Can you bring old HDD with Windows 10 into new computer as boot drive?

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Tmas_

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May 24, 2017
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So I'm building a new PC for my parents as their current computer has slowed down significantly, and I want to save some money by keeping the old Windows 10 OS in the old HDD and bringing just the HDD over to the new computer. I just want clarification that this would work as when i look online I see only mixed opinions...

Ryzen 5 1600x
gigabyte ga-ab350m-ds3h
GT 1030

In theory I would add the old HDD with the OS into the new computer and mark it as boot drive.
So would this actually work? would I have to update anything?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
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Mar 16, 2013
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1. Licensing
Read and do this before you change any parts:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

Where did this Win 10 come from?

2. Operation.
Doing what you propose has 3 possible outcomes:
1. It boots up just fine
2. It fails completely
3. It boots up, but you have lingering issues later.

For this type of parts swap, a clean install is always recommended, often required.
 
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T

Tmas_

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May 24, 2017
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It was just a prebuilt pc from bestbuy or something like that. It has something like;

i5 3330
No GPU
crappy mobo

And just wondering, how would I do a "clean install"
 
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