Question Can Rufus edit a preinstalled OEM version of Windows on an SSD or M.2

[Titanion]

I have used Rufus to create a USB Windows Install Drive, but can Rufus be used to edit a preinstalled OEM version of Windows that is located on a hard drive?

 

[USAFRet]

I have used Rufus to create a USB Windows Install Drive, but can Rufus be used to edit a preinstalled OEM version of Windows that is located on a hard drive?

"edit", how, exactly?

What are you looking to do?

 

[hotaru.hino]

No, Rufus can only "burn" a bootable disc image into a USB drive so it can be booted into.

What's already on the computer is a system image, and it's only meant to be used to restore the OS install.

 

[Titanion]

I was a little slow on the learning curve about Windows 10/11 being imprinted on the motherboard of laptops. I have a couple M.2 drives that have never been set up with Windows. Wanting to just use them in desktops with a local offline account if I can't activate the version of Windows already on them.

 

[USAFRet]

I was a little slow on the learning curve about Windows 10/11 being imprinted on the motherboard of laptops. I have a couple M.2 drives that have never been set up with Windows. Wanting to just use them in desktops with a local offline account if I can't activate the version of Windows already on them.

Still unclear of what you're trying to do.

No, you can't just move the drive+OS from the laptop to a desktop.
The desktop needs its own fresh install And license.

You can put a blank drive in a desktop, and do a fresh install, no problem.
But, you will eventually need a valid license for that desktop.