A bit complicated here but i need some help.

[SavageCupcake]

Hi guys i just got my little brother a z77a gd65 for his pc (upgrading from some acer mobo and an i3 550) and i'm unsure what to do with the windows licences. I wouldn't mind having the z77 board for my 2500k and him have my z68 board to go with the i3 2100. In that case what would i have to do with windows licences? They both have home premium 64 bit except his is from acer so im unsure of how to transfer it.

 

[Cru]

well i don't really understand your problem
how is a windows license related to a motherboard?

 

[SavageCupcake]

They are oem versions so im pretty sure they are tied to the motherboard? Pretty much i'm wanting to put the z77 board in mine and my z68 board in his but keep the versions of windows on the hard drives atm without buying a new license. Though if it can't be done legally i'll just buy a new one.

 

[Cru]

well can't you just try if it works?

 

[SavageCupcake]

Well i'd prefer to know before hand as it's a suprise for his bday and i don't really want to have to order a new key on his bday :/ If it's to complicated to transfer the licenses then i'll just buy a new one.

 

[UkGouki]

it should be simple enough aslong as you have the licence key clean install the os and tell it to register windows when your online.

but for some oem licences you may have to call up microsoft talk to an agent and they will give you a confirmation code.

tell them his motherboard died and acer said it was out of warrenty so you had to replace it yourself there used to hearing things like this and its pretty simple sometimes can do it automated

 

[SavageCupcake]

I did a similar kind of thing the other day when i fixed a laptop with a dead hdd but i wasn't sure if they would get funny about it because of me replacing the motherboard aswell.

 

[alienware]

Windows 7 should be a free OS. What I mean is there is only one set of serials so it should work anywhere.

This was only changed for Windows 7 as Vista and XP had countless versions and different serials.

Just install it and it should dereg the last install and register onto your new PC.

 

[SavageCupcake]

Will i have to re install everything on the hdd or will it just transfer it across? Id prefer not having to get everything back on there but if theres no easy way i will.

 

[UkGouki]

Will i have to re install everything on the hdd or will it just transfer it across? Id prefer not having to get everything back on there but if theres no easy way i will.

it has to be a clean install with a new mobo you can back up his programs before removing the old mobo etc then use the transfer files option once you have clean installed the new os

 

[SavageCupcake]

Fair enough then shouldnt take long to sort everything anyway seeing as he only really plays games on there and his steam games are on an old hdd of mine.

 

[alienware]

Not strictly true !

I've switched motherboards on Win 7 before and it worked fine. Just needed to reboot a few times then install the drivers.

Sometimes however you can't as it will BSOD right at the loading screen and loop.

 

[SavageCupcake]

^^ if i was going from a normal board i would but knowing acer it'll get in a hissy :/

 

[alienware]

Well just try it first.

 

[paulstung]

from my experience a couple of months ago when switching form an Asus Z77 to a MSI Z77 , I had to buy a new oem version . I tried installing a few times and it wouldn't have any of it . I even phoned MS and explained that I had the oem W7 and can I do exactly what you are asking about . The reply I got was " NO " She then explained that they have a new os out and all they could do was give me a discounted rate on an upgrade to W8 .

I do no a few people who have done it . Like already mentioned just give it a go , it might just be one of those things that's hit and miss .

 

[SavageCupcake]

I don't mind buying a new OS as i would have to sometime (using his old parts for a htpc) but moneys incredibly tight at the mo and just getting this mobo took ages :/. I'll give it a go with re activating it if not ill just order a new one :/

 

[SavageCupcake]

Right guys it's his birthday tomorrow and i'll be sorting this tomorrow night. He has a 640gb boot hdd that came with the acer. It's in 2 320gb partitions. He also has a 500gb drive. I'm going to install the new windows copy on the 500gb drive so i don't lose the older install. Can I still use the 640gb with the new copy to run steam games off until I can get another HDD for him? Or will i get issues with the other windows install on there?

 

[SPS]

I wouldn't say it's worth you upgrading your mobo for a SB chip really - not worth the effort IMO.

Secondly, my bro recently switched from an Asus P8P67 to an MSI Z77-GD65 because his first one died. After a clean reinstall using an OEM version of Win 7 it wouldn't activate and asked him to ring up an automated MS system which gave him a code and it worked fine.

Thirdly, anything installed via the old OS will most likely have issues if you try and run it from the other OS install, just because I'm not sure where it will expect to read and write appdata for example. The sure way to do it would be to backup the games via Steam and restore them on the new OS drive.

 

[SavageCupcake]

I've already got the board and he's saving for a 3570k/d14 so the i3 won't be in there long.

I need the existing copy of windows for my HTPC build so I don't really want to delete it incase acer get funny about me re installing it (for whatever reason).

I'm not hoping to run the programs off the old drive, i'll install them all on the 500gb drive. I'm just wondering if I can use one of the partitions for the steam games or will the old windows install stop me from doing it?

 

[UkGouki]

the old install may have files locked down just reinstall steam and pull down all his games etc they should auto backup mine did just a case of having to redownload them all again...