Product Key HELP!

BennettWHU

BennettWHU

BennettWHU

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Joined
17 May 2012
Posts
393
I'm building a new system and I'm slightly angry with how expensive Windows 7 is. I have been looking around the internet and they're all ranging from £115 to £200. People use illegal versions of Windows 7 but I don't want to do this as I want everything on my PC to be legitimate. Anyway, onto my - maybe silly - plan.

I bought a laptop from Dell a while ago. It's an Inspiron N5030 and it came with Windows 7 Home Premium already installed. I know it is possible to format the HDD and completely delete the OS and not just reformat from an image they made in the factory over at Dell. If I can somehow get the product key for this copy of Windows 7 (because I technically own it) on my laptop - can I format my HDD, buy a Windows 7 disc, and install Windows 7 on my new HDD in my new system and use the product key from my laptop on my new system?

I'll later install an OS on my laptop when I've got the money.
 
BennettWHU said:
I'm not going to use OEM software. Why do you think I should leave my laptop alone? I asked if what I was thinking is possible.
Click to expand...

The Laptop Windows is OEM (all laptop pre-installed OS's are) and is only valid on your laptop, you might be able to get it to work on another machine (depends how locked down Dells licence key is), but that would be no different really than using a cracked OS as it wouldn't be valid.
 
Sorry, should have explained why to leave the laptop alone but was thinking the same as pepp
pepp77 said:
The Laptop Windows is OEM (all laptop pre-installed OS's are) and is only valid on your laptop, you might be able to get it to work on another machine (depends how locked down Dells licence key is), but that would be no different really than using a cracked OS as it wouldn't be valid.
Click to expand...
 
You think that £115 is expensive for the key thing that exploits all of your hardware?

Right.
 
Windows software really isnt that expensive, trying to use an OEM disc on a non OEM machine is no more valid than using a cracked version.

If your a student or know any you can get it for free via MSDN or very cheap from software for students.
 
Only difference with OEM and Retail is that OEM will be locked down to the motherboard.
With a 5 min call to Microsoft the OEM copy can pretty much bypass this.
 
Blue160 said:
ALL prebuilt systems use OEM software, not just Dell.
Click to expand...

Indeed, doesn't matter whether it is a laptop, desktop or tablet, any prebuilt system will have OEM windows on it.

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer.
You, as the builder of the new computer are an OEM.

The price difference between the OEM and RETAIL versions are due to the fact that the OEM version is locked down to the first machine it is installed on, whereas the RETAIL version is expected to be moved from one machine to another as you upgrade your hardware.

All versions of windows should only be installed on one machine at a time.
 
I'm not a student. I do know a few though. Dell have lost my custom because of other reasons, not just the OEM software. They charged me £6 for a ten minute phone call which got me no where in the end. I was also told I couldn't have a refund and that my laptop would only be fixed when the HDD broke. This went against their own policy as any hardware fault is an immediate refund according to their policy.

When is Windows 8 due to be released?
 
Your not supposed to but you still can.

I have the product key from my old laptop on my new system i have, windows 7 home premium.
 
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