windows product key

jprother · 2 Jul 2011 at 14:30

Hi

I have a compaq / Hp desktop and I am in the process of upgrading psu / system borard and video card and it has just hit me. Is'nt the product key tied to the bios on these computers will windows de activate if I change the system boad. Anyone have any ideas how to get round it. Could I buy a windows 7 upgrade and install that will that work? I can get that for £66.

Thanks

bulb66 · 2 Jul 2011 at 17:55

Would help to know what OS you currently have and if it's OEM or retail

J

robinbredin · 2 Jul 2011 at 18:14

jprother
windows product key
Hi

I have a compaq / Hp desktop and I am in the process of upgrading psu / system borard and video card and it has just hit me. Is'nt the product key tied to the bios on these computers will windows de activate if I change the system boad. Anyone have any ideas how to get round it. Could I buy a windows 7 upgrade and install that will that work? I can get that for £66.

Thanks

If you change your motherboard to a retail board, then you will lose the right to use your Compaq OEM. You can do a clean install using a upgrade copy,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

jprother · 3 Jul 2011 at 07:52

Thanks for the info, another question i have a copy of windows 7 upgrade 32bit , a student edition downloaded from digital river. will that product key work with a 64 bit version.

EniGmA1981 · 3 Jul 2011 at 08:55

As far as I'm aware it will - I asked a similar question a few months back and the answers came back 'yes' - I never got round to reinstalling it though lol

robinbredin · 3 Jul 2011 at 10:31

jprother
Thanks for the info, another question i have a copy of windows 7 upgrade 32bit , a student edition downloaded from digital river. will that product key work with a 64 bit version.

The 32bit key will work on the 64bit.

lsg1r · 3 Jul 2011 at 14:31

People seem to be forgetting a key part about new motherboards... IF the motherboard is replacing a faulty one (ie the old one died at some point) then you can continue to use the OEM product key etc. You may just need to ring up and answer a few questions though.

marmalade · 3 Jul 2011 at 15:49

What motherboard /model are you going to use?