building new computer--operating system

H

h12345

New Member
I am thinking about building a computer and do not want to buy a new harddrive or a new windows 7 disk, so I am wondering if i can take the harddrive with windows 7 already installed on it from my old computer and use it in the computer I am building as it's operating system.
Help is much appreciated.
 
i dont think it will work, i think you would have to reinstall the os, but you can write the serial number down,put the hard drive in your new build, format it, then reinstall if you have a disk or borrow or download win 7 and use your serial/key you already have
 
No, it will not work as its totally new hardware, most likely either you will boot up to a blue screen or it will boot loop on you because of the hardware difference. You will need to reinstall windows and if your windows 7 installation came from a store bought pc then you won't be able to transfer the license over. If the original install was a full retail license, then you can transfer it over.
 
If the disk is from a computer that you bought as a unit, then you will need a new copy of Windows, if you built it, you will need the product key
 
I would just try it. You may be lucky.

If not, remove a reinstall would be neccessary.

You can use MagicJellyBean to recover your key if you don't have it.

Then download the Legal Windows 7 64 bit ISO if you don't have the disk. Btw, there is no keys here, just the official digital river link to microsoft. Nothing in contradiction to the rules. If you follow MS rules (on the phone) and download it from them, cant see any issue. Im sure a mod will jump in if im wrong ;)

Then resintall.

If it fails activation, ring the freecall anonymous number, answer the questions (press the buttons on the phone) honestly and you will be given a new activation key. Done it at least 50 times.
 
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bigfellla is most correct with this matter.

Microsoft's definition of a operating system prior to win7 was the OS itself, CPU, Hard drive, and Mother board.
If you have a ga 880fxa-ud5 and replace it with a ga 880fxa-ud5 all information saved on hard drive would be accessible. If you replace your mobo with ASUS you would have to reinstall OS. EVEN if you bought the NON OEM version,

Now with Windows 7 when you install your hard drive into a (example) ASUS when it was originally a gigabyte MOBO the system will load as a new install just as it would if it were a Linux OS. You will loose all information saved so back up prior to building new system.

When you buy Windows OS your paying for the KEY not software so anywhere you get a copy of the software your not breaking any laws.
 
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