What happens if you try to install Win 7 upgrade when the key is already activated?

[BD2003]

If I were to uninstall the retail Win 7 upgrade from one of my PCs, and restore back to vista, could I then use that upgrade on another PC? Even if it failed activation, would a simple phone call be able to set things straight?

Basically, I bought a Win7 upgrade for a laptop I'm considering selling. If I could use the Win7 on another PC, I'd prefer to resell that separately, as I'd probably get more for it, or perhaps save it for later.

Anyone know the deal?

 

[sivart]

As long as you can convince the person on the phone at M$ it will probably work. If I remember correctly from XP, the activation info (ID's for your hardware) are kept on their servers for 18 months. Not sure if Vista and 7 are the same or different.

(I.e. after 18 months you can activate online again)

 

[RebateMonger]

If I remember correctly from XP, the activation info (ID's for your hardware) are kept on their servers for 18 months.

Actually, it was 120 days. At least that's what it was when XP was released.

Yes, you can restore Vista to the laptop and use the Win7 Retail Upgrade on a different PC. You are unlikely to have Activation issues, but if you do, a phone call should get it straightened out.

 

[postmortemIA]

i went over this, for vista, it said key is in use. I did call microsoft, automated system asked me "how many PCs are using this key", i said one, and it gave me activation key.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'm worried about doing that for the family pack. Theoretically, it's a pack of three retail licenses that can be moved around freely between machines. But I'm worried that the automated activation line is still programmed to check if you say "one" for the number of machines it's installed on. If I say (truthfully, and legally according to the license) "three", then will it reject me?

I had Win7 installed onto two friend's machines, and my machine, but I took the HD out of my machine and gave the box to someone else. So I'm not using that Win7 license any more. I would like to put it onto another box at some point.

 

[RebateMonger]

Microsoft has had many subscription services where a single Key is used for several installations and installations are limited. When I've run into a problem because the limit was exceeded, I've called Microsoft and they've given a code to allow Activation.

 

[postmortemIA]

Microsoft has had many subscription services where a single Key is used for several installations and installations are limited. When I've run into a problem because the limit was exceeded, I've called Microsoft and they've given a code to allow Activation.

yep, one example I have reconnoitered is Visio from Office 2003. It would say something in sense that I have activates software too many times and that I need new key.

The root problem is that you can't de-activate once activated Windows. They will never implement that because all malware will be doing it and letting their authors get access to valid and useable keys.

 

[sivart]

If you aren't doing anything to break the license agreement, I see no issue with calling them up. Sure you may be directed to a human, but if you aren't breaking the agreement, there should be nothing to worry about.