Can I buy a broken laptop with windows 7

Vantis · 30 Oct 2011 at 09:56

And can I somehow use the hdd to give me the operating system on my new build? The laptop is only 20 quid. Cheers

Deleted member 77746 · 30 Oct 2011 at 09:57

Not legally.

Vantis · 30 Oct 2011 at 09:59

I don't really care about legal stuff, just wondered if it can be done, or can I buy an old hdd from a pc that has windows 7 on it and use that?

Deleted member 77746 · 30 Oct 2011 at 10:07

Vantis said:
I don't really care about legal stuff, just wondered if it can be done, or can I buy an old hdd from a pc that has windows 7 on it and use that?

I take it your new to PCs? If you don't care about legal stuff you shoudln't be asking on these forums as it's not allowed.

BigBoy · 30 Oct 2011 at 10:08

This question will not be answered the way you want it to be!

Vantis · 30 Oct 2011 at 10:47

I dont see whats wrong about it, i buy a pc and i can use it but if i buy a pc i cant use the hard drive with everything on?

Deleted member 77746 · 30 Oct 2011 at 10:51

Vantis said:
I dont see whats wrong about it, i buy a pc and i can use it but if i buy a pc i cant use the hard drive with everything on?

There's a licence tied to the PC. Legally you can't just go swapping drives. On another note chances are it won't boot.

marmalade · 30 Oct 2011 at 10:54

buying the puter and using the os may morally be ok however it probably is not legally within the terms of the licence.

Jay794 · 30 Oct 2011 at 10:55

Yes it will work, no it's not legal, simple answer.

Vantis · 30 Oct 2011 at 10:57

Is it because OEM systems are stuck with the mobo they were originally installed on?

Deleted member 77746 · 30 Oct 2011 at 11:11

Vantis said:
Is it because OEM systems are stuck with the mobo they were originally installed on?

Yep, not stuck like glue but legally stuck by terms and agreements.

Vantis · 30 Oct 2011 at 11:13

So its best just to get something like this and leave the busted pc?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SW-000-OP

Deleted member 77746 · 30 Oct 2011 at 11:49

Do you need a hard drive too? If that's the case any hard drive can be used asking as you have a legit OS.

Vantis · 30 Oct 2011 at 11:52

Yes i need the whole pc but im trying to save money and i know a couple of people selling pc bits. At the moment i have

Intel i5 2500
4 gig ram
speakers
keyboard
mouse
24" monitor
optical drive

next month i will need

hdd
windows 7
mobo
gpu
case
psu

Deleted member 77746 · 30 Oct 2011 at 11:55

You can use any desktop hard drive.

Vantis · 30 Oct 2011 at 11:58

yeah but it already has a operating system :/

Deleted member 77746 · 30 Oct 2011 at 12:07

Vantis said:
yeah but it already has a operating system :/

Doesn't matter you will need to format it and use a new operating system.

Bane · 30 Oct 2011 at 12:36

Vantis said:
yeah but it already has a operating system :/

If an existing installation of Windows 7, on an old hard drive, worked when transferred to a completely different PC, I would expect it to prompt for re-activation.

Not sure if W7 re-activations are web based or telephone. And if telephone if it's an automated system or human operator.

AlyCat · 30 Oct 2011 at 14:32

With vista it was a case of ringing up microsoft and talking to an actual person
But as far as i know they wont help you at all if your cpu/mobo is different to when you first installed windows

Sorry i should add this only applies if its an oem copy

red eye · 30 Oct 2011 at 23:40

why not use ubantu? its free and will work