I have purchased a new computer that came with Windows 8.1. I upgraded the new computer to Windows 10. My old computer has Windows 7 professional. I understand that if the existing OS is 7 pro that your windows 10 will be upgraded to the professional version of 10.
Given that I won't be using the retired computer much, I want to movethe pro edition to the new computer. I have an installation disc for Windows 7 pro that is labeled
OEM System Builder Pack Intended for System Builders ONLY.
It installed on my retired computer fine - upgraded from Vista.
Should I uninstall Windows 7 pro from the retired computer? Will it revert back to vista? Then can I upgrade Vista to Windows 10? Can I upgrade the retired computer from 7 pro to 10 pro, then try to install 7 pro on the new computer? Would that activity nudge the new computer to 10 pro? Maybe with a warning that 7 pro will be uninstalled from the old computer?
What's the best way to proceed - or should I leave well enough alone and upgrade 7 pro to 10 pro on the retired computer? I'd prefer to have the 10 pro on the new computer, but don't want to get into a situation where either computer is left without an OS!
Thanks for your advice.
What we are going to tell you here is that since the Windows 7 Pro on the retired computer is an OEM license that, according to the license agreement, it cannot be moved off of that computer without violating the license agreement.
I believe that a System Builder license is basically an OEM license for use by small shops that aren't large enough to use the licensing schemes that are common with the major manufacturers (HP, Dell, etc.).
It's not supposed to be transferable to new hardware.
Aside from violating the license agreement, Microsoft's servers may simply refuse to activate it on new hardware.
(However, you may be able to find, online, examples of people who activated OEM licenses by telephone on "repaired" PCs, where the "repairs" was a 100% hardware replacement.)
Your least expensive way of getting a legitimate Win 10 Pro installation on the new machine is the $99US upgrade. It's available from the Microsoft Store, and I think that it's very similar to the old "anytime upgrade".
Before you spend any more time or funds on this, I suggest that you check the differences between the versions:
Compare Windows 10 Editions
(Click on the "Download Table" button.) I don't see a lot of advantages to Pro for home users.
Thanks. Guess I'll just leave well enough alone.
I ordered 7 pro OEM from Amazon after many purchasers claimed that it installed fine on their home machine and that they were not manufacturers/distributors. It has worked fine for me for a couple of years, but maybe I'd better stay away from future use of the disc in case the MSFT police find me and delete it from my machine.
Are you saying the Windows 8.1 version was only the basic edition ???
"Then can I upgrade Vista to Windows 10"
No, there is no upgrade path from Vista, not for free anyway, you`ll have to buy Windows 10 for a Vista pc.
Why not just buy 10 Pro for the new machine if that`s what you want on it or upgrade the home version to pro, if possible I`m sure someone will tell you how.
What is in 10 Pro that you absolutely need ?
Yes, the new machine came with 8.1 basic and I've upgraded to 10 basic.Reason.... It cost $100Why not just buy 10 Pro for the new machine
I agree that the additional functionality of 10 pro isn't worth it for me - unless it's free, of course.
I've decided to keep 7 pro on the old machine.
