Purchasing a new hard drive

I have Windows 7 upgrade currently installed on my hard drive. The drive is old and I am replacing it. Will the same copy work on the new hard drive or will I need to purchase a new copy/license?

Thanks.

You'll need to transfer the current installation to the new hard drive. You will not be able to install a fresh copy on your new hard drive.

That's pretty bogus. I was hoping for a fresh install. So that's meaning you get one "clean install" per copy of Windows 7? What happens when you try to install a clean copy on a new hard drive?

Why do you need a fresh install?
You could transfer your existing system, and then do a fresh install.

The same copy you have now will work fine. Obviously you'll just need to perform a new install on the new HD. The Upgrade license can be installed an unlimited number of times, as long as it's only ever installed on one PC at a time.

Maybe I'm not understanding. Here is what I want to do.

I am purchasing a new hard drive to replace my old one (which already has windows 7 on it from an upgrade). When I had XP, I would re-format once a year to clean up my system. Basically I want to install WIndows 7 on my new hard drive. From what I got from your first reply is that it isn't possible.

I don't understand what you meant by "You'll need to transfer the current installation to the new hard drive"

Oh ok, that makes more sense to me. This is sort of how XP worked then.

Since inquiring minds want to know, what happens if you have Windows 7 on 2 pc's? Do they not work? I was also thinking I might keep the old hd and build a 2nd system for backed up files and such.

I thought the upgrade license could be only installed over an existing installation. This is not true?

1) Jon: Nothing happens, but it's illegal unless you have two Windows 7 licenses, and two valid licenses of a prior version of Windows you can upgrade from.

2) George: The Windows 7 upgrade license stipulates that you own a prior non-OEM copy of Windows. This copy cannot be installed on another PC once Windows 7 has been installed, and the installer does not necessarily require that the OS be installed already.

Oh!. I don't want to do that then. Thanks for the heads up.