Formatting/Cloning/Ghosting/Reinstalling OS on a Computer that Hosts a Software Key

At times you may need to format, clone, ghost or rinstall OS on a computer or a virtual machine.

If the said machine is hosting a software key, the key must be temporarily removed from the machine beforehand.

The process consists of the following steps:

Moving the software key to a temporary machine.
Formatting/cloning/ghosting/ reinstalling OS on the machine only after the key has been removed.
Establishing the new target formatted/cloned/ghosted/reinstalled OS machine.
Moving the software key to the target machine.

To clone/ghost/format/reinstall OS on a computer or virtual machine with a software key:

First, move the key to a temporary computer. See Moving Software Keys from One Computer to Another for additional information.
After the key has been removed you can proceed with the process on the original machine.
Once the process is completed and the target machine is ready, the key will be moved from the temporary machine to the final formatted/cloned/ghosted computer.
This is done in the same way you moved the key earlier. See Moving Software Keys from One Computer to Another for additional information.
After the key has been moved to the destination computer, it can be used normally. If it's a network key, you should point the clients to the new target machine.

Note:

There is currently no way to remove a software key and then get it back. The only way is to move it to a temporary machine.
Failure to move the key before formatting / cloning / ghosting will render the key unusable.