windows 7 to a new PC

NiftyDigits

Windows 7 Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (x64) - DVD (English)

Image here

Download and save. Once downloaded, place a blank DVD in the drive, right click on the downloaded file and send to Windows Image Burner. Place a tick within 'verify' and start the burning process.

Once created, use it in conjunction with the retrieved key.

Cancel or reject the delivery of the new disc.

bsod

You're planning spending perhaps £500 to replace a 3? year old machine and buying another windows 7 disc (which will be out of date in 3 months as W10 will be out) to replace one which you have (laying about the house somewhere) already?

Just spend a few minutes looking for the disc, copy your data to the usb drive, then do a clean install (format the c: drive, otherwise you'll end up with multiple W7 installs again) on your current machine. You'll probably find that the reason it appeared slow and clunky was nothing to do with the hardware, and you can spend the £500 on something more useful.

This buy a new one rather than search the house for or fix the old one trend seems common on moneysavingexpert - very strange considering the forums purpose.

jbainbridge

As has been said Microsoft allow you to download Windows 7 images that can be burnt to a DVD. Make sure you download the same version i.e. Home Premium or Professional. Use the existing key to install it.

If you have difficulty activating it choose to use the telephone service - its automated and takes about 5 minutes to do.

gjchester

tronator wrote: »

It's perfectly legal in the EU to re-use OEM software as long as you only install it on one PC. If the EULA says differently, then it is not enforceable in the EU.

Only as long as its using the same motherboard, which is what Microsoft defined as the machine, with the sole exception that if the motherboard has failed it need to be either a exact replacement or manufacturer specified replacement (for when the original part is no longer sold)


There are some limited rights to sell OEM software in the EU, but as the Oracle case was about sales its an unknown if it covers anything else.

NiftyDigits wrote: »

You can download the media itself for free online then to use the retrieved key to install it. If it doesn't activate, you can call Microsoft and let them know that you had to change your Motherboard. They will assist you with the activation of the licence.

If there are any problems I can do it for you.

It may work, it may activate, but in Microsoft's eyes its not legal. OEM licences cannot be transferred to another PC, and as its stated its a new motherboard (unless a swap for a faulty one) is considered a new PC.


Remember this is not selling you the software, just a licence to use it. Violating the licence usually means it is revoked. OEM licences are cheaper than full boxed retail ones, if you want transfer rights you need a full licence not a OEM/System builder one.

gjchester

jbainbridge wrote: »

If you have difficulty activating it choose to use the telephone service - its automated and takes about 5 minutes to do.

Royalty (HP, Dell, IBM etc) OEM keys are often rejected by the automated systems and you get to talk to a person. It no harder to do that but don't be surprised if the code is rejected.


You also may find Windows itself will not accept the key, you usually cannot use a OEM key on a retail build, you may need to play with the ei.cfg file to make the image accept a key from a sticker (or what's stored in the BIOS)

tronator

gjchester wrote: »

Only as long as its using the same motherboard, which is what Microsoft defined as the machine, with the sole exception that if the motherboard has failed it need to be either a exact replacement or manufacturer specified replacement (for when the original part is no longer sold)


There are some limited rights to sell OEM software in the EU, but as the Oracle case was about sales its an unknown if it covers anything else.

<sarcasm>
Yeah right, I can sell it, but cannot use it by myself. Makes perfectly sense
</sarcasm>

Then I sell it to a "friend" he sells it again to me.

And again, what Microsoft defines doesn't matter as long as there is a law which contradicts that clause.

NiftyDigits

gjchester wrote: »

Only as long as its using the same motherboard, which is what Microsoft defined as the machine, with the sole exception that if the motherboard has failed it need to be either a exact replacement or manufacturer specified replacement (for when the original part is no longer sold)


There are some limited rights to sell OEM software in the EU, but as the Oracle case was about sales its an unknown if it covers anything else.






It may work, it may activate, but in Microsoft's eyes its not legal. OEM licences cannot be transferred to another PC, and as its stated its a new motherboard (unless a swap for a faulty one) is considered a new PC.


Remember this is not selling you the software, just a licence to use it. Violating the licence usually means it is revoked. OEM licences are cheaper than full boxed retail ones, if you want transfer rights you need a full licence not a OEM/System builder one.

Please stop this nonsense. If it activates, it activates. If it doesn't, Microsoft will activate it for you via telephone activation.
Stop wasting everyone's time with semantics about legality.
Legalese is written to stop abuse. It cannot cover every situation fairly. Microsoft do not not care about a consumer upgrading their machine and re-using the licence, not matter what you write.
They might care about someone doing it for profit.
If there are any problems, Microsoft will help them or I will. That is the end of the matter.

NiftyDigits

gjchester wrote: »

Royalty (HP, Dell, IBM etc) OEM keys are often rejected by the automated systems and you get to talk to a person. It no harder to do that but don't be surprised if the code is rejected.


You also may find Windows itself will not accept the key, you usually cannot use a OEM key on a retail build, you may need to play with the ei.cfg file to make the image accept a key from a sticker (or what's stored in the BIOS)

I haven't seen evidence of this being a Royalty activation.

gjchester

tronator wrote: »

<sarcasm>
Yeah right, I can sell it, but cannot use it by myself. Makes perfectly sense
</sarcasm>

Didn't say it made sense, only that the Oracle case was about selling OEM software, not re-using it yourself. There has been no test in the UK courts that I'm aware of that Windows OEM software can be installed on a new system if removed from the Old PC, so its all an unknown.

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Please stop this nonsense. If it activates, it activates. If it doesn't, Microsoft will activate it for you via telephone activation.

Will it activate is not a test of is it a legal copy.

Lets say I bought a copy of Windows with a key made by a Key Generator. It may activate, but that does not automatically make it a legal copy, and the nature of Windows update means that key may be invalidated later (as Microsoft have done before)

NiftyDigits wrote: »

I haven't seen evidence of this being a Royalty activation.

It was more that the OP has a key and you and jbainbridge commented that the OP could download an image to retore Windows. The link you gave could be OEM rather than retail.

Microsoft used to allow Digital River to host images, then they stopped it. Microsoft DO host ISO of Win 7 online but will only work with retail keys, and will not validate the key typically on OEM stickers to proceed to a download.

Will Microsoft chase an end user of this, almost certainly not but money saving should not be about breaking the law not offering solutions that may encourage others to do so.

I know people think Microsoft is a big company and won't notice, and its nice to stick it to the man. But think of it another way, what if you wrote software for a living, would you want people installing that software where they pleased and on as many computers as they can, regardless of any rules you put in place?

weeowens

bsod wrote: »

You're planning spending perhaps £500 to replace a 3? year old machine and buying another windows 7 disc (which will be out of date in 3 months as W10 will be out) to replace one which you have (laying about the house somewhere) already?

Just spend a few minutes looking for the disc, copy your data to the usb drive, then do a clean install (format the c: drive, otherwise you'll end up with multiple W7 installs again) on your current machine. You'll probably find that the reason it appeared slow and clunky was nothing to do with the hardware, and you can spend the £500 on something more useful.

This buy a new one rather than search the house for or fix the old one trend seems common on moneysavingexpert - very strange considering the forums purpose.

I do see what you are saying. I just want a PC that works & cannot be doing with the downtime while I sort it out.
Hopefully I will find the disc & another user will get the benefit of my idiocy.