>>>Yes, you're correct! However, the W7 ISO created install media is Generic, and that means that it won't have the required drivers for the specific internal devices in a new or different Motherboard. That means you have to go the support website of your computer maker or your Mobo manufacturer and download all the drivers one at a time from their website. This process can take 1-2 days, along with another 1-2 days to install them in the correct order. Since you're not using OEM media (as explained above) such as Factory Recovery Media, you're going to have to use a different MS Product Key than the one you are using for the Motherboard you have now. Since it's not clear what your hardware environment is {do you have a desktop PC or laptop? OEM PC (Dell, HP, Acer, Toshiba)? or a self-built PC or a custom-built PC?}. So, you're wondering, how do you get another Product key for this new Mobo right? There's a few different ways. The legit methods involve Purchasing boxed Microsoft W7 retail media. These can be had from legit computer chain stores such as Best Buy, or Micro Center, or Staples. Or from legit online retailers such as newegg.com, amazon, or PCMall. W7 Ultimate is the most expensive license next to the Business licenses, and will run you about $80-$300 US.I have an installation of win7 Ultimate x64 that is going wobbly. So I want to run repair on it. But I can't find the original disks.
found the microsoft site where I can download a win7 ISO if I give them the key from that machine.
That's fine. And I'll do it. But just wonder - that will be my validated key they're asking for so does that mean that the ISO I download will be good only for that machine? If I want to cover my other machines I need a downloaded ISO for each different machine ?
Or the one ISO will serve as repair disk, recover, reinstall, whatever, for any matching (7 Ult, x64) install?
Oh, yes, I've got another one, too: what about if the machine dies before I can rescue it?
>>>Hi, as neemo indicates, the answer here is YES. If it's a crashed hard drive for instance, you can replace the hard drive, reinstall your W7 from the above ISO generated disc, and simply re-enter the Microsoft product key on the COA label from that computer. This can also be avoided by purchasing legit media from the OEM manufacturer (Dell, HP, Acer, Toshiba, etc.). In many cases, the reinstall OS media for your exact computer (desktop PC or laptop), contains all the drivers for internal devices such as Mobo, RAM, CPU/GPU chip/card, optical disc, display panel, BIOS, etc. as well as the MS product key. No product key is needed on these OS install media; they are typically referred to as FACTORY RECOVERY MEDIA (DVD or USB). They typically cost $29-$99 US and can be had by phoning up your particular computer manufacturer, giving them the serial number of your computer and paying over the phone with a credit card.<<<
<<<BIGBEARJEDI>>>
With a crashed motherboard? How can I do a reinstall on another board - these validations tie the software to the hardware, don't they?
Yes, you're correct! However, the W7 ISO created install media is Generic, and that means that it won't have the required drivers for the specific internal devices in a new or different Motherboard.
This process can take 1-2 days, along with another 1-2 days to install them in the correct order.
So, you're wondering, how do you get another Product key for this new Mobo right?
*IMPORTANT NOTE: If your existing Motherboard (custom or OEM) was built prior to 2009, in other words, a "non-modern" computer according to Microsoft, it means it was built in the XP-era (2001-2006) or Vista-era (2007-2009), and your Motherboard maker doesn't offer W7 drivers on their website, there's no guarantee W7 will work on that Mobo. FYI.
You may disagree with this licensing, thanks to Mr. Gates, but Windows licenses have worked this way since 1985. If it bugs you that much, you could always switch to a Mac or Linux OS.