Moving hard drive with Windows onto a new computer

ninjalaserbeam

Reputable
Jan 25, 2015
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4,510
Recently my Acer desktop broke and it will turn on but it won't boot, but the hard drives still spins so I suppose that it still works. If I was to build a new computer and I salvaged the hard drive from this old Acer desktop, would I be able to use the copy of Windows 7 from that is still on the hard drive? The computer didn't come with the Windows 7 disc but I have the product key on the case.
 
Solution
No, that will not work.

Operation. It likely won't boot.
License. That preinstalled OEM Windows 7 is tied to that original motherboard.