W10 HD swap (Page 1/1)
MidEngineManiac MAR 19, 09:20 PM
I picked up a Dell latitude 5450 on trade. Not a bad little laptop, but its only got a 128 gig HD in it.

I've got a couple 2.5" 1TB laying around that have NOT been formatted yet. (Yeh, never got around to it and now dont have an enclosure handy to make portables out of them to do it.)

If I swap out the HD to a big one as-is, then run a W10 installer thumb drive, will it automatically pick the valid Windows key off the MB or is the one on the HD going to screw things up on me, or do I need to track it down 1st and manually enter it ?
A_Lonely_Potato MAR 20, 10:31 AM

quote
Originally posted by MidEngineManiac:

I picked up a Dell latitude 5450 on trade. Not a bad little laptop, but its only got a 128 gig HD in it.

I've got a couple 2.5" 1TB laying around that have NOT been formatted yet. (Yeh, never got around to it and now dont have an enclosure handy to make portables out of them to do it.)

If I swap out the HD to a big one as-is, then run a W10 installer thumb drive, will it automatically pick the valid Windows key off the MB or is the one on the HD going to screw things up on me, or do I need to track it down 1st and manually enter it ?



Windows 10 is kinda funky in that you can use literally any windows activation key from 7/8/8.1/10 to activate it. If you install the 1TB drive and boot from the W10 install USB, itll give you the option to format the drive. Otherwise, it can create a separate partition for your new OS install if you need to keep the files that are on that drive.

Important note, you can use win7 etc codes ONLY on the initial install prompt. once youve booted win10 without activation, you can only use win10 activation codes. Ive used a single windows 7 code from the sticker on some ancient laptop at a previous job probably 5 times now. On the bottom of your laptop there should be a windows activation code, and itll work just fine. If it doesnt, PM me and i have a few codes i can send you

[This message has been edited by A_Lonely_Potato (edited 03-20-2022).]

IMSA GT MAR 20, 10:59 AM
The key would be on the existing hard drive so you would need to re-enter the key. Here's another option if possible. Can you simply add another hard drive to that laptop and leave the operating system drive in place?

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 03-20-2022).]

gtjoe MAR 20, 11:09 AM
The activation for Windows 10 computers is stored on microsofts server. If a computer has been through the online activation it will reactivate with a new install. I have done this numerous times. You do not have to put in a key, during install or otherwise. the only issue would arise if you change the motherboard.
theogre MAR 20, 12:22 PM
Assume has OEM Win7 then a "key" is in BIOS and "hidden" from you.
IOW Control Panel/System in Win Activation says:
Windows is Activated
Product ID: xxxxx-OEM-xxxxxxx-xxxxx

When So, Install Win10 "upgrade" on OE drive will auto activate most times and you do nothing.
Not but Win7 still is Active w/ a Full Key then Should do the same.
(If has VLM key, unlikely here, may not auto activate even tho looks like a "retail" key to most people.)

If you need a backup of OE HD use Ghost etc to make an image file on another system or copy to another drive before install Win10.
Could Ghost to new drive but this can cause problems... get to that in a bit...

After that, you can Clean Install Win10 on a drive and keeps auto active because the early install send MS "Digital Key" data and keeps "notes" on MoBo items etc.

"Digital Keys" work about same way since WinXP first use Win Activation.
Tracks MAC CPU GPU and other things and flips out when too many things change.

But Make sure everything works w/ Win10.
Example: Many old Bluetooth modules won't work. Standalone or built into NIC boards often from Intel. Some Intel NIC/BT just refuse to run on Win10 at all.

⚠️ Warning: Saving/copying/Ghosting data from used drives you get from anyone else can cause Legal Problems later.
You have no idea want crap is on them (including Deleted items) and if search by TSA, ICE, other LEO, etc. and find have illegal material then get a very good lawyer after they arrest you.

In Many Places, if you take to repair shop and they just see names suggest illegal crap copying/ghosting files then they call police or risk getting big trouble later by law or company policy. This is old news for many in the IT business and way, Way, before Biden Laptop BS.

I Wipe or destroy all used drives just for this reason including all "thumb" drives, SD and other Flash media.
And Most Wiping programs for HD does not work on SSD and other Flash types you need right tools to wipe them or expect to destroy them.

Note: Many Win7 systems has set BIOS to runs some sections in Legacy Mode. This can cause problems using Win7 and more w/ Win10 depending just what is using Legacy Mode. Example: HD/SSD don't need LM in 7/8.x/10 and runs slower too but many still have LM not Advance/Enhance/AHCI. So make sure AHCI is on before installing Win10 on the new drive.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 03-20-2022).]

theogre MAR 20, 06:01 PM
Note:
Many Consumer systems have 7 Home version and upgrade to 10 will be same.

This Matter to some and not others.

But same DELL "BIOS key" is use by DELL OEM 7 Pro or Ultimate so any DELL CD etc will do to install them.
So can install OEM 7 pro/ultimate and then get 10 Pro upgrade w/ auto active.

And when you DL Win10 from M$ media tool...
Always get all versions to USB. Is a bigger DL but smaller and faster then doing that second time. Use a USB3 stick to help writing to it.
In General, If under 4gb RAM use 32bit OS. Otherwise use 64bit.
But Many still want 32bit to run whatever doesn't support 64bit.

I can't remember if clean install on new drive have a choice to say home pro etc. Even w/o doing upgrade, the Win7 "BIOS key" alone may allow to "upgrade" a blank drive.
When you boot from USB to Blank drive you get a large menu and hard to remember them all. (Think has options for other countries too the last time I did this.)

Is a bit of a pain to upgrade but Auto Active will save a lot of headaches later and never need a Win10 key.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 03-20-2022).]