I bought a laptop long ago, with oem win7 licence. I am planning to use that laptop as linux server, and did not upgrade to win 10 yet anyway. Can I use that licence on another machine, like a new desktop ? I still have the sticker with win7 key on the bottom of the laptop, can I install win 10 on a desktop, with that key, and bind the key to that motherboard ?
If you do use it on another machine, it will probably let you. But the licencing terms say you cannot.
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In another thread someone said they had to call MS and say their MB had to be replaced or something like that.
If it matches the version of windows you can use a windows 7 pro key as many times as you want. M$ would rather you keep throwing money at them for a bullshit OS though.
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If you have the key and an image, you should be good to go. Only exception would be if you're trying to install Windows 7 using a downgrade key (ie. the machine came with Windows 7 installed when it was manufactured with 8/8.1). Typically the sticker is the giveaway that you're using a native Windows 7 image and not a downgraded key.
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But who really cares all that much lol. "Ooh, scandelous!!!~~~!~!!~!~!111!"
/s
If the system is still installed on said drive you can "reset" the OS (I don't remember the procedure but you can find it on Google), connect the drive to the new machine, boot the system and activate the key on the new machine. You're done. Now you can install Windows on said machine and activate it without calling any call center.
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