A Windows 10 plan of attack

Here is how I am planning to proceed with the advent of Windows 10. This concept may or may not work for some of you. I am also exposing potential bottlenecks that I may run into. However, to the best of my knowledge I think my plan is thorough. I would like to ask the more experienced forum members to correct any thought processes that I am laying out. Thus a nice game plan might evolve for this particular scenario.

1. I have a desktop tower with 3 - HDD's and 1 - SSD
2. For a few years I have been running Windows 7 Professional on a WD 750GB HDD
3. I just recently purchased a Samsung Pro 256GB SSD
4. On this new SSD I used the same OS install DVD as was used on the 750HDD; Windows 7 Pro is now ALSO on the 256GB SSD; thus the same license is in play and potentially lurking as a speed bump.
5. I will be cloning and imaging everything on the computer in the next week or two; I will be paying special attention to the WD 750 HDD
6. Once all backing up has been completed I plan on doing the free install of Windows 10 onto the WD 750 HDD; It has not yet popped up on my screen as being available
7. My plan is to experiment with the experience of the new Windows 10 OS by installing it on the WD 750HDD
8. My user experience with 10 will determine if I ultimately choose to place the Windows 10 OS onto the new 256GB SSD
9. The final glitch is - will I or will I not have licensing problems come into play with my game plan???? I don't think I will but I might. MS may not allow the Windows 10 OS offer to show up on my current new SSD. etc., etc.
10. Maybe someone on the forum will have more knowledge about the licensing issue than I have.
11. Also - I don't know if the W10OS offer will show up on my screen while using the new SSD since the new SSD has the same license as the original WD 750HDD.
12. Otherwise - I guess I'll just stay with a dual boot desktop tower; hoping to simply keep the WIN7Pro OS on the new SSD and the W10OS on the WD 750HDD.

Maybe this thread will help others that may be thinking/planning in the same direction.

P.S. - I did have the W10OS offer show up on my new Dell Latitude I5 laptop last week but have chosen to hold back and do my experimenting with the desktop tower first.

Dekade

 

You are infringing your Win 7 licence by installing it twice on the same machine, so expect at some point to be told that by MS. I'm not certain what consequence might follow. Also, you will not be able to dual boot Win 7 and Win 10 if you use the free upgrade route. Your Win 7 licence will become invalid after 30 days of running 10.

 

Isn't there some sort of allowance by MS that allows the same license to be used on a laptop and a desktop? That being said - I suppose that does not apply to a machine with two or more hard drives - correct?

Since I am potentially infringing is there anywhere online to purchase another Win 7 Professional license? I would assume I could just plug in that license number in the OS on the SSD.

Would that scenario then allow me to free upgrade to 10 on either drive and then retain dual booting for 7 and 10?

Could I use the license from my new laptop to also function on the desktop SSD?

Just trying to learn all options.

 

You are thinking of Office retail licensing. It is a little more lenient. I will also offer up this tidbit of info: After 30 days of having 10 installed, you lose your ability to use your license with Windows 7.

Also, Windows 10 seems to be more tuned for SSDs.

 

Ebay has dozens of them, and if you really want to dual boot then that is certainly a better way forward. If it were my system I would move 7 onto SSD and upgrade it. Then, if you want dual boot, install a second version of 7 on the SSD and move all data onto the HDDs you have.

 

plodr,

What I initially did (about 3 years ago) was purchase my Win 7 Professional DVD OS's from Discount Mountain Software. The two that were bought were both "Dell" OS DVD's. Buying the "Dell" DVD's saved me a lot of money at that time. One license is on one desktop tower that I built and the second license is on another desktop tower that I built. From what you have said 'above' are you additionally stressing the fact that my "Dell" DVD OS's cannot be placed onto another computer - OR - have I misunderstood you?

 

Interesting.

 

That seems a little bit scary but not enough to scare me off since you, as a honorable member of the forum, has suggested the Ebay method. HOWEVER, is there any way to determine who a good trusted seller would be? I don't particularly want to -nor can afford to- get stung.

That is a great idea. However, I only purchased the Samsung Pro 256GB SSD. Your suggestion would be great if I'd have went on with my temptation to purchase the Samsung Pro 500GB SSD. ($$$ kept me from doing so.) I'm feeling that the two OS's on one 256 GB SSD - PLUS - software will leave me with no room. I have a lot of different software programs that need to be on the SSD.

UNLESS ...

I place 'some' of the software programs onto one of the tower HDD's. But isn't that, in some ways, a little bit risky in itself as far as how the computer sees the software and their location on the computer (versus the normal "C Drive" location)???? OR-do I not know what I'm talking about???

 

Could someone PLEASE help me to understand the right way to proceed on what I want to accomplish with my setup? I sent the below comments to plodr but plodr may have not seen my questions. So, I am just wanting to get clear on the right way to proceed with my plan based on the advice -already received below- via this particular thread.

1. Note: that I purchased 2 "Dell" OEM Win7Pro OS disks a few years back.
2. Note: that one of them was installed on my WD750HDD on my desktop tower that I built from scratch (it is not an OEM computer)
3. The other was installed on another computer that I also built from scratch (it is also not an OEM computer)
4. The "Dell" Win7Pro OS that I have always had installed on my WD750HDD I also proceeded to install onto a new Samsung 256GB SSD a few weeks ago
5. I have nine days left for activation on the SSD install.
6. I have briefly looked on Ebay for a "third" license so that I am legal
7. It doesn't appear as though I can just buy a "key" but I in turn must buy a package with a CD, DVD, etc. and key; please advise if I am wrong in this conclusion
8. After purchasing a third license can I enter the "key only" into the OS "Windows activation area" install on "my choice" of either the 750HDD or the 256GB SSD?
9. Do I have to reinstall the OS where I want the new license to be active or can I just enter the key only?
10. My desire is to not disrupt either the HDD or SDD install (JUST CHANGE THE LICENSE)
11. If the new key is not Dell is there any conflict?; for example: the new key may be for a HP computer OS -BUT- I would be placing it into the activation area of an existing and functioning Dell Win7Pro OS.
12. I again ask for advice on how I can determine if I am buying a legitimate license or package off of Ebay (or if there is other places to buy) - "PLEASE additionally help/advise me" with that particular concern
13. All of the above is being done to prepare me to experiment in a dual boot environment to evaluate my likes or dislikes of Windows 10

Thanks for helping me. I need to get this process right that is why I am asking for your guidance.

Thanks,

Dekade

 

The only scenario for OEM versions that should always work without problems is to clean install. I doubt anyone anywhere will guarantee a non-Dell OEM key will work with a Dell OEM install. Might be wrong, we'll see.

 

This is why I enjoy my MSDN account. I don't have to sweat these licensing complexities

 

The only thing "Dell" about my computers is the OEM OS disks that I purchased from Discount Mountain Software a few years back. The computer is a build that I did.

I am not wanting to install 2 licenses on 3 computers. I'm trying to NOT do that; in an effort to be legal. Again, I have two licenses. One on computer A and another on computer B. The thing I have done is install "License A" onto "Computer A" two times. Once on "Computer A" on a HDD and once on "Computer A" on a SSD. I now know that I supposedly am not be able to do this - via MS licensing - because then it makes one of the installs look false. BUT - WHICH ONE???

I cannot go the expense of a MSDN because I am just a normal homeowner with a few computers.

I did not expect this to get this complicated. I thought WINDOWS 7 Professional as it stands alone is the issue. I had no idea that because the Disks were DELL OEM's that those OS installs simply would not be able to accept a different KEY.

Is there ANYWHERE or ANYONE that any of you can suggest that I can contact to straighten this all into an understandable situation. I hate to call Microsoft because they are so "UN - understandable" (in many different aspects).

 

I can't understand why you are making such a meal of this. Buy an OEM version and do a clean install to wichever disk you prefer. End of. rolleyes

 

I can understand your questioning me. I was trying to avoid the matter of reinstalling tons of software because I have yet to set up a clone or image.

Also, the cheapest that I can find an - in my opinion - honest version of WIN7Pro64bit disk and key is $134.00 at BHPhoto.

A new version of Windows 10 is only $119 (from what I can see). So I am now thinking about just buying the Win10 for the SSD. Then if I like it I use the Win7 OS install on the 750HDD to do a free install.

All in all in answer to your question I am simply beating to death the money aspect as well as the aspect of reinstalling all the software.

HOWEVER, is there any way to clone or image all of the installs of software on a drive and not the Win7OS itself? Then I just have to install a new OS and key and clone or image the programs to the drive with the new OS. IS THAT POSSIBLE?

 

OK, let me suggest an alternative approach that won't cost you a penny. Re-reading this thread I spotted this

Why not allow your laptop to upgrade to 10 and try it for a while? You would still have your Win 7 available on the other machine and you would have 30 days to decide whether to keep 10 or roll back to whatever is on your laptop now, 8.1 I guess. I did this with my 8.1 laptop and after a couple of weeks decided to roll back to 8.1. The roll back went perfectly.

 

Earthling,

I want you to know up front that I appreciate your patience.

Not a bad idea that you have come up with. I am now hashing that over in my mind.

But before you hang up - I still wonder about the following: Is it possible to clone or image software programs only - WITHOUT THE 'OS', registry, boot, etc? I'm thinking it is not possible - BUT - you or the forum may know otherwise.

 

In theory it is possible if you have your Program Files folder on a separate partition. But, there is also the ProgramData folder and many programs install files in the System32 folder.

 

It wouldn't work - installed programs need the information stored in the registry. One or two may work after a fashion but suites such as Office, no chance.

 

Thanks Eldon

Yep. I figured that there were all sorts of things scattered about.

 

Yep. Kinda figured that would be the case