[chickenhound]

I woke my computer up from sleep yesterday to find it frozen. Forced a restart and got the "insert boot media" error. Switched cables and ports around, tried the SSD in another computer, and no luck, so I'm pretty sure, after a year, it's dead. I've already started an RMA with Corsair (it's a 120GB Force GT) but since it's my boot drive, I'm wondering what I'm going to have to do about my OS. I installed an OEM version for Windows 7 64-bit and I'm not sure what I'm going to have to do when I get the new SSD, since technically my product key will have already been used. There are also the system reserved drives that were created when I initially built the computer and installed the OS that can still be recognized, so I'm not sure what to do about those either, since I assume I'll have to repeat the process when installing the new SSD.

I'm just not sure how to basically pick up where I left off, especially since this build was my first time using an SSD as a boot drive. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[ChrisTahoe]

I BELIEVE that the key is tied to the motherboard, not the HDD. In that case, you should be fine to install the OS on a different hard drive.

Regardless, if you try to re-use the key, and it has been used before, you'll likely get prompted to call in to "activate" or something along those lines. Generally, if you explain what happened, the people on the phone will be willing to issue a new key if necessary.

 

[cam51037]

I had a W7 OEM license from Dell on an old PC, and was able to install it 3 times over on the same system until it asked for a new code, so you should be good.

 

[chickenhound]

Okay, I figured that something like that would be needed. I just didn't know if Microsoft would be able to do that. I suppose if the original OS is completely unusable, then it wouldn't be a problem. Thanks for the info!

Any thoughts on the system reserved drives/etc that were created from paritioning the original SSD? Would those be safe to delete if possible? I know I would have to repeat the same process with the new SSD, and I don't know if there would be some danger in them duping or overwriting or battles for territory and dominance.