How to reuse Windows 7 on a new HDD

Bottle · 25 Apr 2011 at 12:44

I've ordered an SSD for my laptop and will want to reinstall Windows 7 onto it. My concern is that if I just swap in the SSD, Microsoft won't let me reinstall Windows 7 on ot because it will think it is already installed on the old HDD.

How can 'unregister' Windows 7 to allow it to be installed on another? Or does M$ only allow install on one piece of hardware.

If it's of any relevance, its Windows 7 Home 64-bit update.

Thanks in advance.

Destination · 25 Apr 2011 at 12:45

When you install it, you will have to activate it, this might involve an automated phoneline where you type in a bunch of numbers.

PhillyDee · 25 Apr 2011 at 12:52

You will have the disk and the code. You type these in when prompted during installation. Once it is all done, it will 'activate ' it over the internet. If it fails, you would need to ring up the freephone number supplied, read them a bunch of numbers out, confirm its only on the 1 pc, and then they will activate it for you. Either way, you will be fine.

It will pass automatic activation just fine.

Meatball · 25 Apr 2011 at 12:58

You'll be fine, id be surprised if it didn't activate 1st time online. Btw, you never need to deactivate

cokecan · 25 Apr 2011 at 13:19

If your copy of W7 is a retail version then there won't be any issue installing and activating on your SSD. If it's OEM then it might go through ok as the only thing you're changing is the HDD but there is a chance it will fail and ask you to phone MS product activation to do it over the phone.