Just wondering if I am able to use my Windows 7 Home Premium Key more than once (getting a laptop tomorrow) or if I have to buy another key? I've googled this already but I'm not entirely sure about those answers.
Edit: I have the same key on this PC.
I was under the impression you could use a windows activation key as many times as you wanted?
pretty sure windows 7 has a limit to like 3-4 times
Anyone have a definite answer? I need to be sure.
You can't have the same key activated on two machines at the same time.
When you activate, Microsoft ties the key to a specific hardware configuration. When you try to activate the same key on another machine, one of two things will happen:
1) If the original machine was recently activated then Windows on the second machine will throw an error that the product it already in use.
2) If the original machine was activated a long time ago (months or years) then the second machine will activate. BUT when the original machine does E.T. phone home, it will deactivate and start giving you WGA/activation errors that the machine is no longer genuine.
If you're buying a new laptop that has a Windows 8/8.1 license, you can call up Microsoft and request downgrade rights. They'll give you a Windows 7 key equivalent to whatever version of 8/8.1 you have. You'll have to have your own media to use the key they give you, you'll probably want the modified universal media that can install any version of Windows 7.
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