Windows 8.1 OEM switch devices

Ramon284

Reputable
Mar 3, 2014
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4,640
Hi,

I currently have a laptop running Windows 8.1 which I installed with an OEM disc. I'm planning on selling my laptop and buying a computer.

Is there a way I can drop the windows license off of my laptop and activate it on my PC, even if that means I'll have to take out the laptop's HDD and put it in my desktop?
 
Solution


Just sell the laptop with the OS. You'll get more for it.

You can't use that laptop OEM license on your new desktop.

And you can't just drop the laptop drive in a new desktop, and hope that it boots up. It won't.

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Just sell the laptop with the OS. You'll get more for it.

You can't use that laptop OEM license on your new desktop.

And you can't just drop the laptop drive in a new desktop, and hope that it boots up. It won't.
 
Solution
OEM licenses are not transferable. You would need to buy another license.

Even if you took the hard drive out of the laptop, the drivers on the hard drive are for the devices in the laptop. Not for the devices in the desktop.

So you are going to need to install Windows, and in the installation process, Windows is going to notice the new motherboard, new video adapter, new sound card, and so on, and refuse to register.

OEM licenses have never been transferable. If you want a transferable copy of Windows, those generally sell for $180 and up.