Upgrade time

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Milutiche

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#205630 20-Nov-2016 19:35

Hi all, I'm in the process of building a new PC ( well I've just ordered the parts)

I'm gonna be using my existing SSD and HDDs but everything else is new, can I just put the SSD with windows 10 on it into the new PC and boot it up or do I have to install a new version of windows (and pay for a new licence key? )

Thanks

Jason

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#1674643 20-Nov-2016 19:51

You should not need to pay for a new licence key

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Jase2985

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#1674644 20-Nov-2016 19:51

install it and go, may be asked to validate it but thats only a few minutes of your time to do that.

Milutiche

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#1674646 20-Nov-2016 19:55

Jase2985:

install it and go, may be asked to validate it but thats only a few minutes of your time to do that.

There's one little problem, my new build isn't going to have an optical drive, so although I have the windows 7 disc, I won't be able to use it to install on the new system.

will I need to do a fresh install on my ssd and re-install all of my other software? and then can I use my old key?

Jase2985

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#1674655 20-Nov-2016 20:26

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

Rickles

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#1674656 20-Nov-2016 20:28

Just use an external CD/DVD drive?

Milutiche

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#1674679 20-Nov-2016 20:37

Jase2985:

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

Cheers, I'll have a look

Rickles:

Just use an external CD/DVD drive?

I don't have one

Another question, If I leave one old hdd in my old system, can I still run windows on that and then do the install on the new system

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Brumfondl

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#1674683 20-Nov-2016 20:53

I would not assume that you will be able to activate the new install under any circumstance, especially if it was and OEM version of Windows that you upgraded to 10. The only pieces of hardware that will be in common will be the drives, which happen to not be counted as part of the hardware for Windows licensing purposes. If the Activation Troubleshooter activates a machine after ALL the hardware has been changed then well done to you.

Looking at the steps of the troubleshooter you won't be able to have both machines running as to get the second machine running you have to tell Microsoft that it is actually the first machine.

Good luck :)

Milutiche

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#1674687 20-Nov-2016 21:04

Brumfondl:

I would not assume that you will be able to activate the new install under any circumstance, especially if it was and OEM version of Windows that you upgraded to 10. The only pieces of hardware that will be in common will be the drives, which happen to not be counted as part of the hardware for Windows licensing purposes. If the Activation Troubleshooter activates a machine after ALL the hardware has been changed then well done to you.

Looking at the steps of the troubleshooter you won't be able to have both machines running as to get the second machine running you have to tell Microsoft that it is actually the first machine.

Good luck :)

Cheers mate, It's not an oem version, I purchased windows 7 when I built my old PC and I upgraded it to 10 earlier this year.

Brumfondl

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#1674692 20-Nov-2016 21:22

Milutiche:

Cheers mate, It's not an oem version, I purchased windows 7 when I built my old PC and I upgraded it to 10 earlier this year.

In that case, my point about two PCs stands but they are right that you should be able to activate without any issue using the troubleshooter as long as you are installing the latest version (Anniversary Update 1607).

michaelmurfy

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#1674750 21-Nov-2016 02:07

I've just done this with a PC that was on Windows 8.1 upgraded to 10.

1) Reinstalled Windows 10 - major hardware change so best to. Installed via their ISO + flash drive.
2) Entered Microsoft ID during setup, used Windows 8.1 key.
3) Activated automagically with digital entitlement.

By Major I mean the old PC no-longer exists. The Windows 8.1 key is not used on any previous machines of mine.

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Milutiche

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#1675632 22-Nov-2016 20:18

Well here's an interesting bit of info, I just built my new PC, put my old SSD and 2 HDD's in it and booted it up, about 1 minute in the bios and it booted straight into my old windows, all of my software appears to be working.

Totally stoaked, no need to do a fresh install or anything!

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michaelmurfy

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#1675747 22-Nov-2016 23:51

Milutiche:

Well here's an interesting bit of info, I just built my new PC, put my old SSD and 2 HDD's in it and booted it up, about 1 minute in the bios and it booted straight into my old windows, all of my software appears to be working.

Totally stoaked, no need to do a fresh install or anything!

Whilst it may work I would strongly recommend not doing that. Fresh install with major hardware changes is always the way to go.

networkn

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#1675752 23-Nov-2016 00:24

michaelmurfy:

Milutiche:

Well here's an interesting bit of info, I just built my new PC, put my old SSD and 2 HDD's in it and booted it up, about 1 minute in the bios and it booted straight into my old windows, all of my software appears to be working.

Totally stoaked, no need to do a fresh install or anything!

Whilst it may work I would strongly recommend not doing that. Fresh install with major hardware changes is always the way to go.

So So SO this. It's a pain to reinstall, but you'll thank everyone who gave you this advice.

Milutiche

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#1675755 23-Nov-2016 06:04

michaelmurfy:

Milutiche:

Well here's an interesting bit of info, I just built my new PC, put my old SSD and 2 HDD's in it and booted it up, about 1 minute in the bios and it booted straight into my old windows, all of my software appears to be working.

Totally stoaked, no need to do a fresh install or anything!

Whilst it may work I would strongly recommend not doing that. Fresh install with major hardware changes is always the way to go.

so you wouldn't wait and see if there are any issues?

Milutiche

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#1675756 23-Nov-2016 06:23

OK I've taken ythe advice given andam staring a fresh install

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