Can i use my old hard drive on new build?

soldier5637 · Aug 28, 2014

Hey

the thing is, i dont want to spend another $100 on windows 7, so if i wipe my hard drive, can put it in new build and use the restore function or something along that line?

Thanks!

Jaxem · Aug 28, 2014

If your Windows 7 copy is retail, you can wipe the drive and re-install windows using that key again, if it's OEM then you need another key.

USAFRet · Aug 28, 2014

'Restore' is not what you're looking for. Full reinstall of the OS on the new hardware.
Do you have the install media and license key? And install media for all your applications?

soldier5637 · Aug 28, 2014

Jaxem :

I dont have any discs or keys. whats oem?

JackNaylorPE · Aug 28, 2014

If it's very similar hardware it should work ..... if ya changed to much, no go.

not much has changed

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457054.aspx

USAFRet · Aug 28, 2014

soldier5637 :

Where did this Windows install come from? How did it get on the drive?

Jaxem · Aug 28, 2014

No disks or keys? Probably OEM then and you most likely will need to purchase a copy of Windows (unless it's mostly the same machine as JackNaylorPE said)

soldier5637 · Aug 28, 2014

JackNaylorPE :

This is the build: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/QYc88d
will it work from a stock dell optiplex 960?

soldier5637 · Aug 28, 2014

USAFRet :

soldier5637 :

Where did this Windows install come from? How did it get on the drive?

I bought the computer refurbished and it came installed.

Jaxem · Aug 28, 2014

soldier5637 :

no chance, with a motherboard swap i think you're totally unable to still use the OEM key...there's not really any part of the old one you're using it seems like except the drive?

JackNaylorPE · Aug 28, 2014

You can do Motherboard swaps ..... I have done two where I went from a 1156 to 1155 w/ different CPUs and both activated w/o issue. Again the criteria will be if it looks like a MoBo swap where the original board failed, and in these instances, 1156 was no longer in production so an 1155 bboard would nave been the only alternative.

soldier5637 · Aug 28, 2014

Jaxem :

soldier5637 :

no chance, with a motherboard swap i think you're totally unable to still use the OEM key...there's not really any part of the old one you're using it seems like except the drive?

Basically the only things i want to bring over are my nvidia video vard, PSU and hard drive.

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Can i use my old hard drive on new build?

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