Windows 7 Question.

I'm selling a pc, but don't want to sell win 7, can i ship the pc as is, then install the a copy of win7 on another pc and use the code from the one that i sold and the person i sold it to just put in his code and it'll work fine?

Hope that makes sense, ty in advance!

 

It depends. I'm not a lawyer; this advice is based on tech articles from reputable sources such as ZDNet and Microsoft TechNet I have read over the past year or so.

If you purchased an "OEM" version of Windows (plain envelope, not a DVD-style case), Microsoft says no. An OEM license is cheaper since it is associated with the original motherboard when the license code is entered and activated. I had a situation where the first board died on a custom build after a few weeks and had to take a newer model board as a replacement. I spent twenty minutes on the phone explaining this to a nice lady halfway around the planet before I was finally allowed to reactivate the OEM license.

If you purchased a "Retail" (DVD-type case; higher price) copy, the license allows you to move it to a different PC provided you uninstall it from the original PC first. Again, the automatic activation likely will not work and you'll end up having to call Microsoft for a manual reactivation on the new PC.

If the buyer wants Win 7 up and running at the time they receive the PC, your best time saving move is to negoiate part or all of the cost of a Windows 7 OEM license (about $99 USD for Premium, $149 USD for Pro or $199 USD for Ultimate) into the sale. Leave the existing license on the PC you're selling and install the new copy on your new PC.