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Question

Windows 10 on second hard drive

Aug 29, 2015 2:05AM PDT

I have a functioning retail version of Windows 7 on one internal drive and the original corrupted version of W7 on a second drive. I was thinking of doing a clean install of W10 on the second drive from an ISO, after formatting the drive, to enable a check on the compatibility of various programs and hardware. I assume that I wouldn't be able to validate the W10 version on the same machine but I would use this set-up to enable a decision on which OS to go for.
Is this feasible?

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Why is the original version corrupted?
Aug 29, 2015 7:29PM PDT

And is the second retail version from a torrent or did you purchase it ?
Answers become easier if we know the whole story.
Digger

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It doesn't matter in this case because of 2 things.
Aug 29, 2015 7:42PM PDT

First, you can't get the free update unless you're upgrading a valid licensed version of 7 or 8.1 which will be checked against the MS server records. Second, once you update, the old 7 or 8.1 license is invalidated with records kept on the MS server. Any subsequent attempt to install that 7 or 8.1 can not be activated.

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Really ? There was a thread ...
Aug 29, 2015 8:21PM PDT
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Digger query
Aug 30, 2015 12:56AM PDT

I purchased a boxed retail version of W7 direct from MS when it first came out. It was used to replace Vista which came with my Dell Inspiron 531. It eventually became unstable maybe from failed W7 updates or from installed 3rd party programs or perhaps a virus which hasn't been detected by AVG or Malwarebytes.
I had installed a bigger and faster internal hard drive some time back for my data storage. I decided to reinstall W7 on a partition in that drive and that was validated during installation. However I can still access the old corrupt W7 if I choose to when I boot up. I assume that that is still validated hence two installations on separate internal drives.

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Sounds to me the retail win7...
Aug 30, 2015 9:03AM PDT

can be move to any other computer. You might have to talk to MS to explain what happen...but I can't see any reason why you can't, after all, it is a retail version. As for the "corrupt" one, obviously it's no longer corrupt. Good luck.

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No such thing as a free lunch.
Aug 30, 2015 9:15AM PDT

When you get the free upgrade to 10, your old 7 or 8 license is invalidated on the MS server. That's why you can't move it to another computer. You probably could install it on another computer, but you can't activate it. If you want to move it, you have to buy a license. Those are the conditions for the "FREE" upgrade. It doesn't come with no strings.

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Wait a minute,
Aug 30, 2015 9:30AM PDT

OP have two win7 and one is retail. He's not looking for any free lunch...at least not in my view. The only thing that would change my mind would be that the corrupt Hdd. has an OEM copy and it doesn't belong on that computer, but if that was the case, how is it possible for OP to dual boot.

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(NT) If he has two licenses, but he's said he doesn't.
Aug 30, 2015 9:39AM PDT
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Then...I am just confuse.
Aug 30, 2015 10:31AM PDT

Ok then. I have a question. What key goes on the server? Will it also be on the our computer and exactly when will this change takes place?

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There are very long discussions about 10's keys.
Aug 30, 2015 10:37AM PDT

From what I read, it's all the same key but the hardware is identified and a hash is made to uniquely identify the PC.

This has confused many and created a lot of privacy concerns.

It does help in some cases where the HDD dies and you reinstall Windows 10 (after the activation and I'm not going to rewrite all those rules here) then it just works. No key required.

Confused yet?

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Of course I am always confuse but...
Aug 30, 2015 11:50AM PDT

as long as MS is taken care of things on their end. The less I have to know the better. Like I said before, right now all the win10 key are the same on all my upgraded computers.

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Answer
I say nothing venture nothing gain.
Aug 29, 2015 7:34AM PDT

Go for it. If it don't work then it don't work. I tried it and it didn't work for me because you need the key of that corrupted Hdd. Good luck.

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Answer
Possibly
Aug 29, 2015 7:55AM PDT

Just because the windows 7 is corrupted doesn't mean windows 10 will reject it as not qualifying for "upgrade". Are you able to boot safe mode into the corrupted windows 7?

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W7 License
Aug 29, 2015 9:52AM PDT

I reinstalled W7 on a second drive when my original version became slow and unstable. I used the retail product key during the installation. The original program is still workable after a fashion. In effect I have 2 versions of W7 either one accessible during boot. I don't know if MS will detect the the dual installation. Perhaps I could upgrade the corrupt version to W10 and then do a clean install. It hadn't been my intention to cheat and run both systems but to try W10 on a cleaned up drive. My reasoning was to run both systems to check compatibility and then decide which OS I preferred. The old drive is slower than what is now the main drive so a direct performance comparison wont be possible but I should be able to check my old programs and hardware.
I must admit that the newly reinstalled W7 is running so smoothly now that I wont be in a hurry to upgrade until the current problems with W10 are resolved.

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Answer
It's about the Windows 7 license w/free Win 10
Aug 29, 2015 8:14AM PDT

There's no reason why you can't install Windows 10 on that 2nd drive. However if you want the free version, it will invalidate your Windows 7 license. So if you have separate Windows 7 licenses, you could invalidate the one that doesn't work and use the free 10. If both copies of 7 use the same license though, you will need to buy a separate license for either 7 (if you can get one these days) or 10, The 10 licenses are $119 and $199.
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Good luck.

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how does that happen
Aug 29, 2015 8:20AM PDT

since the option to return to windows 7 exists? The product key used then is the same as before.

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According to MS employees, they track licenses on servers.
Aug 29, 2015 10:38AM PDT

According to posts from MS employees in the answers.microsoft.com forums, all licenses are tracked on MS servers. When you upgrade from 7 to 10, they check the 7 license on the server, then invalidate it. If you exercise the option to revert to 7 within 30 days, they reactivate the 7 license.
That's what they say, but I've seen a number of reports from folks who've had problems in this area. As always it's imperative that you back your system up in case Murphy strikes as he often does with new software. Even then you may have to call MS to get the 7 license reinstated if Murphy is especially unkind. Bottom line for me is to take advantage of the fact that you have a full year to make the upgrade. Those of us with experience know all too well how buggy major new releases can be. And I have to add that if the version of Windows you have is working well for you, stay with it - you've got until 2020 before 7 or 8 expire, and by 2020 odds are you'll be running on a new computer with whatever new version you want.

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Answer
two separate win7 keys
Aug 29, 2015 10:04AM PDT

as long as they are two completely different win7 keys you will have no problems upgrading one. You will be starting the install from within the win7 you no longer need so it will not touch your other install.

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Same key
Aug 29, 2015 12:00PM PDT

Both used the same key. I assume that when I put the key in during the second installation this would have automatically triggered the activation.

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Windows 10 doesn't use keys.
Aug 29, 2015 12:13PM PDT

What happens when you install the Windows 10 upgrade is that it looks to see what version you're upgrading, then it checks that system (your installed Windows 7 in this case) on the MS server. If it finds a valid key on the server, it marks it invalid and proceeds with the upgrade. After that your Windows 7 installs are no longer activated. You then have 30 days to go back to Windows 7 if you opt for that. In either case you will have only one valid license, your Windows 7 or 10 but not both. Unless of course you buy an additional license.

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I don't think that's how it works.
Aug 29, 2015 5:31PM PDT

I think ALL win10 upgrade have the SAME key (not 100% sure), but...I do know win10 upgrade on all my computers (4) have the SAME key, yes, same key. At least at this point in time.

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Where are you getting this key from?
Aug 29, 2015 5:59PM PDT

If you type in Winver to see what you have, you certainly don't see a key, and when you upgrade from Windows 7 or 8, you don't put in a key there either, so please explain what key you're talking about because what you say contradicts what MS is saying.

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I real don't know where it come from.
Aug 29, 2015 7:43PM PDT

Here is why I said what I said. After I upgraded all these computer and got curious, so I downloaded "Belarc Advisor" and checked all these computer, and to my surprise, they all have the same win10 key plus the key of the upgraded OS. Take a look at your upgrade.

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If you're seeing that key that ends 3V66T, MS invalidated
Aug 29, 2015 8:08PM PDT

That key that ends in 3V66T is what I'm seeing in Belarc Advisor is the old pre-release key that was used for build 100240. MS has said they invalidated that several days before the 7/29 release. Since the 7/29 release is based on the 100240 build, that appears to be why Belarc is picking it up. However if you try to use it, it will not work.
It's no wonder so many folks have been confused by all this because MS has done an extremely poor job of communicating all this.

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No, 3V66T is not what I have.
Aug 29, 2015 10:22PM PDT

You thought I use the key to upgrade my computers? No I didn't use any win10 key. I am just pointing out that's what MS assigned my computers those key numbers. I suspect I will not be able to use that key to do a clean install (or maybe I should try that, hehe).

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If you do a clean install, you need to skip the key.
Aug 30, 2015 6:39AM PDT

I've been there and done that. If you put in the key you see in Belarc, it'll tell you that's invalid. If you click SKIP, it will go ahead and install, then ask again later. Again you have to tell it LATER. After that it finishes the install, contacts the MS server, and activates your install. But that only works on a system that's been previously activated.
New, different, and extremely poorly documented, but that's the way MS has implemented Windows 10. Each license is tied to a device with the device dependent info stored in a MS server. Exactly how they do that I haven't seen. I guess they get the info from the motherboard somehow. Probably something similar to what they've done with OEM versions in the past.

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remember win10 is an upgrade
Aug 29, 2015 6:45PM PDT

since they both have the same key, both will be non genuine when you install win10. Once you upgrade, you must remove the os that justified the upgrade you are getting free. If you want to continue to boot to win7 and be legit, you must purchase a full retail version.

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I see only one problem.
Aug 29, 2015 5:35PM PDT

If these are OEM, then they are also tie to the hardware as well and in this case, the hardware is the same. So will MS let you move one win7 to other hardware. In my view they should ...but will they?

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(NT) No they won't because both are using the same key.
Aug 29, 2015 6:00PM PDT
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No way,
Aug 29, 2015 7:48PM PDT

if it's the same key...then I said why going through the trouble of using the corrupted harddrive. Then it is my misunderstanding, I thought OP had 2 different key, and I wasn't sure if they were both OEM.