Transferring Windows 7 liscense from a HHD to SSD

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KH3player

KH3player

Honorable
Nov 29, 2012
11
0
10,510
This past Christmas I got a SSD to use for a new Boot drive since my HDD was getting pretty slow. Anyways, I did a clean install of Windows 7 Pro. 64-Bit and I was hoping that it would activate automatically since im using the same Mobo, but wasnt counting on it completely since it is not an OEM version. Now, im unable to find the keys I had for an installation and when I use those Windows Key Finders it just comes up with 'BBBB-BBBB-BBBB' and i looked why and its because i got the keys in a 'Business' format (through my high school 4 years ago) and thats why it wont show up.

So I am without the key that i used originally and i already contacted MS Support TWICE and they did nothing. I still have my old HDD plugged up with the Windows install on it. What Im wondering is if there is a way I can possibly activate my SSD install without a new key or migrating the old HDD to an SSD (I only have a 160GB SSD and the HDD is 1TB)? Is there a way to swap out the activation files from my old HDD to the SSD? I know the code is still there, just heavily Encrypted.
 
Solution
USAFRet
There is no 'activation file'. It is just a key that lives in that original Registry.

You have 4 options:
1. Find the original piece of paper with the license key.
2. Put the old HDD back in, boot, and use the above mentioned applications to maybe find the license key.
3. Clone from the old drive to the new drive.
4. Full reinstall and activation.
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USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,437
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The license key lives on the HDD (registry, specifically), not in the motherboard anywhere.

When you obtained that install, they probably sent you an email with the license key. Find that.

Failing that....reinstall the old HDD. Boot from it and run Belarc Advisor and/or MagicalJellyBean to hopefully find your original license key.
 
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KH3player

KH3player

Honorable
Nov 29, 2012
11
0
10,510



The way the Key and the CD were given to me were by the Tech Admin himself and I got a piece of paper with the code, no E-Mail.

Note:He doesnt work there anymore

Ive tried both of those already and nothing,

If could possibly extract the OS from the 1TB and copy to the SSD that would help but I havent found something that does that.

Also, is there a way i could copy the windows activation Registry files over my current ones on my SSD and have it be activated?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,437
17,905
184,590
There is no 'activation file'. It is just a key that lives in that original Registry.

You have 4 options:
1. Find the original piece of paper with the license key.
2. Put the old HDD back in, boot, and use the above mentioned applications to maybe find the license key.
3. Clone from the old drive to the new drive.
4. Full reinstall and activation.
 
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