OS help! transfer to new hdd?

[Brock Tremel]

Im building a new pc, I dont want to buy windows 10 again, Can i put my existing copy of windows 10 on my new HDD? Just the OS nothing else needs to be transferred.
The old pc im using that has Windows 10 came with the OS so I dont a have a physical copy or code or anything like that

 

[USAFRet]

Im building a new pc, I dont want to buy windows 10 again, Can i put my existing copy of windows 10 on my new HDD? Just the OS nothing else needs to be transferred.
The old pc im using that has Windows 10 came with the OS so I dont a have a physical copy or code or anything like that

There are two considerations with the OS. Operation and Licensing.

Licensing - For a preinstalled OEM license, that is not transferable.

Operation - Not would it boot up in the new system.

Solution?
Sell the old system. Buy a new OS for your new PC. Take someone out to lunch with the extra money.

 

[captaincharisma]

no because that windows 10 install will not properly work if you bring it over to an entire new computer.

the good news is if your copy of windows 10 was acquired during the free upgrade period then as long as your windows 10 licence is linked to a Microsoft account you will be able to transfer it over using the activation troubleshooter. the instructions for all of this are in the link below:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

 

[USAFRet]

Im building a new pc, I dont want to buy windows 10 again, Can i put my existing copy of windows 10 on my new HDD? Just the OS nothing else needs to be transferred.
The old pc im using that has Windows 10 came with the OS so I dont a have a physical copy or code or anything like that

Just to clarify, where, exactly, did the current Win 10 license come from?

 

[hellraiser06]

The way windows 10 licensing works is that you cannot transfer windows installation to a new PC from an OEM (Dell, HP, Lenovo etc.).

However, if you had bought a retail copy of windows 10, you can use the same license in the new PC provided you deactivate it from the old PC first.

Below is an excellent article that explains the process very well:
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windows-10-license-new-pc/

 

[captaincharisma]

The way windows 10 licensing works is that you cannot transfer windows installation to a new PC from an OEM (Dell, HP, Lenovo etc.).

However, if you had bought a retail copy of windows 10, you can use the same license in the new PC provided you deactivate it from the old PC first.

Below is an excellent article that explains the process very well:
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windows-10-license-new-pc/

those were the old rules. now when to you tie an windows 10 OEM licence to a MS account you can use the activation troubleshooter to remove the licence from one device and use it on another

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

 

[USAFRet]

The way windows 10 licensing works is that you cannot transfer windows installation to a new PC from an OEM (Dell, HP, Lenovo etc.).

However, if you had bought a retail copy of windows 10, you can use the same license in the new PC provided you deactivate it from the old PC first.

Below is an excellent article that explains the process very well:
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windows-10-license-new-pc/

those were the old rules. now when to you tie an windows 10 OEM licence to a MS account you can use the activation troubleshooter to remove the licence from one device and use it on another

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

There is one instance where that does not work....buying a prebuilt system with a preinstalled Win 10, from a major manufacturer.
Dell, HP, etc.

For just about any other Win 10, yes you can change to new hardware.
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

So you are both correct.