o boogie
Premium
join:2004-12-15
Central TX
3 edits |  Severed XPPro Activation?: Windows 7 Upgrade + new hardware
Hello Everyone -
So I pre-ordered Win 7 and it arrived. My XP Pro (fully Kosher to BigBrother) DTop will not handle the Aero feature nor virtualization.
I've got a new Mobo/new CPU on its' way. I have the capacity to clone, and/or image any my disks.
And I really do not intend to usurp MS(BigBrother).
Having read alot on the upgrade process, I think I'm there on the procedure.
But when the smoke clears, is it possible to be left with my old rig, that is, old Mobo/CPU, with my original (activated) XP Pro system, and the new rig with Windows 7?
I'll get back with possible scenarios & procedures, as they seem too detailed as a side issue for starting out on this post.
Suffice it to say, I mulled over re-activation, this weekend, with a total focus on the XP partition.
But as I write, I'm leaning toward a scenario where, maybe, I only have to re-activate Windows 7... there is a few googled searches on this, but nothing definitive; only that in years past, MS was (fairly) forgiving, IF you reactivated within an initial time window (I think 120 days, or something).
thoughts/answers?
[edit] Perhaps the issue is a "permanent" non-activated XP, which is what I'd like to avoid... THX |
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a4nic8er
Tempus Fugit, Carpe Cerevisi
join:2001-03-09
New Zealand
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| Over the years, I have had to reactivate XP Pro a few times due to hardware changes and have had no problem doing so. Upon restarting the machine with the new hardware I was prompted to reactivate and usually this was completed immediately. On two occasions I needed to phone MS (on a local number provided) and was supplied with a key to enter and instructions on how to enter it, with the representative waiting on the phone while I did so.
Some may consider that an inconvenience, but I appreciate that they are protecting their Intellectual Property rights and make the process of doing so as painless and easy as possible for me.
I would expect the reactivation of Win7 to be as smooth as XP and, in your situation (dual-booting XP & Win7?), I would go through the reactivation process of both operating systems.
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o boogie
Premium
join:2004-12-15
Central TX
4 edits | I understand you proint, and I'm not too concerned about reactivation, per se.
What is unknown revolves around a new OS, and the upgrade path required (as I understand it). So, under this scerario, will it still work?
So, right now, this is my plan:
(using my original Mobo w/ XP)
1. clone my XP system disk... my data resides on its' own volume.
2. go ahead and proceed w/ Win 7 Upgrade. Pave over the XP system partition.
3. Install the new Mobo&CPU, with the new Win 7 installation, from #2.
3a. Re-activate Windows 7.
4. Take the cloned XP disk, put it back with the original Mobo in its own cabinet.
5. Run the transfer Wizard from Windows 7 and get my pertinent data from the network connected XP rig.
I think that'll do it (?) but nervous about this.
Please chime in, will this work, in principle? |
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o boogie
Premium
join:2004-12-15
Central TX
| reply to a4nic8er
"there is a few googled searches on this, but nothing definitive; only that in years past, MS was (fairly) forgiving, IF you reactivated within an initial time window (I think 120 days, or something)."
I see I've misspoke... I meant to say "IF you made HW changes within an initial time window". |
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Cajun Man
Let's Do the Zydeco
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Cajun Bayou
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| reply to o boogie
Why not leave the XP on the disk and keep it with the original Mobo and then install the new Mobo and cpu and then install Win 7 on the hard drive you are going to use on the new mobo?
Then use the transfer wizard.
That way you won't be installing Win 7 on two different hardware and won't have to deal with re-activation?
Unless I'm not fully understanding what you are trying to do.
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o boogie
Premium
join:2004-12-15
Central TX
| ------------------------------------------
Why not leave the XP on the disk and keep it with the original Mobo and then install the new Mobo and cpu and then install Win 7 on the hard drive you are going to use on the new mobo?
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I'll soon have the new Mobo ready, with 2 identical XP Pro disks (I cloned the original- so, 2 Mobos, 2 disks).
As I understand the Upgrade possible paths from XP, XP has to reside on disk to begin.
* BTW, this is a Retail v. of XP Pro, not OEM.... many articles directly talk of >1 Upgrade options,procedures&tricks but they (mostly) address upgrades from OEM versions. Whats more, I haven't messed with upgrades, at all... skipped Vista, skipped the Win 7 RC from this summer, never read, in detail, EULAs.
I predict either: A. one or the other OS will require re-activation, but I really, really don't know. B. Total mess  ! |
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Cajun Man
Let's Do the Zydeco
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Cajun Bayou
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| I see. I forgot about the XP needing to be on there for the upgrade to install. Wish they had kept the old routine of inserting a CD of one of the previous Windows version to check for a valid Windows.
On my desktop that had the 32 bit Vista Pro on it, I booted the 64 bit Win 7 Pro upgrade disk, and when it got to the hard drive selection, I clicked on the HD partition that had Vista and selected Format. Then it installed the Win 7 Pro, so I don't have a .old directory on the hd.
Had no problem activating it either. Big test for me is if I have to re-install it, if I pick the partition with Win 7 Pro and pick format and then install if I'll have any problems activating it.
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o boogie
Premium
join:2004-12-15
Central TX
1 edit | reply to o boogie
This statement goes to my issue:
"the upgrade extends the original license to the current version of the software, so you can still only have ONE instance of Windows installed on hardware."
OTOH - by doing a "custom" install (every blog/post says this is required when coming from XP) will I end up with a retained, valid license XP Pro (running on it's original box) and a licensed Win 7 on newly installed Hardware? |
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amungus
Premium
join:2004-11-26
America
clubs:
1 edit | Sounds too complicated.
(edit: I misread OP's 1st post - does NOT wish to break licensing...)
First read this:
»www.pcworld.com/article/174710/m···gal.html
From the article linked above:
""They often forgot to mention a very basic, yet very important piece of information," said Ligman about Thurrott's blog post and the resulting reports by others. "'Technically possible' does not always mean legal," Ligman said." So, in a nutshell, it's possible to simply install fresh via an upgrade disc, but if you leave XP active, whether or not it's on the same system, is technically against the EULA.
If you clone the XP drive, first of all, it won't boot on a new system. You'd have to do more than re-activate in order for it to even boot up, you'd probably have to do a repair install. It would definitely want to be activated after that, and your old system would probably be flagged as being non-genuine.
The simplest thing to do would probably be to use the upgrade disc for a clean install, transfer your files, and forget about the old rig. |
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o boogie
Premium
join:2004-12-15
Central TX
1 edit | OK, I see your rationale...
-returning after more surfing...
yes, "technically possible", Eula compliant...Ehhh.
I did not know that U.grading basically 'consumes' your (source) license -in this case, my Retail Ver. of XP Pro... my bad.
now, I'm thinking that if I continue on (some version) of this plan, then, later on, I'll be disallowed form future hotfixes/updates for the XP rig. |
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