Need Help Moving Old HDD and SSD to New Computer
- Thread starter Alyus
- Start date
Solution
Boogieman_WD
Judicious
- Jul 31, 2014
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Hey there, Alyus.
You could try that, but chances are that it might not work. In most cases whenever you're transferring a drive with an installation of Windows, unless the motherboards of both computers are exactly the same or at least pretty similar models - that won't work.
In my opinion you should just backup your personal data and make a fresh install of Windows on the SSD, while connected to your new computer. Please remember to have all other drives disconnected from the motherboard during the Windows installation to avoid problem in the future, as sometimes some of the system files or partition might be written to one of the secondary storage drives.
Unfortunately, if your Windows is OEM (original equipment manufacturer / it came pre-installed) the product key might not work with the new computer as it's usually connected to the motherboard and you'd have to get a retail copy of Windows.
Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Boogieman_WD
You could try that, but chances are that it might not work. In most cases whenever you're transferring a drive with an installation of Windows, unless the motherboards of both computers are exactly the same or at least pretty similar models - that won't work.
In my opinion you should just backup your personal data and make a fresh install of Windows on the SSD, while connected to your new computer. Please remember to have all other drives disconnected from the motherboard during the Windows installation to avoid problem in the future, as sometimes some of the system files or partition might be written to one of the secondary storage drives.
Unfortunately, if your Windows is OEM (original equipment manufacturer / it came pre-installed) the product key might not work with the new computer as it's usually connected to the motherboard and you'd have to get a retail copy of Windows.
Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Boogieman_WD
- Feb 10, 2012
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I already purchased another product key. I'm thinking I could insert this new key when Windows 10 require it. Is this a good advice? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZn_hSlT0zk
snurp85
Distinguished
- May 6, 2009
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Again, the installation of Windows is based on your current motherboard. Windows will not recognize the new motherboard and might not load at all, or cause other problems. Even if it is possible, its still just better to do a fresh install.
- Feb 10, 2012
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How can I backup everything to external hard drive so I can access it on the new computer. I won't be able to access old SSD with Windows 10 since I only have one PSU so I need to back everything up in the external hard drive. I think Windows 10 only back up selected files.
I'll do the fresh install but how can I remember the list of programs I have on old computer?
I'll do the fresh install but how can I remember the list of programs I have on old computer?
Boogieman_WD
Judicious
- Jul 31, 2014
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Backup only your personal data, like: photos, videos, documents, projects etc. You can simply copy-paste them to the external drive while you have it connected to the computer. You don't need to backup system files and the OS itself.
After you've backed up your files, build your new PC along with the old PSU, install Windows from scratch and when everything is done, just connect the external drive as you would normally do and copy your data to your internal drive if you want or just keep it there. It's not more different than writing some data on the external drive and then connecting it to a different computer to access it.
After you've backed up your files, build your new PC along with the old PSU, install Windows from scratch and when everything is done, just connect the external drive as you would normally do and copy your data to your internal drive if you want or just keep it there. It's not more different than writing some data on the external drive and then connecting it to a different computer to access it.
jitpublisher
Splendid
- May 16, 2006
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The only thing you can save is your data and personal things like spreadsheets, pictures, music, etc. Windows, along with any programs you have installed, will have to be reinstalled from scratch. Its a hardware issue, not so much license string. You current installation of Windows has all the drivers and configuration set for your current motherboard. As stated, unless the new motherboard is identical, or very close to what you have now, Windows will not have the configuration it needs to work with the new board. There are ways to get around this, doing repair installs on the new board sometimes works. But, people who do this all the time will tell you that if its a different motherboard, your fastest and best bet is to do the new install. Its just not worth taking the time to sort through all the problems of trying to get the OS to work doing a board change.
If the motherboard is close, and you can try, Windows may boot and reconfigure its self to the new board. But be prepared by saving everything important to another drive first before you try.
If the motherboard is close, and you can try, Windows may boot and reconfigure its self to the new board. But be prepared by saving everything important to another drive first before you try.
snurp85
Distinguished
- May 6, 2009
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You can try. No harm in trying. But all of us here agree that the best answer is to do a fresh install on to the SSD. First save all of your documents and music and whatnot over to the external (can simply copy over your entire user folder (C:\Users\) . After the installation, you can then attach the second hard drive with all of your saved files and transfer them back to the SSD if you want.
Boogieman_WD
Judicious
- Jul 31, 2014
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If you install Windows from scratch on the SSD (please remember to have all other drives disconnected from the motherboard during the installation process) this will be your primary drive. When you connect the other drives, if one of them has an installation of Windows as well, make sure that you have selected the SSD with the fresh install as first booting device (from the boot priority menu in your BIOS settings), in order to boot to Windows by using that particular drive and not the old installations (which will probably give you errors if you try to boot to Windows via one of them).
Once you make sure that everything is working properly solely by using your fresh install, connect the other drives, backup your personal data and reformat the secondary storage drives (if they are SSDs don't use full format, go with quick format).
Cheers!
Once you make sure that everything is working properly solely by using your fresh install, connect the other drives, backup your personal data and reformat the secondary storage drives (if they are SSDs don't use full format, go with quick format).
Cheers!
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