9 replies to this topic

[marcopoloo]

Does anyone know for how long product key is valid for? I generated 2 keys (a year ago on DreamSpark site) for Windows 7 Pro 32bit and 64bit, but only used 32bit, now I want to install 64bit version, but I'm not sure if key is still valid...

[Denis W]

So long as your DreamSpark Premium account is still active, the key shouldn't expire.

Not sure what will happen if you have graduated or somehow lost access to the account.

[marcopoloo]

Well, that's what happened I graduated 3 months ago, and my College after a month decided to deactivate my school acc (which I used to log on DreamSpark)...

[Kalint]

Well, that's what happened I graduated 3 months ago, and my College after a month decided to deactivate my school acc (which I used to log on DreamSpark)...

The keys deactivate?!?! Ohhhh **** soon!

[marcopoloo]

Hm, my Windows7 Pro 32bit still works, so I guess key is OK. I'm worried about 64bit key, I don't want to install 64bit version and find out that key doesn't work... Google says this:

Is the software like a trial that will expire when I graduate?
No! The software from DreamSpark is the full version, and according to Microsoft, “You may continue to use the Software you obtained prior to termination of your student status subject to the terms of this license.”
This is taken from the license agreement that you accept before you download the software, so you can be sure that any software that you download via DreamSpark will be free for personal and non-commercial use forever.
When you graduate, however, your DreamSpark membership will terminate so you won’t have access to new software release but the software that you may have already downloaded will continue to work.

[Denis W]

It isn't clear if after graduation, you cannot reactivate a clean install of Windows with the key. That explanation above only clarifies the status of your Windows activation on an existing activated machine.

My understanding is the keys should continue to work regardless of the status of your DSP account. Technically due to the programs I've been in university, I've had three MSDNAA/DSP accounts... I guess one way to test this theory is to see if the Vista keys I generated from years past continue to work.

[Gotenks98]

Hm, my Windows7 Pro 32bit still works, so I guess key is OK. I'm worried about 64bit key, I don't want to install 64bit version and find out that key doesn't work... Google says this:

The 32-bit and 64-bit keys are interchangeable.

[marcopoloo]

It isn't clear if after graduation, you cannot reactivate a clean install of Windows with the key. That explanation above only clarifies the status of your Windows activation on an existing activated machine.

My understanding is the keys should continue to work regardless of the status of your DSP account. Technically due to the programs I've been in university, I've had three MSDNAA/DSP accounts... I guess one way to test this theory is to see if the Vista keys I generated from years past continue to work.

Yea, I'll try to find full licence agreement and see does it say more about keys...

The 32-bit and 64-bit keys are interchangeable.

Ok! That means that I have 1 used and 1 unused key, but again I don't know if I can re install my Windows (and this time install 64bit) on the same PC and use my old key again, or use the one that I generated a year ago and have never activated it.

[Shane Nokes]

Hm, my Windows7 Pro 32bit still works, so I guess key is OK. I'm worried about 64bit key, I don't want to install 64bit version and find out that key doesn't work... Google says this:

There are not 32-bit and 64-bit keys. The keys will activate either version.

Edit - Doh someone beat me to it.


My suggestion is setup a virtual machine and try out the other key...see if it works.

[Denis W]

So I just tried an install of Vista Business using a key that was generated back in 2007 or 2008. I believe I did not touch the key at all over these years. The key was generated when I was not in computer science, so the MSDNAA account which generated the key is long gone.

That said, it activated just fine.