Reinstall Windows on a New drive without wiping the old one

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wxyzsupermod

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Mar 8, 2013
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I have a 1TB hard drive that works great but I bought a SSD yesterday and so I would like to keep all my files most of which are in program files and things but install windows onto the SSD how would I go about doing this or should I just backup my files onto our other computer. Then install windows I really just kind of don't understand how transfering the key works
 
Solution
Darkbreeze
Just remove the HDD and put the SSD in it's place. Install windows and use your license key. Depending on how you install and whether you use a Microsoft account ID during the installation it may activate during installation or you might need to go into Control panel>System and click on Activate. Unless you change the motherboard it shouldn't require a phone call to verify you only have it installed on one computer, even if you have an OEM version which doesn't allow you to transfer the key to another machine. The OEM version sees the introduction of a new motherboard as a new computer and does not allow for that. The full version of windows, both standard and Pro versions, does, as long as you verify to them that you only have it...
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Suztera

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Mar 18, 2014
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If you have files like picture, documents and videos, you can make a seperate partition on the hard drive and move it there. For programs, it is best to reinstall completely. For Steam and Steam games, you can move the folders to the separate partition.
To install windows, unplug the hard drive and put in the SSD.
Install Windows on the SSD.
After Windows is installed and you are booted to the Start Screen/Desktop, plug back your hard drive in and format the data on the partition containing the old windows.
Then activate Windows. You may or may not need to activate by telephone.
 
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wxyzsupermod

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Mar 8, 2013
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That is helpful and I do know about partitions mostly I was asking about windows and the re install with the same key since it is the same key I am wondering if this will make it think I am pirating it or something. Have been on linux prior and just don't understand windows keys.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Jun 24, 2014
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Just remove the HDD and put the SSD in it's place. Install windows and use your license key. Depending on how you install and whether you use a Microsoft account ID during the installation it may activate during installation or you might need to go into Control panel>System and click on Activate. Unless you change the motherboard it shouldn't require a phone call to verify you only have it installed on one computer, even if you have an OEM version which doesn't allow you to transfer the key to another machine. The OEM version sees the introduction of a new motherboard as a new computer and does not allow for that. The full version of windows, both standard and Pro versions, does, as long as you verify to them that you only have it installed on one machine and if you try to use the first HDD as a boot drive in another machine it will eventually report as not a valid activation on that machine but your new system would still be fine. Since you're just swapping hard drives, you should be fine either way.
 
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