Can you install an SSD w/ Windows from prior laptop to new one with only HDD?

pensiveprolepress

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Feb 8, 2018
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I had an Acer vx15 that took a [censored] and just ordered an Asus FX53 with only a 5400rpm mechanical drive but an empty M2 slot. I have a 256gb Intel 600p and Seagate Firecuda 7200rpm SSHD, and would like to install those in place of the included 5400 drive. The M2 SSD has Windows, Creative Cloud, and games. While the Seagate has media files, other software, and backup. Could I just drop it in and be good as far as OS functionality? If not what would I have to do?
 
Solution
You can use the drive alright, but not the Windows installation that's on it, because that's tied to the motherboard in the laptop that it came from -- so it would fail the activation process on a different laptop.

You cannot simply move Windows from one PC to another and expect it work as if nothing had changed - - you have to wipe the existing Windows installation and do a fresh install after fitting the drive in the new host system.
All the drivers will be wrong, it may not even boot. Ideally you would wipe the SSD, install in new laptop and install a fresh new Windows and then install all the correct drivers for your new laptop. Even if it boots with the old version of Windows you can suffer performance or stability problems if you don’t do a fresh Windows install.
 
You can use the drive alright, but not the Windows installation that's on it, because that's tied to the motherboard in the laptop that it came from -- so it would fail the activation process on a different laptop.

You cannot simply move Windows from one PC to another and expect it work as if nothing had changed - - you have to wipe the existing Windows installation and do a fresh install after fitting the drive in the new host system.
 
Solution