Moving os from old HDD

Oct 14, 2018
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Hey, I was recently build my new pc (I'm beginner) I bought SSD And I also install Windows on it to run pc. (no licensed yet). Now I have 1T HDD from old broken laptop with win10 (motherboard died) but I can use it only for storage. When I tried to connect only hdd, I get message that only lenovo can use this drive.. Is there any way to set HDD as primary Hard drive and run that licensed
windows on it ? Or somehow migrate OS from old HDD which is used as storage, to that SSD? I wasn't able to find info about it, only programs to clone windows on new ssd, but my old notebook died so I'm not able to do that.Thank you for any help.
 
If the Windows license came with the laptop it is going to be a non transferable OEM version. If you bought the Windows 10 license then you can transfer it.

Also the copy of Windows on the laptop HDD has all the drivers and configuration for the laptop. It is unlikely to work properly on your new pc with being reinstalled.

FYI Windows 10 apparently runs with very little restrictions without being activated. I have not tried it but one of the mods here has been testing it for years.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
2 concepts here, Operation and Licensing.

1. Operation - You can't use the OS from the laptop in your new desktop. Won't boot up.
And migration/cloning is the same as trying to use the physical drive. Won't work.

2. Licensing - Depending on where the laptop OS license came from, you probably can't use it on the new desktop.


You just built a new PC. A brand new OS license is maybe 10% of that total price. It is just another part, just like the RAM or motherboard is. Purchase one.