Question Cloning win 11

[millturn]

Can you clone a hard drive with win 11 to a ssd then put it in a different computer?

 

[USAFRet]

Can you clone a hard drive with win 11 to a ssd then put it in a different computer?

Mostly, no.

Cloning is no different than trying to move the original physical drive.

A Windows install is not as modular as we'd all like.

Trying to do this, you'll have 3 basic outcomes:
1. It works just fine
2. It fails completely
3. It "works", but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.

I've personally seen all 3.

The greater the difference between the two sets of hardware, the less likely this is to work.


Just do a clean install in the new hardware.

 

[dwd999]

Can you clone a hard drive with win 11 to a ssd then put it in a different computer?

The license of the hdd clone is linked to the original motherboard so it will come up as not activated in a different computer. You will still need to purchase a second license.

 

[millturn]

Mostly, no.

Cloning is no different than trying to move the original physical drive.

A Windows install is not as modular as we'd all like.

Trying to do this, you'll have 3 basic outcomes:
1. It works just fine
2. It fails completely
3. It "works", but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.

I've personally seen all 3.

The greater the difference between the two sets of hardware, the less likely this is to work.


Just do a clean install in the new hardware.

Thanx, just what I thought

 

[millturn]

The license of the hdd clone is linked to the original motherboard so it will come up as not activated in a different computer. You will still need to purchase a second license.

Thanx, just what I thought