Transferring old OS to New Build?

JayseFace

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Aug 9, 2013
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I'm building a new pc for my grandparents in order to replace their current computer that is god awfully slow at times. I'm going to re-use their HDD, but I was wondering if this would work? This HDD has Windows 7 loaded on it, so I figured that in order to save them the expense of buying a new hard drive and OS, I would just install the hard drive into the new pc I build them. Will this work or do they need a new copy of Windows 7? Would they also need a new HDD? Their copy of Windows 7 is a System Builder edition.
 
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nope the are not tied to the mobo,

that is a great option and would be what I would do.
considering 32bit would have been limited to 4gb of ram anyway.

Traildriver

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Sep 10, 2010
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The Win 7 license of the original PC is tied to the original motherboard. Not transferrable. Need to get a new license from MS.

As for just taking the HDD from the old PC and placing into the new and powering up is wishful thinking. The existing installation is customized for the original motherboard (drivers, settings, etc). A fresh install is the way to go. Ideally on a new drive without the old drive installed. Then when the new PC is working, power it down, install the old drive as a secondary drive to be able to retrieve data files from it.

As for the OS, locate a set of discks or download a copy from the internet. If you are tempted to then reuse the product # from the old PC a few minutes with MS via phone call will get you going the right way to successfully activating the OS
 

JayseFace

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Hmm.... Since they also have a few external drives, should I just transfer the pictures and documents from the HDD in question to the external ones, then buy them a new 64 bit Windows 7 (They had only 32 bit, smh) and a cheap SSD to load it from? Wouldn't they still have access to all of their pictures and documents that were transferred to the external drives? The external hdds aren't tied down to the motherboard too are they?
 

Traildriver

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Do exactly what you suggested re external drives. Do get the 64 bit version as this future proofs the PC and allows more RAM in the PC. Though for grandparents that would not be an issue. Keep in mind to check if there are 64 bit drivers for any of the peripherals they may own (older printers, scanners, etc fall in this group) as that could be a problem.

As previously stated, the files are their own and not tied to any license. And as long as you grandparents did not enable any encryption thru their old OS on those external drives, they will be accessible with the new OS. Really doubt they did that but double check by plugging the externals into another OC just to ensure the files are still viewable. Before you dismantle the old PC. For more info read this (or something similar) http://www.windows7teacher.com/user-accounts-tutorials/63/how-to-manage-your-file-encryption-certificates-in-windows-7.html