Resolved Reinstall OS?

A friend had a hard drive failure on a Dell Inspiron 400 Zino about two weeks after the warranty expired. The unit had Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit OS. After paying Dell $70 or $80 to diagnose the problem, Dell sold her a replacement hard drive. She didn't get a Reinstall DVD when she originally bought the computer.

Another friend used his W7 Reinstall Disk on the replacement hard drive. She is now able to use the computer for her few needs - a couple of games, AOL e-mail, and a bit of internet surfing. Fearful of running afoul of MS licensing, I contacted Microsoft and they agreed to send a Reinstallation disk - which I now have.

Need I/Should I format the hard drive that now has the other friend's OS and install a fresh version from the Reinstallation DVD that I just received? I have never installed a fresh version of Windows on a new disk and don't want to add that to my list of accomplishments unless absolutely necessary.

 

I don't think that you need to format/reinstall the OS. MS is not worried about the disk from where you installed OS. Its only worried about one valid key/computer. If you had used the original Win7 key of the broken computer, there is nothing to worry about.

 

Agree with this. If you haven't recieved a notification about it being illegal or didn't pass WGA, you are good to go.

 

Thanks rsinfo and MrBill. I felt that was the case but just wanted to get some confirmation from this board. I will mark this one resolved. Wish all of my problems/questions were resolved within 1/2 hour like this one.

 

Don't we all wish 30 minutes would fix the world???