Need help moving from HDD: How to clean reinstall Windows 8.1 to a new SSD in my laptop? (original OS: Windows 7)

[aar_yong]

Hi Everyone,

I have a HP Laptop (DV6-6c50tx) which originally came with windows 7 on a HDD. Later on, i upgraded to Windows 8 using the DVD disc, and then upgraded to windows 8.1.

Now i have a new SSD that i want to clean install onto (note: I cannot clone the hdd disk because i accidentally turned the hdd disk to a dynamic partition, and none of the software (partition wizard/samsung migration) could do it. Windows Image backup will not work on my smaller SSD either.

Another reason why i want a clean install is because i simply want to get rid of this dynamic disk nonsense...back to basic disk from now on! (Really regretted the conversion...it's been nothing but a pain)

My question is: Can i just reinstall windows 8 onto my SSD with the SAME product key on this laptop? Will there be any problems in activation? I won't want to waste $$$ on getting another license key

Thanks everyone!

 

[volcanoscout]

If it's the same PC but with an upgraded drive, then even if you have an OEM copy of Windows you can do the install with the same key. If you bought the full version, then that's also a yes. If for some reason it won't let you activate it, you can call into MicroSoft and do the activation over the phone.

 

[Gracodana]

Yes just install straight onto the SSD. If it says that it's already in use then, just ring up customer service and ask them to cancel the other one. I did that and it all worked fine for me.

 

[aar_yong]

Just did a clean install and used my old key, and Totally worked, no need for a phone activation. Thanks everyone!

Just in case anyone needs help, i did this:
1) Not sure if it helped, but while i was booted in windows 8.1 on my dynamic HDD, i created a recovery drive (but the size of it was only 512mb, so im sure it cant reinstall anything). Then i fully shut down the computer by holding down shift and pressing Shutdown in the start screen. Left the usb drive plugged in
2) open laptop, replace hdd with blank ssd
3) insert my windows 8 disk (since my key is for windows 8. A windows 8 key CANNOT be used o a windows 8.1 disc - i tried that already). Then install windows 8 as normal
4) not sure if this helped: when personalize screen comes up and during the rest of the set up, i didnt connect to any Internet. I let it fully set up itself first after i gavey inputs, until it boots to desktop
5) wait a few minutes, restart the laptop, then on the wifi to connect to internet
6) go to my computer >> properties
7) its activated already! No need to do anything else.

Thanks again everyone, hope my experience can help others too