Windows 8 On new computer?

[bloodjewel]

So I am working on making a decent priced computer for my hubby for Christmas and I am using the pcpartpicker site. Now I've tinkered inside of computers before but my question is this: I bought a windows 8.1 CD about a year ago. I plan on either gutting my old system or using parts of it for this new one. Haven't decided. But will I be able to use the system on this new computer or will I have to buy a whole new windows OS?

I know it is a bit of a newbie question and I apologize but really would appreciate the help!

 

[USAFRet]

Your original OS license was probably an OEM license. As such, it is tied to that original motherboard.
Can you use the hard drive with the OS on it and expect it to boot up? Almost certainly not.
It will need a full reinstall

Can you use the license from that original OS on your new PC? That depends on exactly what you bought, OEM or Retail.

In reference to the above comment about 'buy the key online'...be very, very careful where you do this. If it is significantly cheaper than Newegg/Amazon/Tigerdirect/etc....it probably is not valid.

 

[bloodjewel]

How can I tell if it is OEM or Retail? And yeah I am not buying another key offline. I've done that once and it turned out ugly. I've had to reformat my computer before and I used the same CD. Not sure if that means anything.

Thank you both for such quick replies!

 

[USAFRet]

On the current PC, open File Explorer
Right click on 'This PC'
Select Properties
At the bottom of that window, next to "Product ID", there will be a long string of characters. Are the letters OEM in there?
(that Product ID is NOT your license key, but rather an indication of OEM or not)

 

[bloodjewel]

All the disk(s) say is full version. Also I found this (because I didn't want to reply without doing a little search!)

The Product ID should be in the form xxxxx-xxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxx. What are the 3 characters in the second group (if those 3 characters are OEM, then you have an OEM version).

Which mine doesn't have so I am going to assume retail.

 

[USAFRet]

All the disk(s) say is full version. Also I found this (because I didn't want to reply without doing a little search!)

The Product ID should be in the form xxxxx-xxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxx. What are the 3 characters in the second group (if those 3 characters are OEM, then you have an OEM version).

Which mine doesn't have so I am going to assume retail.

Then that is almost certainly good to install on new hardware.
As always, only one PC at a time.

 

[bloodjewel]

Thank you both so much for taking the time to answer my questions and get this sorted out. I appreciate it!!