New build can i use a my old hardrive ? with windows on it

[Donald Keyes]

Hi im doing a new build on monday i was wondering can i use my old hardrive with windows 7 on it? or should i buy 8.1 ? and fomat the drive ? id like to keep windows as its 110$ witch id be taking out of my budget for parts ? i lost my cd key disk when i moved but its a paid for version opinions? can i use the hard drive with windows

 

[USAFRet]

Find your existing key before you take anything apart.
Belarc Advisor can probably find it out.

New PC...a new install is always recommended, usually required.
You can probably use your existing license key, but you must find it first.

Then do a fresh install when the drive is in the new hardware.

 

[WyomingKnott]

The hard drive will probably not boot in the new system with the current copy of Windows 7, since the low-level drivers needed for the motherboard / chipset / other motherboard devices will be wrong.

You can certainly wipe the drive (which will erase all your data; do you have external backups) and install 8.1. However, if your current system is really built with a retail version of Windows 7 (not pre-installed by the PC builder) that you paid for and that hasn't been used on any other machine, I believe that there is a way to recover the installation key that does not fall afoul of Tom's' rules on software piracy. Of course, you would need installation media and Microsoft seems to have taken down the ISOs on Digital River.

So did you build the previous system yourself or did it come prebuilt with Windows installed? If you bought Win7 and installed it yourself, was it an OEM version or a full retail version? Microsoft licensing has changed a lot since the Win7 days. If I remember correctly, a Win7 OEM version that you bought and installed yourself is not transferable but tied to a particular piece of hardware - but that HDD may qualify as the particular piece; I'm not sure.

Awaiting more details on how you got your previous version of Win7.

 

[pho46514]

Hi im doing a new build on monday i was wondering can i use my old hardrive with windows 7 on it? or should i buy 8.1 ? and fomat the drive ? id like to keep windows as its 110$ witch id be taking out of my budget for parts ? i lost my cd key disk when i moved but its a paid for version opinions? can i use the hard drive with windows

 

[pho46514]

Yes.If the operating system on the hard disk is genuine.You have to reactivate the operating system.To see if the operating system is activated or not activated.Press programs,control panel,system and security,system.At the bottom you can see wether it is activated or not.If it is not just follow the directions on how to reactivate your operating system.You should get a free phone number that you phone Microsoft with.On the screen of your monitor if you follow the procedure correctly you should end up with eight boxes with numbers in them.You phone Microsoft with the phone number given to you.An automated voice then asks you to tap the numbers in the boxes on to the phone keypad.If the numbers are correct it procedes to give you a new key.Either copy the numbers of the new key on to a piece of paper or use your keyboard of your computer to copy the numbers into the empty boxes shown on the screen of your computer.You then reactivate your operating system.Hope that helps.

 

[pho46514]

I forgot to tell you.Put the hard drive with your operating system into your new computer.Then follow the procedure.

 

[USAFRet]

Yes.If the operating system on the hard disk is genuine.You have to reactivate the operating system.To see if the operating system is activated or not activated.Press programs,control panel,system and security,system.At the bottom you can see wether it is activated or not.If it is not just follow the directions on how to reactivate your operating system.You should get a free phone number that you phone Microsoft with.On the screen of your monitor if you follow the procedure correctly you should end up with eight boxes with numbers in them.You phone Microsoft with the phone number given to you.An automated voice then asks you to tap the numbers in the boxes on to the phone keypad.If the numbers are correct it procedes to give you a new key.Either copy the numbers of the new key on to a piece of paper or use your keyboard of your computer to copy the numbers into the empty boxes shown on the screen of your computer.You then reactivate your operating system.Hope that helps.

I forgot to tell you.Put the hard drive with your operating system into your new computer.Then follow the procedure.

Huh?
With all new hardware, a full reinstall is highly recommended.

There are two issues, Operation, and Licensing.

He has to get past Operation first.
With all new hardware, a full reinstall is highly recommended, sometimes required.

 

[Donald Keyes]

Ok thanks for the help im going to call microsoft and see if they can find my key for me i paid for it aftermarket im sure they can use my credit card to find it Thanks so much for the help everyone!!!!

 

[pho46514]

Hi im doing a new build on monday i was wondering can i use my old hardrive with windows 7 on it? or should i buy 8.1 ? and fomat the drive ? id like to keep windows as its 110$ witch id be taking out of my budget for parts ? i lost my cd key disk when i moved but its a paid for version opinions? can i use the hard drive with windows

Yes.If the operating system on the hard disk is genuine.You have to reactivate the operating system.To see if the operating system is activated or not activated.Press programs,control panel,system and security,system.At the bottom you can see wether it is activated or not.If it is not just follow the directions on how to reactivate your operating system.You should get a free phone number that you phone Microsoft with.On the screen of your monitor if you follow the procedure correctly you should end up with eight boxes with numbers in them.You phone Microsoft with the phone number given to you.An automated voice then asks you to tap the numbers in the boxes on to the phone keypad.If the numbers are correct it procedes to give you a new key.Either copy the numbers of the new key on to a piece of paper or use your keyboard of your computer to copy the numbers into the empty boxes shown on the screen of your computer.You then reactivate your operating system.Hope that helps.

I forgot to tell you.Put the hard drive with your operating system into your new computer.Then follow the procedure.

Huh?
With all new hardware, a full reinstall is highly recommended.

There are two issues, Operation, and Licensing.

He has to get past Operation first.
With all new hardware, a full reinstall is highly recommended, sometimes required.

Ok thanks for the help im going to call microsoft and see if they can find my key for me i paid for it aftermarket im sure they can use my credit card to find it Thanks so much for the help everyone!!!!

 

[pho46514]

Hi im doing a new build on monday i was wondering can i use my old hardrive with windows 7 on it? or should i buy 8.1 ? and fomat the drive ? id like to keep windows as its 110$ witch id be taking out of my budget for parts ? i lost my cd key disk when i moved but its a paid for version opinions? can i use the hard drive with windows

Yes.If the operating system on the hard disk is genuine.You have to reactivate the operating system.To see if the operating system is activated or not activated.Press programs,control panel,system and security,system.At the bottom you can see wether it is activated or not.If it is not just follow the directions on how to reactivate your operating system.You should get a free phone number that you phone Microsoft with.On the screen of your monitor if you follow the procedure correctly you should end up with eight boxes with numbers in them.You phone Microsoft with the phone number given to you.An automated voice then asks you to tap the numbers in the boxes on to the phone keypad.If the numbers are correct it procedes to give you a new key.Either copy the numbers of the new key on to a piece of paper or use your keyboard of your computer to copy the numbers into the empty boxes shown on the screen of your computer.You then reactivate your operating system.Hope that helps.

I forgot to tell you.Put the hard drive with your operating system into your new computer.Then follow the procedure.

Huh?
With all new hardware, a full reinstall is highly recommended.

There are two issues, Operation, and Licensing.

He has to get past Operation first.
With all new hardware, a full reinstall is highly recommended, sometimes required.

Ok thanks for the help im going to call microsoft and see if they can find my key for me i paid for it aftermarket im sure they can use my credit card to find it Thanks so much for the help everyone!!!!

 

[pho46514]

When you put the hard drive with the operating system into the new build it definitely will boot with any hardeware.I'm talking from experience because I have done it a number of times when I have built a new computer.You have to reactivate the operating system by following the procedure I have explained.

 

[USAFRet]

When you put the hard drive with the operating system into the new build it definitely will boot with any hardeware.I'm talking from experience because I have done it a number of times when I have built a new computer.You have to reactivate the operating system by following the procedure I have explained.

And I've done it a number of times, and sometimes it does not.

 

[WyomingKnott]

Before you overwrite it, wait! There's a tool for finding your activation key if you have a legit retail installation. This could save you some time. I remember that the moderation team discussed whether this was a legit tool or a piracy tool and came down on the side of allowing discussion.

Believe it or not, it's called Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder. Apparently, it can extract the original activation code from the registry somehow - that's the magic part. If you are still booting the drive in the original system, why not give it a try.

There is no harm in trying to boot the old OS installation in the new machine. It may work, it may not work, it may require a repair step. But a fresh installation is always preferable with a hardware change, IMHO.

Good luck, and have fun.