Windows 7 confusion (building new rig)

Hi

I will be building a new PC soon and I intend to use the hard drive from my (dying) advent laptop (which has expired warranty). However, the version of Windows 7 installed on it is an OEM version. Since it is old, the product key found underneath the laptop on the sticker, has worn off. All I have is the product ID key from my system info. I intend to do a full clean install, whilst changing my OS from, 32bit to 64bit.

I was wondering how I go about doing this. From what I've read, the OS is tied to the motherboard. However, I've also read that microsoft make exceptions if your motherboard has died and can no longer get a replacement, in which case, they can give you a new product key (source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111003112635AAR9P1J). However, I don't have my product key, only my product ID key (xxxxx-OEM-xxxxxxx-xxxxx).

So if I boot up my new PC with my old hard drive, then choose the option to speak with a telephone op and then explain to them that my laptop has died and has expired its warranty and I'm using the old hard drive on a different system, explain to them that I have a product ID etc to prove its a legit copy, then they should be able to give me a product key for a clean install of windows 7 right?

I was wondering if doing this method would work?

Boot up your old windows and use a program designed to retrieve keys and retrieve your oginal key. Magical Jelly Bean used to be free and can be used for that. Im sure theres a free utility out there that you can use to extract your key from your windows installation.

You can't simply put your old drive in and it's going to work on the new PC. The drive will need to be wiped and windows reinstalled. They don't tie keys down to anything. As long as you have your key your good, simply enter it in when you reinstall windows.