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Need Help! I own retail Windows 7, but want to clean install it on a new hd.

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maxxjulie:
How exactly do I do that?  I've spent like 20 minutes searching for this info and can't find an answer.  My understanding is if you buy the retail box of Windows 7, then you can install multiple times as long as it's only on one pc at a time.  I bought a new hard drive for my pc and want to do a clean install, but there is no way to uninstall windows 7.  so what do I do?  

Tiffanys:
Take out your old hard drive.
Put in your new hard drive.
Put in your Windows 7 CD.
Profit?

HiddenJumper:
My understanding of windows is that even if he installs it on the new HDD, he will still need to deactivate it on the old one because of the current activation system in W7. I remember I tried it once and it wouldn't let me activate my copy on the other system because of that fact.

I could be wrong *shrugs*

maxxjulie:
hey you just helped me by using the word deactivate.  i searched using that word and it looks like i'll have to call microsoft to deactivate it on my old hd so i can install it on the new one.  minor pain in the ass, but at least i know a solution now.

Lonewolf5460:
Do you have the cd key? If so download the matching retail iso off of the pirate bay. (if it is home premium download a retail copy of home premium) I do clean reformat on peoples computers all the time and I avoid the recovery discs. I just take my burned retail disc and use their legit key and it is all good and legal. Best bet since you want a clean install.

If it is a laptop and the sticker is worn off I have a piece of software to read the legit key off of the original install, then I reformat and tuck a piece of paper with the key in the hard drive bay. I can email it to you if you need it.

If you want to never have to do a clean install again use a back up software after you get everything the way you like it make a back up, and in 20 minutes you can be back with a clean install with all you programs and settings the way you like it.

This one is completely free and will do the job
http://redobackup.org/


You dont need to deactivate anything the EULA basically states that an install can only be running on one machine as long as there is one machine broadcasting that key your all good,  never had to deactivate a copy in the hundreds of computers I have fixed and some multiple times a year because well they are that stupid.

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