REVscene Automotive Forum - View Single Post - Upgrading all the PCs in the house: OS reinstall Confusion

jcmaz · 04-11-2016, 07:38 PM

I don't think you'll be able to activate another instance of the same Win 7 CD key on your mum's new setup because it's technically in use by the older parts. However, the old parts & Win 7 should still work.

The general rule of thumb is that if you are installing a new motherboard or a new OS hard drive, you should reinstall Windows since (**I read about this a long time ago so may not be correct**) tied to the model of your mobo and/or hard drive.

Upgrading to a faster CPU or RAM shouldn't trigger a Windows reinstall. I remember upgrading from a AM2 Athlon 5200 dual core to AMD Phenom II X3 720BE processor using the same motherboard (ASUS M2A-VM) and I didn't have to reinstall OS. YMMV.

04-11-2016, 07:38 PM	#4
jcmaz I don't get it Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: GVR Posts: 407 Thanked 370 Times in 147 Posts Failed 66 Times in 8 Posts	I don't think you'll be able to activate another instance of the same Win 7 CD key on your mum's new setup because it's technically in use by the older parts. However, the old parts & Win 7 should still work. The general rule of thumb is that if you are installing a new motherboard or a new OS hard drive, you should reinstall Windows since (I read about this a long time ago so may not be correct) tied to the model of your mobo and/or hard drive. Upgrading to a faster CPU or RAM shouldn't trigger a Windows reinstall. I remember upgrading from a AM2 Athlon 5200 dual core to AMD Phenom II X3 720BE processor using the same motherboard (ASUS M2A-VM) and I didn't have to reinstall OS. YMMV.