Installing Win 7 on a new comp

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I installed Win 7 on my current comp, but I never use it. I use XP 99.9999% of the time. Plus I don't really need Win 7 on my aging system as its only 2gb of ram and stuff.

New components coming in, and I hope to do some testing. I'm gonna hook it up to a separate HD and everything for some testing BEFORE I throw the CPU, mobo and ram into my current system.

If I install Win 7 on the new comp (I kinda need to because it's got 6gb of ram, so I need some 64-bit OS), how does activation work? Or will it even let me because I already have an existing installation? I'm not like trying to pirate or anything obviously because once I "qualify my new components" I'll be throwing it into my existing rig meaning 1 Win 7 installation in the end.

I guess this is tricky because I don't want to take my current system down right now to swap in components and then do OC testing. I do very thorough OC testing where I isolate the max clocks for each variable and then increase BCLK slowly to find the absolute max speed (take some benchies, screenshots to show off, etc), and then tune it down slightly for 24/7 use. I estimate this might take a couple days if not a week to figure out. I can't exactly take my current system down.

So basically what will happen? Do I even get 30 days to use the OS without activation (am I thinking Vista) or should I just install a copy of Vista without a key just for temporary testing. Meh.

 

[Matan Eldan]

You get 30 days of "trial" in Windows 7.
It should be enough for your tests, no?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

You get 30 days of "trial" in Windows 7.
It should be enough for your tests, no?

Oh, is it 30 days? Oh right. I thought it changed from Vista or something... maybe that change was the thing where Vista allowed you to enter no key whereas 7 requires a key now... Memory loss + barely any use of my copy of Vista + 7 + being a hardcore XP-only user = I am clueless at times

 

[Matan Eldan]

You remind me the days of XP.
Even now that I already got used to 7 (from all aspects), I still miss XP

 

[RebateMonger]

Actually, you get 30 days, plus 30 days, plus 30 days, maybe plus 30 more (I can't remember). Vista, Win7, and the Server 2008/2008R2 products have an option to "Rearm" the licensing timer two or three times.

 

[JackMDS]

When the 30 days expire (or a day before), in an admin Command prompt you type.

slmgr /rearm

It will display after 10-15 sec, a verification and you have to Reboot.

After the reboot it might ask for Activation click on Later and skip the Activation.

It would give you 30 days more, and it can be done three times.

 

[DOOA]

I would go with Windows 7 Pro 64 or better.
Be sure to get your homework done on networking Windows 7 before you install. Win7 networking with XP has pushed quite a few back to XP.