Need to take my Windows 10 OS and put it on another drive.

[Qahnaarin55]

I need to find out what the simplest method is to move an OS (specifically Windows 10 x64) to a new hard drive. I believe the problems this computer has been having is that it is using an old SSD (that my friend had) for the OS and the drive is failing. The computer in question always has framerate drops that are unexplained and shouldn't be happening. I have a nearly identical computer (that I'm typing this on now) that has never shown any problems even close to this. I've swapped between the two builds and replaced everything else except the CPU, coolers and the old SSD. Is there a way where I could just install Windows 10 on the new hard drive and activate it with the same key that is currently active on the crappy SSD? I don't care about anything that is on the computer in question and I just want to try to fix the problems in order to give to my brother for his birthday. The computer was purchased from a friend and the OS is still probably registered in his name from when he upgraded to windows 10. Should I just contact Microsoft and get the key registered in my name or something? All I want to do is get the OS onto the new drive and toss the old one.

Thank you for your time, this has been a problem I've been troubleshooting for a while.

 

[Colif]

have a look in settings/update & security/activation and see what it says in the top area.

If it says "Windows is activated using a digital entitlement" then the license is still currently tied to the board and all you need to do is remove ssd, put in new hdd and fresh install win 10 - when you reach screen asking for a licnse key, click "I don't have a key" and win 10 will continue to install and reactivate itself.

If it says "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account" then its linked to your friends email address and it gets more difficult.

check what it says as if its second, I am unsure you can move the license to your user... do you log on using your own account or something they made up?

 

[Qahnaarin55]

have a look in settings/update & security/activation and see what it says in the top area.

If it says "Windows is activated using a digital entitlement" then the license is still currently tied to the board and all you need to do is remove ssd, put in new hdd and fresh install win 10 - when you reach screen asking for a licnse key, click "I don't have a key" and win 10 will continue to install and reactivate itself.

If it says "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account" then its linked to your friends email address and it gets more difficult.

check what it says as if its second, I am unsure you can move the license to your user... do you log on using your own account or something they made up?

Went to turn it on today and apparently the AIO CPU cooler leaked everywhere. I wasn't paying attention and well... now it won't power on anymore. Hooray.

So instead I would like to give my brother my computer, but similar situation. This one is activated with a digital license linked to my Microsoft account. My account, so hopefully easier now. My OS is on a regular HDD, 1tb. I have a 1tb SSD I would like to put it on instead before giving it to my brother. Would I simply be able to wipe the SSD, install windows 10 via USB or whatever and activate by logging into my Microsoft account? If so, could I afterward somehow transfer ownership of the key to my brother or somehow abandon the key so he could take it? Would that require a Microsoft phone call?

Another thing... any pointers on cleaning up an AIO CPU cooler leak? First time dealing with one and I didn't even buy the damn thing. Green liquid everywhere. Any tips on salvaging what I can?

 

[Colif]

There is a way to remove the license from the Microsoft account so it just goes back to being linked to the computer, see here: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-security-winpc/how-to-unlink-windows-10-license-key-from-my/2d606e38-9802-41ab-a684-d81b0a02a86f

As for newer question, I will have to ask as I am not sure. it could have done serious damage

 

[Imacflier]

Damage from an AIO leak appears to be highly variable. My internal shower caused an SSD to erase itself, but it checks perfectly healthy and is back in use. My biggest problem was dust (of course no one else has any in their computers). Dust down in the motherboard connectors mixes with the cooling fluid and forms a conductive cement. So, get a couple of BIG dust-off cans and get to it, disassemble and blow it out.....then do your assembly a stage at a time verifying no shorts with each card. If you are lucky you may simply end up with a computer that is as clean as it should have been when it leaked and no damage done at all.

G'Luck,

Larry

 

[Qahnaarin55]

Thank you both for your awesome advice! I truly appreciate it!