[SOLVED] issues after cloning win 7 to ssd

[shall]

i cloned windows 7 to ssd but now it prompt me for activation when i boot through ssd. i have already removed the HDD. what could be the reason. I used samsung migration tool to clone the Win 7 ultimate to ssd. I do not have the product key. the copy of windows is genuine since it came with the toshiba laptop. Could you please help.
Since, i didnt want to take chance, i again plugged in the HDD to laptop and it is again working fine, recognizes win 7 as genuine. The only issue is when i boot through SSD.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Are you using it in a different computer than toshiba laptop?
If yes, then activation gets broken, if you move windows to a different computer.

BTW - you can extract key from your windows this way:

How to Explore Product Key in Windows 10, 8, 7 Using VBScript

How to Explore Product Key in Windows 10 using VBScript easily in one or two Steps or downloading it straightforwardly from here.

www.howto-connect.com

 

[shall]

Thanks for your response. I'm using it on same laptop. I removed HDD after cloning the OS to SSD and started the laptop using SSD. It boots up fine. But when i see the activation status it shows not genuine. Prompts me to activate.

 

[shall]

Are you using it in a different computer than toshiba laptop?
If yes, then activation gets broken, if you move windows to a different computer.

Thanks for your response. I'm using it on same laptop. I removed HDD after cloning the OS to SSD and started the laptop using SSD. It boots up fine. But when i see the activation status it shows not genuine. Prompts me to activate.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for your response. I'm using it on same laptop. I removed HDD after cloning the OS to SSD and started the laptop using SSD. It boots up fine. But when i see the activation status it shows not genuine. Prompts me to activate.

Given a valid OS license, a successful clone has no impact on activation status. It is a literal 100% copy from the old drive to the new.

 

[shall]

Are you using it in a different computer than toshiba laptop?
If yes, then activation gets broken, if you move windows to a different computer.

BTW - you can extract key from your windows this way:

How to Explore Product Key in Windows 10, 8, 7 Using VBScript

How to Explore Product Key in Windows 10 using VBScript easily in one or two Steps or downloading it straightforwardly from here.

www.howto-connect.com

Will this allow me to activate, considering the fact that there is no support for win 7.

 

[shall]

Given a valid OS license, a successful clone has no impact on activation status. It is a literal 100% copy from the old drive to the new.

Yeah, i understand what you are saying. I have already tried cloning another system to another ssd and never had any issues that was for win 10. Not sure in this case why am i facing the issue.

 

[thx1138v2]

Given a valid OS license, a successful clone has no impact on activation status. It is a literal 100% copy from the old drive to the new.

I haven't kept up with licensing requirements but I remember at one time the OS combined CPU, mobo, and HDD id's to come up with a unique id for validation. Would not changing the HDD to SSD make that scenario now invalid?

It might just take a phone call to MS to clear up the machine being invalidated.

 

[USAFRet]

I haven't kept up with licensing requirements but I remember at one time the OS combined CPU, mobo, and HDD id's to come up with a unique id for validation. Would not changing the HDD to SSD make that scenario now invalid?

It might just take a phone call to MS to clear up the machine being invalidated.

No.
Changing the OS drive does not incur any licensing issues.
If it did, any failed and replaced drive with require a call to MS. It does not.

Generally, (and the specifics are fuzzy and proprietary), the motherboard is the key factor. But...it IS a hash of the totality of parts. Changing just the drive does not kill the activation. It would have to be many parts, or just the motherboard.

 

[shall]

No.
Changing the OS drive does not incur any licensing issues.
If it did, any failed and replaced drive with require a call to MS. It does not.

Generally, (and the specifics are fuzzy and proprietary), the motherboard is the key factor. But...it IS a hash of the totality of parts. Changing just the drive does not kill the activation. It would have to be many parts, or just the motherboard.

Do you recommend me running the cloning again?

 

[USAFRet]

Do you recommend me running the cloning again?

Give us a rundown of exactly what drives are involved.
Make/model/size.

 

[USAFRet]

And Win 7 Ultimate being preinstalled on a laptop is rather unusual.
Did you buy this brand new from the store like that?

 

[shall]

And Win 7 Ultimate being preinstalled on a laptop is rather unusual.
Did you buy this brand new from the store like that?

Thanks for your response.

Yeah, the laptop came preinstalled with win 7 ultimate edition. I tried the Vbs provided by you to extract the Product key but i was unable to activate, resulted in error code 0xC004E003 while activating.

I again tried to clone the disk using samsung migration software (this was my second attempt). again prompts for activation and i wasn't able to activate win 7.
source is : 2.5 Inch Sata Toshiba HDD - 500 gb
Destination : Samsung evo 860 - 500 gb
The C drive was having 160 GB partition with around 60 GB free, with Remaining part of HDD unallocated. I had already deleted the partition of D & E on source so i had only the OS with programs to be cloned on destination.

Earlier today i tried to clone using a different s/w.... AOMEI and i was successfully able to clone with no activation asked. rebooted couple of time to confirm with SSD connected and works well.

Not sure, what the issue was but seems samsung migration software must have been causing the issue (not sure how). Thought of posting this in detail ... just incase someone else if facing same issue.

Thanks again for your help. It was nice discussing with you on the issue.

 

[geofelt]

There should be no need to rerun the migration app.
I do not know why activation might be needed.

Windows 7 laptops were required to have a sticker with the activation code on it.
Look on the bottom of the laptop, or perhaps inside the battery compartment.

Otherwise, with the hdd installed, run this free app which will recover product keys:

KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean

The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware utility that retrieves your Product Key (cd key) used to install windows from your registry.

www.magicaljellybean.com

Then with the ssd booted, use that key to reactivate.
If all else fails, contact microsoft.