Upgrade to Win10 on new SSD, keep old Win7 on HDD

cx222 · 25 Feb 2019

Hi all,

I am currently running OEM Windows 7 on a HDD, and want to take advantage of the "free" upgrade to Windows 10 (I know it expired in 2016, but I read that you can still do it). Problem is, I have some programs that I still use that I don't have the keys for, so I'd like to keep Win7 just for running those programs. I was planning on getting a new SSD and doing a clean install of Win10 on it on the same computer. If I go ahead and install Win10 on the new SSD, would Win7 still work if I directed the BIOS to boot from the old HDD? I figured since the windows license is tied to the motherboard, either option (booting into Win7 or Win10) would work. Or does Microsoft somehow disable my Win7 once I install Win10?

Thanks

dalchina · 25 Feb 2019

Just considering the programs you mention:

You also have the option of transferring all or specific programs from Win 7 to Win 10 using a 3rd party program by Easeus or Laplink (including using a disk image of the source OS as source for the transfer).

Whilst they say the program license is not transferred in their documentation, in many cases it is in my experience. If the programs you are concerned about still run under Win 10 - and they may not- that is one possibility. If they are not compatible, then that limits your options. I seem to recall they can only do 32 bit to 32 bit and 64 bit to 64 bit transfers- you'd need to check if that's an issue.

There is a one use charge for the license for those programs.

That's an outside possibility if you can't dual boot from license considerations, and choose to clean install rather than clone and upgrade. Either way you're presumably limited to MBR rather than UEFI.

NavyLCDR · 25 Feb 2019

@cx222,

In order to dual boot two installations of Windows on the same computer, you need two distinct and separate licenses for Windows in order to comply with the EULA (End Users License Agreement). You currently, it appears, only have the single license for Windows 7. If you upgrade that Windows 7 to Windows 10, then you need to remove the Windows 7 to comply with the EULA. Nothing, physically, will happen to the license or activation of Windows 7 when you upgrade it to Windows 10, but the EULA only allows for a single instance of Windows to be installed and activated per license.

Bree · 25 Feb 2019

cx222 said:

Problem is, I have some programs that I still use that I don't have the keys for, so I'd like to keep Win7 just for running those programs...

The majority of programs for Win7 will run just as well after upgrading to Win10. In the unlikely event that one of your programs is incompatible with Win10 the upgrade will tell you so and give you the option to cancel the upgrade.

In your position I would first make a system image of the current Win7 with something like Macrium Reflect Free (so you could restore the original system if needed) then try the upgrade.

Gordon558 · 04 Jul 2020

cx222 said:

Hi all,

I am currently running OEM Windows 7 on a HDD, and want to take advantage of the "free" upgrade to Windows 10 (I know it expired in 2016, but I read that you can still do it). Problem is, I have some programs that I still use that I don't have the keys for, so I'd like to keep Win7 just for running those programs. I was planning on getting a new SSD and doing a clean install of Win10 on it on the same computer. If I go ahead and install Win10 on the new SSD, would Win7 still work if I directed the BIOS to boot from the old HDD? I figured since the windows license is tied to the motherboard, either option (booting into Win7 or Win10) would work. Or does Microsoft somehow disable my Win7 once I install Win10?

Thanks

Belarc Advisor, a free program, will analyze your Win 7 system and produce a report that includes the license keys for those programs.

Steve C · 05 Jul 2020

Gordon558 said:

Belarc Advisor, a free program, will analyze your Win 7 system and produce a report that includes the license keys for those programs.

I agree Belarc Advisor is a very useful program and might find your keys. I'm meticulous in recording my keys and keep a copy on Onedrive so they are available anywhere should I need to reinstall.

NavyLCDR · 05 Jul 2020

Why not clone the Windows 7 to the SSD and then upgrade the Windows 7 on the SSD?

Megahertz · 06 Jul 2020

Welcome to the Forum cx222.

Why not clone the Windows 7 to the SSD and then forget Win 10?

ThrashZone · 06 Jul 2020

cx222 said:

Hi all,

I am currently running OEM Windows 7 on a HDD, and want to take advantage of the "free" upgrade to Windows 10 (I know it expired in 2016, but I read that you can still do it). Problem is, I have some programs that I still use that I don't have the keys for, so I'd like to keep Win7 just for running those programs. I was planning on getting a new SSD and doing a clean install of Win10 on it on the same computer. If I go ahead and install Win10 on the new SSD, would Win7 still work if I directed the BIOS to boot from the old HDD? I figured since the windows license is tied to the motherboard, either option (booting into Win7 or Win10) would work. Or does Microsoft somehow disable my Win7 once I install Win10?

Thanks

Hi,
No it's not possible to use both win-7 and 10 on the same machine at the same time so there is no clash.

NavyLCDR · 06 Jul 2020

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
No it's not possible to use both win-7 and 10 on the same machine at the same time so there is no clash.

But it is possible to dual boot Windows 7 and Windows 10.