Windows 8 Product Key Question

In December, I purchased Windows 8 pro to put on my laptop, which had previously run Windows 7. I bought the full retail box edition, as far as I can tell, as the box simply says "Windows 8 Pro" on the front, not "upgrade," and it has both a product key plus 32/64-bit DVDs inside.

I decided, however, that I didn't like it on my laptop, and so I used its recovery partition to re-install Windows 7. I'm going to be building a brand new desktop soon to replace my i7-940 setup, so my question is this: can I use the same product key that I got with my Windows 8 pro box, or do I need to buy a new one? I'd hope that since this product key isn't in use, it should be reusable, but I head that Windows 8 changed some things as far as licensing goes.

Hello minedwiz, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Unless it has "System Builder" on the box, then it's most likely an upgrade copy of Windows 8.

Do you have another Windows product key that you are no longer using?

If not, then you will not be able to legally install and activate the upgrade Windows 8 since you are supposed to replace (no longer use) the Windows 7 according to the EULA.