OEM Windows from HD to SSD

[hotdogninja1]

I built my computer 4 years ago and I have recently upgraded the motherboard and the CPU, and now I want to add an SSD. Back then I put an OEM copy of windows 8.1 pro on my hard drive. I used Microsoft's free windows 10 upgrade and I want to know if it is possible to transfer just my OEM OS to the SSD. If possible, are there any resources you could point me to? I tried to youtube it but its a lot of laptop stuff and doesn't seem OEM specific. Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

I built my computer 4 years ago and I have recently upgraded the motherboard and the CPU, and now I want to add an SSD. Back then I put an OEM copy of windows 8.1 pro on my hard drive. I used Microsoft's free windows 10 upgrade and I want to know if it is possible to transfer just my OEM OS to the SSD. If possible, are there any resources you could point me to? I tried to youtube it but its a lot of laptop stuff and doesn't seem OEM specific. Thanks!

"Just" the OS? No.
The entirety of the C drive? Yes.

What size is the new SSD?
How much consumed space is on the current C drive or partition?
With this new motherboard, did you ever doa clean install? And if so, which OS?

 

[hotdogninja1]

I built my computer 4 years ago and I have recently upgraded the motherboard and the CPU, and now I want to add an SSD. Back then I put an OEM copy of windows 8.1 pro on my hard drive. I used Microsoft's free windows 10 upgrade and I want to know if it is possible to transfer just my OEM OS to the SSD. If possible, are there any resources you could point me to? I tried to youtube it but its a lot of laptop stuff and doesn't seem OEM specific. Thanks!

"Just" the OS? No.
The entirety of the C drive? Yes.

What size is the new SSD?
How much consumed space is on the current C drive or partition?
With this new motherboard, did you ever doa clean install? And if so, which OS?

I plan on installing a 512 GB SSD
I have about 180 GB used on my C drive currently (recently factory reset my entire PC)
As for the motherboard I don't understand what you mean. I bought it, and put it in no problems.

 

[USAFRet]

I plan on installing a 512 GB SSD
I have about 180 GB used on my C drive currently (recently factory reset my entire PC)
As for the motherboard I don't understand what you mean. I bought it, and put it in no problems.

With that drive and consumed space, no problem.

I asked about the motherboard, because very, very often, there are actual booting problems with using a drive+OS and a different motherboard.
Often, it simply fails to boot up. Or, you're chasing little issues for weeks.
Doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen.

And then we come to the potential licensing/activation issues. Usually an OS will deactivate itself upon seeing a new motherboard.
An Upgraded Win 10 is easy to work around that, but initially it would be seen as Unactivated.

 

[hotdogninja1]

I built my computer 4 years ago and I have recently upgraded the motherboard and the CPU, and now I want to add an SSD. Back then I put an OEM copy of windows 8.1 pro on my hard drive. I used Microsoft's free windows 10 upgrade and I want to know if it is possible to transfer just my OEM OS to the SSD. If possible, are there any resources you could point me to? I tried to youtube it but its a lot of laptop stuff and doesn't seem OEM specific. Thanks!

"Just" the OS? No.
The entirety of the C drive? Yes.

What size is the new SSD?
How much consumed space is on the current C drive or partition?
With this new motherboard, did you ever doa clean install? And if so, which OS?

I plan on installing a 512 GB SSD
I have about 180 GB used on my C drive currently (recently factory reset my entire PC)
As for the motherboard I don't understand what you mean. I bought it, and put it in no problems.

With that drive and consumed space, no problem.

I asked about the motherboard, because very, very often, there are actual booting problems with using a drive+OS and a different motherboard.
Often, it simply fails to boot up. Or, you're chasing little issues for weeks.
Doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen.

And then we come to the potential licensing/activation issues. Usually an OS will deactivate itself upon seeing a new motherboard.
An Upgraded Win 10 is easy to work around that, but initially it would be seen as Unactivated.

Thanks appreciate the help

 

[USAFRet]

For exactly how to do it, just like this

Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
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