Cloning an SSD to a HDD

[Eddelweiss]

Ok so here is what i want to ask. The hard disk on my mom's laptop died a few days ago. So i went a got a 500 HDD to replace it. Is it possible to clone the SSD , from my desktop that has windows installed on it , on to my mom's new HDD and have both copies of windows work properly? Or is windows going to display that one of them is not genuine?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[bobs616]

It might work for a short period until you are forced to register it then MS will know you're trying to use the same copy of windows on two different computers a copyright violation. You might be able to get a legit copy of Windows from her computer maker assuming you don't have a windows boot disc (some will sell you a copy for under $20, of course it will only work on her computer) otherwise find the cheapest windows version you can or convince her to go with one of the Linux free OSes 😉.

 

[kaswyn]

I don't have any legal advice for you, only technical advice.

If your copy of Windows isn't the 1-use type, after you clone your drive and place it in the laptop, Windows on the laptop will detect all the new hardware and attempt to install them. Worst case scenario is Windows can't install all drivers and has old ghost drivers from your computer's hardware, and Windows can't activate. Best case scenario (if you don't have the 1-use type Windows installs), is Windows will attempt to activate and may be successful. Even then you'll still end up with ghost drivers etc.

The best option is to:

1) Figure out what Windows OS is on the laptop.
2) Look at the key code at the bottom. The hope is it's the same version of Windows as yours.
3) Once you determine all this, and let's say she has Windows 7 Home and you have Windows 7 Ultimate, and you have a DVD of your Windows, you can quickly Google on how to make a Windows 7 ANY VERSION copy. This will then prompt the installer during the initial install to choose a specific edition of Windows 7. You then choose hers, and key in the code etc. Best case scenario as with my MSI laptop is it accepts the code and activates (due to it seeing all the same hardware components). Worst case scenario is it fails to activate, and gives you a number to call. Call it and follow the prompts. Answer "one" when the automated system asks you how many computers you have this on.

BTW: I use Macrium Reflect to clone and backup stuff. Works like a charm. Macrium Reflect may be able to fix the boot issue too if you create a boot disk from it. Go to download dot com to get it.

Also, it doesn't matter if you install Windows 7, 64-bit or 32-bit, the same key code will work for both. Micro$oft likes to trick ya.

Good luck yo!

 

[Eddelweiss]

Thanks for the quick replies. another thing i thought of is that i can use the windows key from the laptop that broke. I wonder if microsoft will let me reuse it like that. What do you guys think?

 

[bobs616]

Might work if it's the same version of windows. One thing doing a clone to a different system can cause a lot of weird problems since a lot of baggage and useless drivers etc. get carried over-- Windows may or may not replace these and trying to trace ones that are causing problems can be difficult, since this isn't your computer you may find it not worth it do this unless you want to spend a lot of time trying to solve weird problems your time may not be worth <$90 saved (price of a Win7 disc) and again check with the maker they may have a Windows disc available much cheaper.

 

[ArtPog]

The likelihood that a cloned copy of your desktop's OS (I'm assuming this situation involves the Win 7 OS) installed in your mother's laptop will meet activation criteria is virtually nil. While there have been situations where, for rare & obscure reasons, no further activation problems manifest themselves following the general type of disk-cloning you describe, they are few & far behind.

What I fail to understand is why not simply install the new 500 GB HDD in your mother's laptop and install the Win 7 OS on that machine. I'm assuming you have, or can obtain, the Product Key available. I'm guessing that your mother doesn't have any recovery disks for the laptop. So you'll need a Windows 7 Home Premium installation DVD (64-bit) to perform the installation of the OS. I'm assuming you have such or can obtain one. It's likely Windows will pick up most, if not all, of the drivers needed by the laptop's system and I assume any other needed drivers will be available from the laptop's OEM manufacturer.