Operating system re-use

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Superdrue

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May 28, 2014
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Hi!

Im building a new dekstop pc. currently i only have a laptop. my laptop is running 64 bit windows 7 on a 2.5 inch hdd. Can i extract this hard drive, put it into my new pc, then "send to" the entire windows file to my SSD. would this work ? id like to spare some money reusing my OS. thank you.
 
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BleedingEdgeTek

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May 29, 2014
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Get a HDD cloning tool and do that. It'll copy everything over exactly as it is. But yes you can definitely do that. Windows will want you to reactivate it, which is simple. You will just need to do the activation thing through Windows.
 
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Shneiky

Shneiky

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Aug 21, 2011
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Impossible. When Windows is installed, it is configured to run on a certain set of hardware. Unless you are transferring the hard drive (or the OS) to a matching system (same chipset, motherboard, etc) it will not work 99% of the time and the rest 1% will be completely unstable. I am sorry, but you need new Windows.
 
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ss202sl

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May 23, 2012
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The issue is the license. Your laptop (almost certainly) came with wan OEM license which is tied to the laptop, and can't(legally) be moved to a desktop.

Also laptop and desktop hardware is so different that cloning isn't advisable as it almost always crashes and/or has issues. It would be better to do a clean install on the new PC.
 
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BleedingEdgeTek

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100% factually false.

All you need to do is reactivate Windows and it will disable it on the previous hardware, and activate it on the new hardware. Not sure where you got that information whatsoever, but is completely false. How else would people be able to buy replacement boards? If what you were saying is true, upgrading would be next to impossible without having to buy a new motherboard every single time.
 
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Shneiky

Shneiky

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As mentioned before - it is best (if not the only solution) to get a fresh windows on it. That means either buying a physical CD or buying a Key from a certified reseller (make sure it is a legal reseller). Sure, it costs 90 bucks (depending on where you live) but a healthy windows will make your computer experience that much pleasant.
 
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BleedingEdgeTek

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All you would have to do is uninstall the drivers for the laptops hardware, and then Windows 7 will automatically install new drivers for the new hardware.

And you can definitely do it legally. You're only allowed to have Windows activated on one machine at a time, it has nothing to do with putting it in a new system. Reactivating Windows will deactivate the license on the old hardware, and reactivate it to the new hardware.

I've personally just upgraded my motherboard/CPU and kept the same SSD about 3 weeks ago. Windows popped up and said it was already activated on another computer, and asked for reactivation. Called Microsoft's number and did the reactivation process (takes about 5 minutes) and Windows was fully activated on my new system. This is a Windows 7 Home Premium OEM copy also.
 
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Shneiky

Shneiky

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BleedingEdgeTek,

1.
I got that information after working with computers for decades. Reactivating Windows is a license issue, not a hardware issue. You can't take a laptop windows and expect it to run "where-ever-the-hell-you-plug-it-to". The Windows will not "reset" itself. For that - you need fresh Windows.

2.
Changing motherboard from the same chipset and tier is sometimes without an issue. If you want to keep your OS pick the exact same motherboard. If you move from a (example) B85 to Z87 or something, you need a fresh install. But people who upgrade usually change CPU, Video Card or add more RAM or something. The OS has no problems with handling more RAM or a remove and fresh install of nVidia/AMD drivers. But a motherboard is the fundamental functioning unit. The moment you install Windows - it is hard wired with no turning back.

3.
Using Windows from a laptop to another "device" is illegal. The Windows is an OEM and it is tied to the laptop. The license is nontransferable.
 
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BleedingEdgeTek

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1. It will certainly work, I've done it numerous times. It doesn't 'reset' itself, which is why I said you would need to uninstall the drivers for all the laptop hardware, and reinstall the drivers for the new hardware. Windows is Windows, there is not a laptop version or desktop version.

3. It is not illegal whatsoever. As I said before, the license is for a single computer to be used. When you reactivate it, it disables being activated on the previous hardware (motherboard/chipset), and reactivates on the new hardware (motherboard/chipset).
 
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weilin

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The only windows license that's legally transferrable from one computer to another is the Windows Retail License (the extra 200 dollars wasn't just for a pretty box). Any OEM licenses ($90-$120 copies and copies that comes with DELL/HP etc computers) are legally tied to hardware.

Both licenses allows for repairs. As components break you're legally allowed to replace them with exact same or "equivalent" model should the identical model be EOL.

The final line is subject to interpretation, if your CPU dies, can you get a faster CPU (but still the same socket)? What about motherboards? With Intel's tick/tock cadence, the z87 and z97 chipsets are technically different products but are they "equivalent"?

Sure, Microsoft probably won't go after you if you did replace your whole computer while using the same OEM license, but it's something this forum CANNOT advise you to do nor help you do so.

TL DR: If you want to move your license from one computer to another without restriction, get a retail copy of Windows.
 
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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Aug 3, 2006
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Just for clarification, it is not legal:

Microsoft License Agreement

Click on the above link.
For "How is the software acquired?", select "Pre-installed on your computer from the computer manufacturer"
For "Product Name", select Windows
For "Version", select "7 Home Premium"
For "Language", select "English"

Click GO and read through the license agreement. It clearly states that the license can only be installed onto the licensed computer. Any subsequent computer you attempt to install the software onto is NOT the licensed computer.

@BleedingEdgeTek

The fact that you were able to accomplish this just tells me that Microsoft's Activation service is/was faulty. Just because you were able to successfully re-activate your copy of the license does not make it legal to do so.

-Wolf sends
 
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Vic 40

Vic 40

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I've done it about three times,although with just a motherboard exchange.Nobody can really say you weren't just replacing the motherboard from the original pc and after that upgraded other parts,granted with a laptop to pc could they make that point.

I think that with a install dvd the ts could reinstall windows onto a new pc with his old product key.He could download a iso here,
http://www.w7forums.com/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads-t12325.html
and create a boottable dvd with it via for instance img burn,
http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download
for the how to,
http://www.pcmech.com/article/how-to-create-a-bootable-cd-with-imgburn/

It's something the ts could try.
 
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