Use a Win 7 key to install Win 7 after authenticating Win 10?

[Carson Dyle]

I recently updated an old netbook by buying a (used) 128 GB SSD to replace the HDD, and at the same time installed Windows 10 Pro. The system previously had been running XP Home. I used an OEM Windows 7 Pro key that I got for cheap - just installed Windows 10, entered the Windows 7 key, and it activated the OS without a problem.

But performance under Windows 10, even with the SSD upgrade, is pretty awful. Worse than XP running from the original HDD. So, I think I'll try Windows 7 next, and if that isn't any better, go back to XP, but on the SSD.

Question: Will I be able to re-use that OEM Windows 7 Pro key that has already been used to activate Windows 10?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

It is on the same hardware, so yes, you should have no trouble using it. I would, however, skip the activation phase with 7 until you have evaluated its performance on the netbook. No point in activating only to discover XP is going to have to go back on it.

 

[Dahak]

I would just skip entering the key altogether, it should give you 30 days to enter and activate the key.
That way it should allow you to see if 7 is ok or not.