Question about Windows 7

[ohheckyeah]

I have two Windows 7 OS discs. I paid to get one with the computer I'm using and when the hard drive crashed, they used a new disc on the new hard drive. Thus, I have the original disc used on the now defunct hard drive.

Can I use the original disc to upgrade my XP on another computer. I'm guessing no, but thought I would ask.

[steve2470]

1. you can but when you go to authenticate it, you may have a problem

M$ ties your hardware to your OS. When you call them, you have to say only one computer with only one copy of Win7. Otherwise they won't authenticate.

[ohheckyeah]

2. Thanks for the info..

sounds like it could be a pain in the butt.

I'd like to upgrade my system that has XP on it. It's my backup desktop computer.

[jtuck004]

3. If you have two serial numbers, should be able to. There is some

language with the license about hardware, but I bet when you go to authenticate, since that is just done over the Internet, it works fine. I have yet to be unable to do that. You said you had two disks, and assuming one isn't a special OEM version, (which may only have drivers for a particular computer) it should be a complete installer.

If you do wind up having to call, just tell them the computer broke and you had to change out the motherboard or something.

Just a hint - I would back up the data on the XP computer, repartition the hard disk with your Win 7 dvd and install it new. Don't upgrade. Anything that was wrong with XP will probably become wrong with 7, and it may cause other issues.

If it doesn't work, you can always reload XP. Or if you don't have the XP disks download a copy of Linux Mint or Ubuntu and try that on the older computer (you can get your questions answered on the Internet from the other PC if it comes to that.

[ohheckyeah]

4. Thanks for all of that info...

I also have the XP disc. I always pay extra to get the operating system disc. I want them in hand if I need them. Each one has a unique serial number.

[Gore1FL]

5. When you say "each one"

Do you mean both Windows 7 disks, or the XP and the Windows 7 disk. Both 7 disks would need to have different keys for you to use both licenses. You'd have to call and have them rest one of them, explaining you have 2 licenses registered to the same device and that you'd like one reset.

[ohheckyeah]

6. Both Windows 7 disks

have original keys. I'll give them a call BEFORE I load it to make sure they will reset it. Thanks!

[Gore1FL]

7. One other thing to look out for:

if your windows 7 is 64-bit, it may not work with the computer currently running XP.

In Win 7 in you right click Computer and choose properties it tells you your CPU. I don't remember if it does in XP or not. It is probably worth getting that info and Googling to determine if it can support x64.

[ohheckyeah]

8. I think I ran a compatibility check

to see if it could support Windows 7 65 bit and it could, but I'm not positive.

I'll do some research...thanks for pointing it out.

[wandy]

9. Compatibility check / Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Find out if your PC can run Windows 7
Found here......
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/upgrade-advisor

Win 7 64 and 32 bit versions can still be obtained. A starting point......
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=win+7&N=-1&isNodeId=1

As to the disks you have.......
Each disk should have a product key. If those keys are different and the target PC is Win 7 capable, it's worth a try.
Win 7 (OEM) activation keys to the hardware. It may not work.
If activation fails you might get a screen presenting a whole bunch of numbers and a Phone number to call to activate manually.
This also may not work but still worth a try.

Do be sure that you can reinstall XP just in case.
If you have more than one hard drive or if the drive is partationed you may be able to install Win 7 along side of XP.
The install will take care of all the dual boot stuff.

If all else fails.........
Ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop
Quick, easy and a good place to start learning Linux.
And then theirs KNOPPIX
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/knoppix60-en.html
You want the large DVD version in English. Pick around and it will ask you if you want to install it to hard disk.
Pros....
Does almost anything a non power user would ask from windows.
The Knoppix install makes installing XP look difficult. Two questions and Knoppix does the rest.
Cons....
This may only apply to me.
If Linux does something easy it's like magic.
If it doesn't do it easy its like falling off the edge of the world and a great deal of reading and tweaking is required before you get it to do what you wanted.