Failing HD's: How Many Installs w/ W7U?

My understanding is that W7 can be installed on two PC's. I've only installed it on my desktop, but I'm not having much luck with HD's and I have to replace my current HD for the third time with a clean install. Can I do this from the same disc?

I will be getting a laptop soon that I want to install my W7U version on which would normally count as my second installation. Will I be able to do this with three installs on my desktop? How are these installs tracked?

Can you explain abit further about installing Windows on two PC's?

You are only allowed one install per purchase of Windows 7. Windows 7 comes with two disk, one 32-bit and one 64-bit. This allows you to make a decision of which bit version you want installed. However you are only allowed to install one of them at a time.

You shouldn't be having that many issues with your hard drives really. I have NEVER heard of three hard drives going bad in a row.

What exactly is going on with the drives? Have you tested the hard drives?

Cliff is correct about the Windows 7 install process, one key per product install. If you want to install Windows 7 on another computer you'll have to buy another product key.

I had heard this as well when I first bought W7, Clifford. I think what it really is, is that it can be activated two times. And so some people, WRONGLY, assumed that meant they were allowed to install it on two computers.

Yes, supposedly there is a limit to the number of times you can activate your license. I have heard that is 2 times and somewhere else I had heard it's 2 times within a 90 day period.

Here is the deal, if you have a full retail license then you may install it on one machine and if you reach the activation limit you will be required to call Microsoft on the phone to actually activate. Personally, I have no desire to test Microsoft's patience so I installed it on one machine and I activated it when I had to.

If you have an OEM license there may be further restrictions such as, "officially" if you change the motherboard then it is a "new PC" and your license is ended but I know people who have still been able to contact Microsoft and they have authorized it (but don't count on that being the case with everyone you reach at Microsoft because per the agreement, you ended the license when you bought what qualifies as a "new PC").

If Microsoft detects multiple PCs with the same license, sometimes even several months down the line then your OS may start displaying a "This Windows is Not Genuine" message and you don't want that, so keep it on one machine and keep your installs to a minimum and be prepared to phone Microsoft if you can't activate via the internet.

HDs are cheap these days unless you want SSD; so buy yourself a good one and install+activate W7 one more time.

And for what its worth "How are these installs tracked", is not a consideration. The discussion here is the legality of the operation. Microsoft have a computersised, automatic Dbase of Keys. Any request for those already in use can be rejected, although some slip through the cracks.
You can reinstall on the same computer, as many times as you wish. If you have difficulties due to a change of hardware, a tel. call to Microsoft will usually work, although they are now getter harder on the subject.
You can install on another machine (Your Laptop), but you must first uninstall from the first machine.

The full version, this isn't supposed to be true of an OEM copy.

My intention is not to cheat or game the system, I'm just trying to deal with keeping my PC running for my home office business. Maybe I am confused about the "2 PC" situation because I just talked to MS and talked to them about upgrading to Office 2010 and they said it could be installed on 2.

I am also upgrading my PC including a new MOBO. I bought W7U for my PC and upgrading my PC shouldn't affect that in my opinion. Upgrading and replacing PC parts is part of PC life. When W8 comes out next year, I will buy it then.

So do I understand correctly that when I replace my MOBO and HD I shouldn't have a problem installing W7U again?

True if you purchased the Retail version. The OEM version is bound to the hardware it's installed on. Simply remove the Retail version from the old system and install to the new system. The retail version is transferable to a new system thus meaning it is not meant to be left on the old system.

Regarding Office 2010 that is true on the two installs per license, with Windows 7 it's one license key equals one install regardless of whether it's the X86 or X64 versions.

Microsoft is not of the same opinion and you agreed to their interpretation when you activated. If you have the OEM version then new MOBO means new PC and legally your OEM/System Builder license dies with that old MOBO. As Dave said, the retail versions may be transferred as long as it is only kept on 1 machine.