Moving Windows onto new PC's

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kiwis

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

#262173 8-Jan-2020 17:49

So, call me old if you may but when I got this machine I got a Windows 7 Ultimate disk! I moved to Windows 10 with the free transfer.

If I do a new PC build, is it possible to use my current Windows 10 key if I download it onto a USB? Or could I still install windows 7 and upgrade somehow?

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470 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2387582 8-Jan-2020 18:23

Yes check under activation.

Does it say "Windows is activated with a digital licence linked to your Microsoft Account" if yes the your all good.

rb99

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#2387583 8-Jan-2020 18:31

I build a new PC recently and managed to transfer Windows from the old machine, which was Windows 10, though it started off as Windows 7. Bought it separately when it was a reasonable price. Might be that you're allowed to move it one time.

There's a few links here I just skimmed through which might be useful. Can't actually find the article I used, but guess they're much the same, so you might be lucky.

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windows-10-license-new-pc/

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

sqishy

470 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2387587 8-Jan-2020 18:51

rb99:

I build a new PC recently and managed to transfer Windows from the old machine, which was Windows 10, though it started off as Windows 7. Bought it separately when it was a reasonable price. Might be that you're allowed to move it one time.

There's a few links here I just skimmed through which might be useful. Can't actually find the article I used, but guess they're much the same, so you might be lucky.

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windows-10-license-new-pc/

This method, just build a new Bootable W10 USB

Install on new machine the W10 Pro without key

Go to activation and reuse your Ultimate Key

It may not activate

Call 0800 800 004 option 1,1,2,1,1 talk to the person tell them you build a new box

They will access your PC and do the rest no questions asked.

weasel13

38 posts

Geek

#2387599 8-Jan-2020 19:29

It works. I was in the same boat approximately a month ago with my new build.

I had an OEM Windows 7 DVD which was activated on my previous pc and subsequently upgraded to Windows 10.

For my new build I downloaded the windows 10 boot disk onto a USB and installed windows 10 using the activation key from my windows 7 disk.

It worked first time and didn’t require anything further.

lNomNoml

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#2387607 8-Jan-2020 19:57

kiwis:

So, call me old if you may but when I got this machine I got a Windows 7 Ultimate disk! I moved to Windows 10 with the free transfer.

If I do a new PC build, is it possible to use my current Windows 10 key if I download it onto a USB? Or could I still install windows 7 and upgrade somehow?

No you will not be able to use your Windows 10 license key again if you do a major PC change (Change motherboard and CPU)

What you can try and do is install Windows 10 via USB and use your Windows 7 license during the install and see if that activates on the new PC, otherwise if that fails you can try to install Windows 7 activate it and then upgrade to Windows 10 via the Media tool here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#2387617 8-Jan-2020 20:26

If the original licence was an OEM build then the Windows 7 licence (and subsequent Windows 10 licence) are linked to the original hardware - if you modify it substantially the licence will not be valid e.g. installing a new motherboard.

richms

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#2387619 8-Jan-2020 20:30

I have reactivated a 7 key many times thru many hardware changes no problems. Even without being connected to my microsoft account. Just have to put the key back in from the side of the first case that the machine came in and it goes off and activates. Benn thru intel core 2 quad, over to AMD junk for a bit, to a 5th gen i7, to a 8th gen i3, then a 9th gen i5 (same mobo as the i3) - all activate fine. Also moved from sata to nvme at the move to 5th gen, and a new nvme when the cheap one turned out to be a useless piece of junk.

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SpartanVXL

1310 posts

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#2387621 8-Jan-2020 20:32

Yup if it’s an OEM key then you’re out of luck.

If you bought it retail or have an upgrade key from msdn or wherever you can use it in place of the windows 10 key.

I had trouble with the whole linking to a MS account to transfer the digital license. Even though the old pc was gone, I couldn’t get the new pc to activate through the activation troubleshooter. It could see the license with the old hostname but would just error out.

I just put the win7 key in and it working instantly.

freitasm

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#2387623 8-Jan-2020 20:33

Yes you can activate a key multiple times on different hardware but only if not linked to an OEM hardware and your account.

Jase2985

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#2387635 8-Jan-2020 21:13

to all those that have said you cant with an OEM version of windows with a significant hardware change, i have just done it twice.

Reinstalled a fresh version of windows 10 on a Brand new Ryzen 5 build using the media creation tool via usb. only thing that was the same was the GFX card. no issues.

Moved the other SSD to a old laptop which previously had XP on it on a spinning disk, installed windows and linked to my account, no issues there.

both were Win7 OEM versions originally.

I still have the same number of working windows computers, they just have different hardware. didnt need to enter a product key

it was actually harder to reinstall and activate office 2013 from the home use program than it was to install windows.

weasel13

38 posts

Geek

#2387638 8-Jan-2020 21:22

@freitasm that’s not correct as I mentioned above I’ve done it successfully. The manuals say you can’t but it allows you to it anyway. Jase2885 has also said that he’s done it twice.

CutCutCut

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#2387649 8-Jan-2020 21:39

An old PC with an OEM windows 8 license that upgraded to 10, that I used as a basic sever, was getting a bit long in the tooth and I had a cheap, but much newer one to replace it with, I installed windows 10 clean and it all just worked as before.

snnet

1410 posts

Uber Geek

#2387670 8-Jan-2020 22:03

I think the thought process here of "it won't work if it's an OEM key" means that even if it does actually work, it's not really a valid licence and could be pulled if Microsoft happens to decide to - OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer so the licence is tied to that hardware - if you build a new PC you are not -supposed- to use the same OEM key as it was provided for the original hardware it was purchased with...

sqishy

470 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2387685 8-Jan-2020 22:32

I think we are all missing the point here, MS allows you to link your registration to a MS Account not just the Key.

They did this so that people whom get new hardware can simply upgrade hardware and transfer under the MS Account setting/manage you can in this screen remove the old PC then add the new one on activation.

kiwis

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2387719 9-Jan-2020 07:20

I thought that if you changed motherboards you just needed to contact MS? Assume this is what the earlier post about phoning up was about?

I used this disk to install Windows on a laptop a year ago, no issues. So I assume the disk will work.

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