Windows 7 and a) re-formatting b) swapping license on 2 computers

[9394]

Hey guys, I need some help with Windows 7 and multiple computers.

Laptop A - Selling, Upgraded to Windows 7 Pro on my own (valid license)
Laptop B - Keeping, System came with Windows 7 Home

I am selling Laptop A, but I want to keep Windows 7 Pro. Can I format both computers, install Windows 7 Pro on Laptop B using Laptop A's cd-key and do the same (but with Windows 7 Home) on the other laptop?

If I can't do that, can I re-format Laptop A (using Win7Pro) and register it to the person buying the laptop?


Thanks!

[aeolus811tw]

yes you may. I don't see why not.
but the B key if you already registered online, it won't be able to register to the buyer without given a call to Microsoft Support. tho it is likely that they won't allow it (just like steam keys)

[Vacillator]

You should be able to just put the upgrade key into the windows anytime upgrade, assuming that's allowed under the license terms, and you'll probably have to contact Microsoft. Technically, you'd have to roll back Laptop A to whatever OS it came with.

[xalex0]

If the laptop came with the OS then legally you can't. Additionally, it would be hard to physically swap the COAs.

[death_hawk]

There's nothing physically stopping you from doing it, but you're breaking the EULA by doing so.
Swapping the COA wouldn't do squat since the license is technically "tied" to the motherboard. You'd be attaching the "incorrect" COAs to the computers.

You may only be breaking one EULA (Laptop B) since it's OEM.
If your Pro is retail, you can swap it around all you want.

[jrees]

I think you're likely out of luck. The hardware IDs from the laptop you want to sell are likely tied to the license it was installed with. Switching keys from a pre-installed system probably won't get past the validation check (that's the way it worked in the past, I doubt Win7 will be any more forgiving).

You could always try it and see if you feel like doing the work. Your purchased key won't be an issue so long as it wasn't an OEM license.

[Vacillator]

Here's some more information on upgrade paths: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Anytime_Upgrade
http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dd772579.aspx

Is the key you have for Pro an upgrade or full key? Not sure that it actually matters. If you have the Windows Anytime Upgrade wizard installed on your PC, you should be able to just use the key in your laptop B and it will download the necessary upgrade bits for you. I've done this once with my son's netbook to upgrade from Windows 7 Starter (pre-installed OEM) to Home Premium using a retail upgrade (boxed) key; I didn't have to use the upgrade CD at all, just the key and the Anytime Upgrade wizard. The wrinkle here is that you've already used the key, so I'm not sure how MS treats that scenario.
According to this, http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Windows-Anytime-Upgrade-frequently-asked-questions, you should be able to roll back to your original version of Windows by reinstalling and using the key that it came with. Actually, if you have a Dell or HP or other major manufacturer's laptop, you may not even have to activate online as their versions of Windows are tied to the SLP key in the bios.