Question Transferring retail OS to new build using same SSD

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ron648

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Feb 6, 2008
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Hello all,

Right into it! I let my 17 year old son research and buy all components(with his own money) for his first solo PC build. Only component he is keeping from old PC(which I built for him about 6-7 years ago) is the 1 TB SSD. He has a retail Win 10 OS from his existing PC that was bought when I built it. What do we need to do before/after PC is built so he can use his existing SSD and the OS without it messing up? Although I've build a few PC's in my day, I am no expert by any means. I always find PC forums to get the help I need for parts and such. I know how to put all the components together, but I've had issues at times with software stuff.

Thanks for any advice!

Ron
 
ron648 said:
Hello all,

Right into it! I let my 17 year old son research and buy all components(with his own money) for his first solo PC build. Only component he is keeping from old PC(which I built for him about 6-7 years ago) is the 1 TB SSD. He has a retail Win 10 OS from his existing PC that was bought when I built it. What do we need to do before/after PC is built so he can use his existing SSD and the OS without it messing up? Although I've build a few PC's in my day, I am no expert by any means. I always find PC forums to get the help I need for parts and such. I know how to put all the components together, but I've had issues at times with software stuff.

Thanks for any advice!

Ron
Click to expand...
The OS is dedicated to the motherboard it was installed on. New motherboard=Fresh Windows 11 installation. Windows 10 support ends 10/14/25.
 
ron648 said:
What do we need to do before/after PC is built so he can use his existing SSD and the OS without it messing up?
Click to expand...
Nothing.

This will almost certainly not work, no matter what you do, or how much you wish it to work.


Solution?
Sell the old PC as is, with its OS. Use some of that money to buy a new OS for the new system.
 
ron648 said:
So there is no way to uninstall or un-dedicate the OS from existing PC? :fou: Microsoft!
Click to expand...
An OEM license is tied to its original motherboard.

This is part of the deal when you got a $100 license for almost $0.

IGNORE: I somehow thought OEM vs the actual Retail license.

In addition...moving a drive+OS between differing systems usually fails. Even without the licensing issues.
 
Last edited:
ron648 said:
What do we need to do before/after PC is built so he can use his existing SSD and the OS without it messing up?
Click to expand...
You can transfer license to new pc.
  1. Link windows license to your MS account.
    • (you have to log in with your MS account and it needs to have administrative privileges assigned).
    • Check, if license is listed in account.microsoft.com
  2. Do clean install of windows (same version/same edition) on new pc
  3. Log in with your MS account and have administrative privileges assigned to it.
  4. Use activation troubleshooter, to move license to new pc (significant hardware change option).
TA9tGMyEAEk9cS5vvK7tcH.jpg


https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change
 
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The OS is NOT OEM. I bought the OS for his current PC when I built it 6-7 years ago. My thought was transfer the OS that I have a key for, format his existing SSD, and we are good to go. If not possible then I will tell him he has to get a new OS.
 
Thank you all! Sorry for any confusion on my part! We will be attacking this today or tomorrow. I'll post back and let you all know how it went.
 
Ok thought I was done. The OS license is tied to my MS account as my son was just a little kid when I built his first PC. Is it possible to 'transfer' the license to his MS account? Can we just do the fresh install and have it be all under his account? He said he's cool with it remaining in my name, but I would like it in his name/account if possible. Maybe I'll splurge and just get him a Win11 license.....

Thanks again!
 
ron648 said:
Ok thought I was done. The OS license is tied to my MS account as my son was just a little kid when I built his first PC. Is it possible to 'transfer' the license to his MS account? Can we just do the fresh install and have it be all under his account? He said he's cool with it remaining in my name, but I would like it in his name/account if possible. Maybe I'll splurge and just get him a Win11 license.....

Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Get it up and running, and fully licensed on the new system.
Then see about changing the MS account to him. Don't try to do it all at once.
 
ron648 said:
Can we just do the fresh install and have it be all under his account?
Click to expand...
It's a pity the license is tied to your Microsoft Account, but it's worth reading these postings and calling Microsoft to discuss options. Cheaper than buying a new (legit) license costing circa $100/$200 (Home/Pro).

Caveat: I have no idea if this method works with a license linked to a Microsoft Account.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-transfer-windows-10-license-new-computer-or-hard-drive

https://www.howtogeek.com/245445/how-to-use-slmgr-to-change-remove-or-extend-your-windows-license/

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/activation-slmgr-vbs-options

"You can remove the product key from your current Windows system with Slmgr. After you run the below commands and restart your computer, the Windows system won't have a product key and will be in an unactivated, unlicensed state. If you installed Windows from a retail license and would like to use that license on another computer, this allows you to remove the license."

slmgr.vbs /upk

slmgr.vbs /cpky

On your son's new computer:

"You can use slmgr.vbs to enter a new product key. If the Windows system already has a product key, using the below command will silently replace the old product key with the one you provide.

Run the following command to replace the product key, replacing #####-#####-#####-#####-##### with the product key. The command will check the product key you enter to ensure it's valid before using it. Microsoft advises you restart the computer after running this command."

slmgr.vbs /ipk #####-#####-#####-#####-#####

"To force Windows to attempt an online activation, run the following command. If you're using a retail edition of Windows, this will force Windows to attempt online activation with Microsoft's servers."

slmgr.vbs /ato


As I mentioned earlier, it's probably best to check first with Microsoft to see what's permissible, before proceeding.

Remember, the old system will be de-activated and you'll need another "official" license (not a cheap pirated copy) to remain compliant with Microsoft's Terms and Conditions. Alternatively, you could install a copy of Linux on the old PC.

As luck would have it, all my OEM and Retail Windows 10 Licenses were installed using Local Accounts only and (hopefully) none of my PCs or laptops are associated with a Microsoft Account. Perhaps I'll be able to transfer the Retail Licenses when/if I upgrade the relevant systems to 11.


ron648 said:
What do we need to do before/after PC is built so he can use his existing SSD and the OS without it messing up?
Click to expand...
I've been very naughty in the past and moved Windows 10 boot drives between machines on many occasions. It's bad practice, but quite often the OS detects new the hardware and works fine. I've even moved boot drives between AMD and Intel systems and survived. I had my comeuppance on one occasion when the transferred drive ran slowly on the new PC. A clean install fixed it.

I don't transfer OS drives on any important systems, but when I'm testing old motherboards, the "quick and dirty" approach often suffices. At other times I've used a Windows-to-Go bootable USB memory stick to test old motherboards. When you boot Windows from USB, you can see it loading drivers for new hardware detected, just like the "dirty" SSD swap approach.
https://www.easyuefi.com/wintousb/

If you are tempted to do move the SSD between machines without a fresh install, clone the drive first and boot from the clone, not the original 1TB SSD. Keep the original 1TB intact, in case things go pear shaped.
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

Windows can be quite resilient after changing hardware. Many people upgrade CPU, RAM and GPU with no problems. Add a 10GbE NIC or a sound card and Windows survives. But a new motherboard chipset might prove a stumbling block (see below).

Quite often, changing the mobo is a step too far when it comes to activation. The Microsoft servers detect a move to a new computer and de-activate Windows. If you contact Microsoft and explain you won't be using the old mobo with the same key, they should allow you to transfer a Retail license.
 
ron648 said:
Ok thought I was done. The OS license is tied to my MS account as my son was just a little kid when I built his first PC. Is it possible to 'transfer' the license to his MS account? Can we just do the fresh install and have it be all under his account? He said he's cool with it remaining in my name, but I would like it in his name/account if possible. Maybe I'll splurge and just get him a Win11 license.....

Thanks again!
Click to expand...
The windows 10 account will work in activating a fresh windows 11 installation.
You can also just update windows 10 to 11 on the old PC.
ron648 said:
So there is no way to uninstall or un-dedicate the OS from existing PC? :fou: Microsoft!
Click to expand...
There is but it's not user friendly and your milage may wary, also many popular cloning tools have an clone to dissimilar feature which will do this automatically. (click and pray)
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/w...alize--a-windows-installation?view=windows-11
 
Bottom line:

There are 2 different concepts at play here.

1. License - It is entirely possible to transfer that license to new hardware.
You may be able to change the specifics of the MS account associated with that license.

2. Operation - Trying to move the drive+OS to entirely different hardware may result in a lot of tears.
Strongly recommend you just do a fresh OS install on the new hardware.


But...only change one aspect at a time.
Win 10 to 11, or fresh install on the new hardware, or changing the properties of the MS account.
Don't try to do it all at once.
 
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