Changing PC's but keeping the same Hard Drive

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MasterPayne

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Aug 9, 2014
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So I am going to change PC's soon but I want to put my current Hard drive in the new one, My windows 8 is saved on this hard drive. If I take out this Hard drive with windows 8 on it and put it in the one I am going to buy, will windows 8 work or will I have to buy and install it again?
 
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zink1701
Agreed, you will need to do a fresh install of Windows, if the product key is available (usually on a sticker on the case) then you only need a copy of windows, you can re use that key (will only work on 1 machine at a time). You will need a copy of the windows installation DVD or an electronic copy on a bootable USB stick.
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thx1138v2

Splendid
Jun 18, 2011
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You may not have to buy Windows again. You will definitely need to reinstall because you'll need the drivers for the new mobo, chipset, etc.

I know MS uses the serial number of the CPU, hard drive, and something else I can't remember right now to develop a security key that checks that the install is a valid licensed install. After your install, it will bring something that says the current copy isn't a valid install but all you have to do is contact them and explain what you are doing and they will clear that message over the internet. I went through that the last time I had to replace a failed hard drive. That was on Win7 but they are probably doing the same thing with 8.
 
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zink1701

zink1701

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Sep 14, 2012
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Agreed, you will need to do a fresh install of Windows, if the product key is available (usually on a sticker on the case) then you only need a copy of windows, you can re use that key (will only work on 1 machine at a time). You will need a copy of the windows installation DVD or an electronic copy on a bootable USB stick.
 
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DigiJedi

DigiJedi

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Aug 9, 2014
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In the past I had switched pc's while still retaining my windows 8 install, and I just always ran driver cleaner then I installed the new drivers and voila! it worked no problems whatsoever, but you might just need to reactivate your license by going online other than that I see no reason to re install windows.
 
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