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Windows 7 Questions.

E

EagerLearner

n00b
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
12
Hello everyone,

I have a laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium on it, but the sticker on the back adds 'OA' to the end of it. After some research, it seems like 'OA' is equal to 'OEM' and the OS is tied to the motherboard of the laptop.

I'd like to switch my desktop and laptop OSs (Windows 7 from laptop to desktop and Windows XP from desktop to laptop). As long as I somehow prove Windows 7 isn't on the laptop anymore, I don't see why Microsoft would care if I install it on my desktop computer.

Can this be done? If not, here is another scenario:

My relative has a broken laptop with Windows 7 on it. The OS is 'OA' too.

Since the laptop is broken and cannot be used, could I salvage Windows 7 for my desktop computer?

Thanks for the replies!
 
My relative has a broken laptop with Windows 7 on it. The OS is 'OA' too.

Since the laptop is broken and cannot be used, could I salvage Windows 7 for my desktop computer?

Y E S you can or use Linux , free and NO keys to type in
 
If the key is tied to a manufacturer specific hardware configuration you can not use that key on another system it just won't work. You'll type in the key and it will look for the manufacturers ID number on the hardware and if it does not find it you'll get the non-valid key notification. The reason for this is that Microsoft sells the keys a lot cheaper to OEM's than to the public and they do not want that key used on other hardware.
Interestingly you will probably find that your OS is not using the key printed on the sticker as that key is only used for a reinstall. They use a generic key on the factory install.
 
MrGreg62 said:
If the key is tied to a manufacturer specific hardware configuration you can not use that key on another system it just won't work. You'll type in the key and it will look for the manufacturers ID number on the hardware and if it does not find it you'll get the non-valid key notification. The reason for this is that Microsoft sells the keys a lot cheaper to OEM's than to the public and they do not want that key used on other hardware.
Click to expand...

I see. Well I just called Microsoft and described the broken laptop situation. The person told me to contact the laptop's manufacturer (Acer) to get a specialized recovery disk for my computer.

If I install that recovery disk on another machine (even if it isn't Acer branded) and use the product key from the laptop, it will work (according to the person on the phone). They did add however that if I got a packaged retail version or purchased Windows 7 directly from Microsoft and tried to use the product key from the laptop, it wouldn't work.

I guess the next step is to call Acer when they are open again.

MrGreg62 said:
Interestingly you will probably find that your OS is not using the key printed on the sticker as that key is only used for a reinstall. They use a generic key on the factory install.
Click to expand...

Really? That's interesting. Well if that is true and what the person on the phone told me is true, then I don't see why installing Windows 7 onto my desktop wouldn't work.
 
Usually it works at least for 1 computer - but that's bending the EULA.

I know even small computer stores that sell 'discount windows' using product keys ripped from old desktops that came for recycling.
 
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