Windows 7 OEM Question

[misterlarry]

Noob question: Can I purchase and install the following OEM version for my Vista 64 laptop, without purchasing any hardware and without install (license) issues?

Buy MICROSOFT [FQC-00765] Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Edition 64BIT DVD OEM

Thanks in advance everyone.

[MrDiaz]

Of course you can, note that once you install that on your laptop you can't just install it on another computer. It "ties" to the hardware. I've done it before with Vista by talking to Microsoft though, but just making sure you know the differences.

[Fudd Rucker]

Ive noticed a lot recently that the online activation never works and I end up having to do the phone activation. Minor inconviance but a pain in the arse none the less.

[misterlarry]

Well I ordered it yesterday and it should be at home by the time I get there on the weekend. Will install give the option to format my C: drive or do I have to do that prior to trying to install. Also the HD is partitioned. Will I lose the partition and data stored on it. Any info would be helpful. Thanks.

[Eldonko]

You can install on an existing partition and format when you install. If you get stuck just ask :)

[Zero82z]

The OEM install works exactly the same way as a full retail copy would. You can create, delete, and format partitions to your heart's content .

[misterlarry]

Thanks Eldonko. It's been a while since I installed an OS and I don't have time to screw around.

[technix]

If you have other partitions, does it give you the option to NOT format those?

I have read of horror stories where people have installed 7 on multi-boot systems and it formatted their 'non-NTFS' partitions to NTFS much to their chagrin.

I assume that they didn't pay enough attention to the Windows options given to them and 'okay'ed' prompts that they shouldnt have!

There must be prompts that allow a configured or manual install allowing to avoid such procedures, right?

I also wanted to confirm that one can use the Windows 7 install disc to align and format partitions (to NTFS, of course) but not requiring you to install the OS. For e.g., using this process to use the drive as a storage drive.

These might be considered silly (even dumb) questions but I just wanted to confirm for my own peace of mind. I'm considering picking up a copy of Windows 7 HP OEM. I would use it to format a storage drive and install it temporarily on a HDD (later to a SSD).

I also was wondering whether you can install files and programs that were created in XP to a drive that was formated NTFS using Windows 7. Any implications there?

Thanks for any answers.

P.S. I hope OP doesn't mind me hijacking his thread briefly. I thought it was a bit on-topic enough not to warrant another thread but we'll see what people say....

[technix]

BTW, OP, I think you can price match that copy to as low as $140.

[Zero82z]

Originally Posted by technix

If you have other partitions, does it give you the option to NOT format those?

Yes, absolutely. You can perform operations on individual partitions without affecting others.