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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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Freedom Kira:
Wait, wait. Tiffanys is right.

The Windows installation is linked to your motherboard, not your hard drive. If you want to install on a new hard drive, you don't need to deactivate it, unless you are changing your motherboard too. Don't waste your time.

HiddenJumper:
IIRC, Tiffany is half right. OEM versions put a SLIC, or something to that affect, into the motherboard. For example, you buy a HP computer, so when you install the Win7 OEM you got with the computer, if its not being installed on the HP motherboard it won't let you finish the install. I don't believe that full retail copies do this only because they're built for multiple installations on different computers that have different motherboards, just need to deactivate, or somehow, turn off that brodcast signal. Not sure if the brodcast signal is the same coming off the motherboard.

I could easily be wrong as well and would love indepth explanation (or I'll probably just go look it up myself).

Freedom Kira:
They indeed are (built for multiple installations on different computers), but if you are installing back onto the same mobo, there's no need to deactivate.

When you activate Windows, Microsoft stores your mobo's serial number (don't quote me on that, but it's something like that) into their database, linked to the key. That is the gist of it.

Lonewolf5460:
Them tying the key to the motherboard is true but I believe they allow 3 or 5  major hardware changes before you have to activate over the phone. Do not quote me on that but I have been through 3 motherboards and activating online has worked.

NaRu:
there are 2 kinds of windows CDs, upgrade and full install. If you have an upgrade cd then you need your old windows CD to install it on a new HDD. If you have a full install then all you need to do is boot from the CD rom drive and follow the steps.

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