Will update Win7>Win10 deactivate second Win7 drive in a Dual boot?

Here's the situation. I have a 17" laptop with two Win 7 drives set up with dual boot. One is a 128gb SSD with all my work software. (AutoCad, Rhino, etc) The other is a new 256 SSD with only the Win7 OS installed. Both use the same laptop Product key.

I would like to update the new 256 SSD to Win 10 and over time transition my software to that drive. However, while I'm doing that, I'll need the other Win7 system drive to work with.

My question is, If I update the 256 SSD to Windows 10, doesn't that activation use my current Win 7 key to register? And if so, does the activated Win 10 deactivate or invalidate my Windows 7 OS Key on the other drive?

Nobody seems to want to answer you mate as what you are doing is not legal.

Now then on a practical level I don't think you will have any problems because of the fact that you can reinstall your original OS with your original product key anytime you like, however I have not tested this.

Bazz said:

Nobody seems to want to answer you mate as what you are doing is not legal.

Not necessarily. I have a family 3-pack Windows 7 license which allows me to run Windows 7 on three separate devices with the same Product Key.

CalypsoArt said:

Here's the situation. I have a 17" laptop with two Win 7 drives set up with dual boot. One is a 128gb SSD with all my work software. (AutoCad, Rhino, etc) The other is a new 256 SSD with only the Win7 OS installed. Both use the same laptop Product key.

My question is, If I update the 256 SSD to Windows 10, doesn't that activation use my current Win 7 key to register? And if so, does the activated Win 10 deactivate or invalidate my Windows 7 OS Key on the other drive?

Unless the Product Key is specifically for a volume license, your current arrangement is a violation of the license agreement and illegal.

To answer your question - Windows 10 uses the current Windows 7 license in the upgrade process to generate a valid Installation ID. The Windows 7 product key remains valid - but is illegal to use to run both the Windows 7 and the resulting Windows 10 from upgrading at the same time.

Bazz said:

Nobody seems to want to answer you mate as what you are doing is not legal.

Now then on a practical level I don't think you will have any problems because of the fact that you can reinstall your original OS with your original product key anytime you like, however I have not tested this.

In my experience this will work - after all it is the same machine. Not strictly legal though!

gordoncanada said:

In my experience this will work - after all it is the same machine. Not strictly legal though!

In the EULA:

b. Device. In this agreement, “device” means a hardware system (whether physical or virtual) with an internal storage device capable of running the software. A hardware partition or blade is considered to be a device.

Each partition is considered to be a separate device, even though the separate partitions are in the same computer. Each "device" (which includes partitions) requires it's own separate license to operate Windows from. Also notice that virtual machines are considered separate devices as well.

EULA's are not laws. If a section of an EULA is unreasonable in the eyes of a court, it doesn't stand. Microsoft's interpretation of "device" may not be a reasonable interpretation of "device". Most people would understand a device to be the complete system - I.E. a single desktop computer.

What Microsoft has put forth as their preferred interpretation of device is up for question, I think.

Delicieuxz said:

EULA's are not laws. If a section of an EULA is unreasonable in the eyes of a court, it doesn't stand. Microsoft's interpretation of "device" may not be a reasonable interpretation of "device". Most people would understand a device to be the complete system - I.E. a single desktop computer.

What Microsoft has put forth as their preferred interpretation of device is up for question, I think.

Too bad you have to voluntarily accept the EULA and agree to abide by it's terms when you install windows or log onto a brand new computer for the first time. So---maybe illegal is the wrong word, it is a breach of contract on the user's part because they did not abide by the terms they voluntarily agreed to.

I'm sure it will be OK.

Bazz said:

I'm sure it will be OK.

HAHAHA. ROFL. I saw your previous posts. ;-).

And yes, he will be OK, but it still violates the EULA although I don't imagine the Microsoft SWAT team breaking in his door - cyber or real.