how to move windows 10 into a new hardrive without uninstalling

[theinfamoustoast]

I really want to put my windows 10 in my new WD hard drive because I don't want the old hard drive to fail with windows on it just to be safe, how do i do that without uninstalling windows as i upgraded to windows 10 with my windows 7 key and you can't get windows 10 free anymore.

(btw both of the hard drives are 320gb and the same speeds)

 

[geofelt]

You could simply reinstall windows 10 on the new hard drive.
Your key is known so you can reactivate.

But, I have a suggestion:
Take this as an opportunity to convert windows to a ssd.
It makes everything so much faster.
Buy a Samsung ssd sufficiently large to hold your data. likely 240gb.
They have a free ssd migration app that will move everything over.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It will activate when you install 10 again it's stored in the cloud and will be fine with HDD change , they will also ask you to link your 10 license to a Microsoft account if it currently isn't. Your PC WILL THEN BE LINKED TO THE ACCOUNT and will activate through the account next time.

 

[theinfamoustoast]

so if i uninstall windows and re-install it and put the key in will it go to windows 7 and let me freely upgrade to windows 10 or does it just download windows 10.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

If you upgraded to 10 your 7 key is no longer valid , you need to install 10 , but it will activate.

 

[theinfamoustoast]

is there any software to put windows 10 from a HDD into a small ssd just for windows?

 

[geofelt]

is there any software to put windows 10 from a HDD into a small ssd just for windows?

How small is small?
120gb would be the minimum regardless because many things default to the "C" drive.
If you buy a Samsung ssd, their free ssd migration utility will move all to the ssd.
If the source will not fit, you can exclude data files.
The problem will come with apps that need the registry; they need to be moved in concert with the registry.
I suppose you could uninstall sufficient apps and reinstall them later.
If these are steam programs, I understand there is a procedure to move steam programs.

 

[theinfamoustoast]

as windows 10 is like 20gb i was just going to get a 32gb ssd, its legit just for windows. is that too small?

btw like i said before is there any software to put windows 10 from a HDD into a ssd?

 

[geofelt]

Abysmally small. first of all a 32gb ssd will have perhaps only 26gb available.
As a ssd gets filled, it will lose performance and endurance. Even 64gb is too small.

 

[theinfamoustoast]

yea but all I'm caring about is how long would u think the SSD would last before it would fail on a size like 32gb

 

[geofelt]

yea but all I'm caring about is how long would u think the SSD would last before it would fail on a size like 32gb

a week to 10 days.