Best way to test different MB's with only one copy of Windows 7

[zippin44]

I have 3 different X58 motherboards I want to try out. I'm simply going to swap the MB's out of my existing case/hard drive/dvd drive. Do I have to reformat the hd and reload Win7 each time, or can I simply swap the boards and assume Win7 will find most of the drivers? I forsee problems if I have to reload win7 each time because it's going to ask for the product key each time and I'm guessing Microsoft is going to tell me the prod key was already used on a different system

Thanks guys/gals

 

[vailr]

Windows 7 (also Vista) can be installed without using any product key. Can be used that way for up to 30 days, and can be reset twice, for a total of 90 days without a product key.

 

[zippin44]

Thanks! That was easy.

One other question. I installed Win 7 on my old mobo/HD about two weeks ago. When I go to install it on my new mobo/HD, I'm assuming I'll have to call Microsoft? Or, is there some kind of transfer process/way to "close out" the installation on the previous system before I disassemble the whole thing and build the new system?

 

[Jd007]

Call the automated number, go through the process, it will fail since your key is already activated, so the machine will transfer you to a human representative. Tell him that you want to activate it on your new computer and he will deactivate your old machine so you can activate it again. I've done this with my recent upgrade, took about 15 minutes.

And just FYI, the re-arm trial period thing for Windows 7 actually can be used 3 times for a total of 120 days of free usage.

 

[zippin44]

Thanks again. Def helps a lot!