Pardon me.
This has been hasted around over and over again.
But I forget things, Especially things that are not well-defined.
My old Dell bite the dust. That was some months ago. It had a OEM Windows 7 pro 64 bit. I still have the DVD and product key.
I got another Dell computer and it runs Windows 10 32 bit. I also put Windows XP on it. Also I put Ubuntu on it. MBR.
I forgot about the Windows 7 DVD that goes with the old failed Dell.
Now I just got another computer a week ago, a Gateway, with Windows 10. I thought it would be nice to have Windows 7 again, so after a lot of work I made it dual boot Windows 7 and Windows 10. GPT.
No I am not tying to cheat anybody. My old OEM machine is stone dead. I should know better, but I forgot. It is asking me to activate Windows 7. So I put in my old product key and it says that it is not right.
A search on the Internet gives conflicting answers. One claims to be from Microsoft and it says that I can transfer the OEM license to a replacement motherboard. But apparently that is not true or else there is some odd way of doing it.
This is not a critical issue. I don't need Windows 7. Actually, I do have another legal copy I might try, but it would be a hassle to do the install all over again. It would be a lot easier, I think, if there was some way I can legalize the install I just made. I am sure I can not use the other product key, they are different versions of Windows 7.
Can I call Microsoft support and beg them for an exception?
Here is what I have legally.
Two DVDs with Windows 7 and respective product keys.
Two computers, each has legal Windows 10.
I would like to have at least one PC boot Windows 7 whenever I like.
No way am I trying to sell either of these computers.
Any thoughts?