Where to purchase Win Activation Key?

Goldy · 7 Mar 2011 at 10:28

I have a copy of Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit thats already been installed on a computer. However I want to use the CD to install it on another computer. Is it possible to do this and then purchase a valid Windows 7 Activation key from Microsoft? Or do i have to buy a new Windows 7 CD+Key together? Would be much quicker for me to buy the Activation key over phone or internet!

Thanks!

cyber69 · 7 Mar 2011 at 10:32

I'm not certain of the Microsoft prices but I would have thought it would be cheaper to buy an OEM copy of Win7 from OCuK than to purchase a new license from Mircosoft direct?

robinbredin · 7 Mar 2011 at 11:18

Or do i have to buy a new Windows 7 CD+Key together? Would be much quicker for me to buy the Activation key over phone or internet!

That's what you have to do, be it, OEM or Retail. But your better off getting the Retail,as you can move it from one system to another.

SiriusB · 7 Mar 2011 at 12:25

robinbredin said:
That's what you have to do, be it, OEM or Retail. But your better off getting the Retail,as you can move it from one system to another.

This. OEM is very restrictive and not really meant for use by individuals on their own machines anyway.

bledd · 7 Mar 2011 at 12:30

Microsoft really should start selling 'download packs' for Windows

SiriusB · 7 Mar 2011 at 12:31

It would be good to be able to buy a key and have it emailed or whatever.

Sylver123 · 7 Mar 2011 at 17:40

SiriusB said:
It would be good to be able to buy a key and have it emailed or whatever.

I like that idea as it might work out a little bit cheaper as i`m sure we have to pay a little bit for the Retail packaging, box, manuals etc and probably the OS DVD discs itself.

SiriusB · 7 Mar 2011 at 21:27

I doubt it would be much cheaper, if at all. In the grand scheme of things the retail packaging costs bugger all.

The same argument was made about Steam, for example. However, at normal prices games on Steam are rarely cheaper than buying a boxed game.

DennisMenace · 9 Mar 2011 at 06:20

A cheaper alternative is to buy the upgrade version rather than the full version, but still do a full install, using the "double install" method (which is supposedly Microsoft approved?!). Worked perfectly for me with Ultimate x64 Upgrade Version, but not sure how it would work with a purchased key.

SiriusB · 9 Mar 2011 at 08:56

The double-install method is approved by MS, but only if you have a valid license for a previous OS. The double-install is to allow installation in cases where you are unable to install the previous OS [missing media] or do not have time to install two OSs.

You really should stop bandying about that this convenient workaround is a way of circumventing licensing terms. It is possible to do, but you are basically pirating.

Goldy · 9 Mar 2011 at 09:45

I took the easy option and purchased another copy of the OS with its own Key.

NylonThighs · 11 Mar 2011 at 10:33

I have moved my OEM copy of windows 7 from 3 different pc's to the one I am on now, so 4 moves in total plus re-register because of new hardware installations without any problem, had to phone Microsoft after one instal, but explained I had to change motherboard an that was fine they gave me a code to type in. Didn't realise the OEM version was any different from retail until reading this just now. Btw was the same with vista it has been on about a dozen different pc's with no issues. Only one pc at a time though.

mothermachine · 11 Mar 2011 at 11:35

NylonThighs said:
I have moved my OEM copy of windows 7 from 3 different pc's to the one I am on now, so 4 moves in total plus re-register because of new hardware installations without any problem, had to phone Microsoft after one instal, but explained I had to change motherboard an that was fine they gave me a code to type in. Didn't realise the OEM version was any different from retail until reading this just now. Btw was the same with vista it has been on about a dozen different pc's with no issues. Only one pc at a time though.

hmm. you had no idea the licensing rules were different for OEM yet you lied to MS about having to change the mobo when you were just moving them to a brand new machine? :rolleyes:

either way it's against MS's licensing policy and that would have been obvious if you'd tried to activate online.

Chiribo · 11 Mar 2011 at 13:34

What you'll actually find is that you can activate a key a certain number of times within a given time period. After this time lock expires you can then proceed to activate another install.

This I've found with OEM and Retail copies.

NylonThighs · 11 Mar 2011 at 15:31

mothermachine said:
hmm. you had no idea the licensing rules were different for OEM yet you lied to MS about having to change the mobo when you were just moving them to a brand new machine? either way it's against MS's licensing policy and that would have been obvious if you'd tried to activate online.

I did not lie to MS I moved from a B2 sanybridge motherboard to a B3 nothing else changed. When I came to activate online I was given a number to phone and a long series of numbers to tap in, at the end I was put through to a human to explain why I was trying to activate again within an 84 day period. They were happy enough to give me the unlock code.

thunderflash · 11 Mar 2011 at 15:35

NylonThighs said:
I did not lie to MS I moved from a B2 sanybridge motherboard to a B3 nothing else changed. When I came to activate online I was given a number to phone and a long series of numbers to tap in, at the end I was put through to a human to explain why I was trying to activate again within an 84 day period. They were happy enough to give me the unlock code.

I had to do the same for a hard drive failure, it only lasted 3 days into my new biuld but again MS understood and gave me a code no problem.

DennisMenace · 14 Mar 2011 at 06:35

SiriusB said:
You really should stop bandying about that this convenient workaround is a way of circumventing licensing terms. It is possible to do, but you are basically pirating.

I hardly consider it piracy to suggest that someone buys a copy of Windows and uses a Microsoft-approved method to install it.

Perhaps I should have added...
To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligible for the upgrade. Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from.
...but I assumed that every Windows user is intimately familiar with Microsoft's EULA/licensing terms (such as the classic "You may not work around any technical limitations in the software"!?).

dovey · 14 Mar 2011 at 07:39

Chiribo said:
What you'll actually find is that you can activate a key a certain number of times within a given time period. After this time lock expires you can then proceed to activate another install.

This I've found with OEM and Retail copies.

I just reformatted and reinstalled windows, used the double install method and was expecting to have to go through the hassle of calling MS and trying to activate it as it had already been used before. To my surprise it activated quite happily, I guess that explains why!

SiriusB · 14 Mar 2011 at 11:58

DennisMenace said:
I hardly consider it piracy to suggest that someone buys a copy of Windows and uses a Microsoft-approved method to install it.

Perhaps I should have added...
To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligible for the upgrade. Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from.
...but I assumed that every Windows user is intimately familiar with Microsoft's EULA/licensing terms (such as the classic "You may not work around any technical limitations in the software"!?).

Yes, you should have. And no, not every user is familiar with Windows licensing, as can be evidenced by the same questions coming up every week.

Reza86 · 14 Mar 2011 at 12:04

Well I bought Windows 7 Pro online and it gave me the key straight away, saved me having to download the image which I didn't need. But I'm a student so it might be different.