Move Boot drive between 2 identical computers.

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tacchan23

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Sep 26, 2016
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In the near future I may have to spend many months in a row at 2 different locations (let's say about 8 months in Asia and 4 months in Europe) for many years to come.
As I don't want a notebook, I was considering building 2 identical computers at the 2 locations and just bring the boot (&data) SSD with me while traveling (and so Windows will keep being updated on one machine, then moved to the other and so on).
Assuming I have a retail Windows 10 license (and so I should not face any problems with Windows licensing system), do you think this solution is possible and hassle free? or I may run into drivers/etc problems anyway? mostly considering that it wouldn't be a "one and done" kind of thing but something I would have to repeat about 2 times a year.

Thanks in advance
 
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abaday789
No other issue really as long as any other drives you have in the separate PCs don't have programs installed on them or are used as your "my documents" etc. location you should be safe in terms of things I would believe. :)
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George Mulligan

George Mulligan

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Sep 20, 2014
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Windows will likely balk when the drive is moved between computers, as it checks for hardware changes. Understanding the hardware may be the same, however the unique MAC addresses of the components will be different. It is likely you will need to re-license Windows in the new machine. Microsoft might do this over the phone, but I'm sure not multiple times.
 
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tacchan23

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Sep 26, 2016
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Doesn't a Retail license allow me to install Windows on a single computer as many time as I want? provided that it's installed on a single computer at any time. That was my understanding of this kind of license and I just needed to enter the serial again every time I switch computer.
 
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abaday789

abaday789

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Jul 4, 2014
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if you have windows 10 tied to your Microsoft account which is now possible as of the recent anniversary update. you can reactivate it just by logging on with your Microsoft account and it should reactivate. If it doesn't activate properly each time. In the activation menu in the settings you can troubleshoot activation problems and be able to activate windows again. Just make sure you don't have Bit locker enabled if you get win10 professional else it will lock your drive to only one pc until you deactivate it in the options. I made that mistake on my rig upgrade last week meaning I had to set up my old mobo temporarily to deactivate bit locker.
 
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tacchan23

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Sep 26, 2016
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So other than those minor "problems" with Windows license, everything else should be ok? any other more noticeable/important issues I may face?
Thanks :)
 
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abaday789

abaday789

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Jul 4, 2014
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No other issue really as long as any other drives you have in the separate PCs don't have programs installed on them or are used as your "my documents" etc. location you should be safe in terms of things I would believe. :)
 
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