Will Cloning stop activation of windows 8.1 OEM key?

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Altair44

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Jul 10, 2014
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Hi Guys,

I am planning to buy a dell laptop with windows 8.1 pre installed. I will also buy a Solid State Drive to replace the stock HDD.

So my question is, if i use a cloning tool to clone my HDD, will i lose the Windows 8.1 activation key?

Thank you.
 
Solution
Illumynization
You can clone just fine. Ive cloned dozens of laptop drives over to ssd's at my job.
I recently cloned over to an SSD in my new laptop. Zero issues.

I find the samsung ssd's that come with the cloning software to be the easiest.
Ive used acronis and ez gig as well and both do a great job of cloning.
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

Glorious
Jul 30, 2014
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Hey there, Altair44!

It's strongly recommended to perform a fresh install of Windows when changing hardware components, especially storage.
The .ISO you can simply download from MS's official website and create a bootable USB/DVD containing the operating system.
As for the activation, since the OS is pre-installed it will automatically activate Windows 8.1 once you go online. (Unless you have the product key written somewhere on the bottom of the laptop, in which case you can simply re-use the key).

SuperSoph_WD
 
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Tom Tancredi

Tom Tancredi

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May 9, 2013
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Unless it is a BIT LEVEL cloning OR the INCLUDED cloning software SPECIFICALLY included with the SSD, all other CLoning type software fails since Vista was released due to you / I / everyone even using the Administrator account is NOT the true GOD / Admin in windows. Only TRUSTED INSTALLER is the true Admin/God account, and because Trusted Installer isn't going to give up rights over EVERY SINGLE FILE on your computer, any cloning / copying fails as the copying doesn't INCLUDES all the necessary files (locked by Trusted Installer) or are corrupted copies.

Your best bet would be to purchase the Dell with a FACTORY RESTORE DVD included in your purchase (extra cost). Windows 8 will automatically pick up the 'key' via the UEFI (it is built into the BIOS / Mobo now) and will activate properly, but getting Windows onto the SSD is the problem. YOU BETTER SERVED to ORDER the Dell WITH a SSD as the C drive and a 1TB as the D Drive configuration, to avoid any of these hassle and hardships.
 
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Illumynization

Illumynization

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Nov 12, 2013
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You can clone just fine. Ive cloned dozens of laptop drives over to ssd's at my job.
I recently cloned over to an SSD in my new laptop. Zero issues.

I find the samsung ssd's that come with the cloning software to be the easiest.
Ive used acronis and ez gig as well and both do a great job of cloning.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
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