how to move windows 8 oem from ssd to hdd?

arourix

Honorable
Jan 15, 2014
13
0
10,510
Hi! I'm using an SSD as an OS/boot drive for my current setup, running windows 8 OEM. I am however planning to use the SSD in my new build (with a new windows license). Is it possible to reinstall/move my current windows license tied to my current motherboard to my HDD, to be able to keep using that pc? How do I do that?
 
Solution


How was this 8 OEM obtained? You bought it and installed it?
If so, one of the existing migration tools would probably work. Or simply a fresh install on the HDD (recommended).

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


How was this 8 OEM obtained? You bought it and installed it?
If so, one of the existing migration tools would probably work. Or simply a fresh install on the HDD (recommended).
 
Solution
You have two choices:

1) CLONE, or
2) REINSTALL Windows

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-free-and-reliable-cloning-tools/

*I had the best success with Macrium Reflect Free. It also has a VERIFY option so you know if it cloned successfully. For some reason the first clone had an error but the second try worked.

Do THIS:
1) Install the HDD
2) CLONE the SSD to the HDD
3) Boot into the motherboard BIOS and change the boot order so the HDD is first
4) Boot into Windows on the HDD, then FORMAT the SSD
5) Shut down and remove the SSD.

Other:
a) Partition the HDD if needed into two (Windows on first partition)
b) Make a backup IMAGE (Acronis True Image or similar) of C-Drive to a physically separate drive.
 

arourix

Honorable
Jan 15, 2014
13
0
10,510
yeah bought and clean installed on the ssd. So no need to uninstall it first? Won't I be getting the "license has already been used" error? Or would that be the case if i tried to install it on another pc?
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


It might give that message on a reinstall. But at most you'd have to call the activation robot and activate via phone.
 
Sep 22, 2013
482
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10,810
If you create a boot USB for booting into Parted Magic (free Linux distro) you can simply copy your C:\ partition directly to the HDD.

You'll also want to copy the System Partion into a separate partition on the HDD.

You can use the clone option or do this manually, but the MBR is actually part of the system partition so it should be fine.

Worst case scenario, you need to run a system repair at first boot which will recreate the MBR.

The other option is to do a fresh install on the HDD, and then use a Linux boot to overwrite the folders from the old windows install to the new install.

You'll need to backup the registry from the old install (boot to the SSD win8) then restore this registry in the new install.