Windows 7 fresh install - old activation key?

Arge · 25 Jul 2014 at 15:05

Hi guys,

Will try and keep this short..

Basically I have a desktop pc and a laptop, both have windows 7. Desktop is a retail copy, laptop had 7 on it when I bought it (2nd hand) so I guess oem.

I have a new ssd arriving for the laptop tonight and want to do a fresh install of 7.

My question is this..

Am I ok to use my retail copy dvd to install windows but then activate it with the oem activation key on the bottom of the laptop?

So I guess, is the activation key tied to the dvd and will only work with that dvd?

I feel this is probably a stupid question that I should know the answer too.. Lol

Thanks

vanandjuanunited · 25 Jul 2014 at 15:06

Should work so long as they are the correct version ie Win 7 Home failing that d/l an image from MS

Arge · 25 Jul 2014 at 15:09

My retail copy is home premium not sure about the laptop will look when I get home!

Andy_82 · 25 Jul 2014 at 17:00

Arge said:
My retail copy is home premium not sure about the laptop will look when I get home!

It doesn't matter if your dvd copy is different, just create an image of the disk and then edit the iso and delete the file \sources\ei.cfg. You will thenl get a choice which version of windows 7 to install.

Arge · 25 Jul 2014 at 19:59

Ok just looked and they are both the exact same version. win 7 6.1 sp1

great thanks guys will go ahead and install the ssd

going from two hdds in raid 0 to a single ssd, should still see an improvement right?

this_is_gav · 25 Jul 2014 at 20:57

Arge said:
Ok just looked and they are both the exact same version. win 7 6.1 sp1

great thanks guys will go ahead and install the ssd

going from two hdds in raid 0 to a single ssd, should still see an improvement right?

RAID0 will help transfer rates, SSD will help access speed. Generally going to an SSD will see an very good improvement for an OS drive, less so for non-OS drives.