New PC Build - Just move existing Windows 10 Install/SSD over to it?

NeilF

NeilF

NeilF

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Not having built a new machine for a loooong time and my biggest issue being the amount of software and config I have, I'm wondering if I can simply build a new PC (stick with Intel & stick with NVidia), clone my existing SSD to a new one (even an NVME?), and simply put that in the new PC build? ie: So I boot up that new machine and voila it's configured and setup just as per my old machine? (albeit with drivers and some programs I can then remove afterwards)

Worse case, if that fails, I guess I could resort to a fresh install on the new PC/drive and buying a new Windows 10 install?
 
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OK... After a lot of looking, seems the general rule of thumb for moving to a new MB and CPU on a existing install is it will probably work, but there are many risks. So people seem to suggest a fresh install is just the safest...
 
OK... Shame cos that also means a whole new Windows (11) license too. Strange how they seem to vary from about £6 to £150!?!?
 
NeilF said:
OK... Shame cos that also means a whole new Windows (11) license too.
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Is it a retail license you have now, registered to your MS account, or an OEM license?

Just because you clone the drive doesn't actually mean it keeps the license, because they can still deactivate it when the hardware change is recognised.
 
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This is a PC I setup 9yrs ago, and then upgraded to Windows 10 Pro when it was offer as a free upgrade. I suspect it was originally Windows 8.1 in 2014 when it was built? So maybe it IS time to do a fresh install :)

The account on the machine in question is NOT linked to a Microsoft account I believe.
 
Depends how you log in to your machine. Do you use a local account to log into? Ie can you log in without your machine being on the internet or not?
 
If I look at my account details, there is an option there "Sign in with a Microsoft Account instead".

Anyhoo... I guess if I'm going down the fresh install, that'll be a purchased Windows 11 and a whole new account etc?
 
NeilF said:
If I look at my account details, there is an option there "Sign in with a Microsoft Account instead".

Anyhoo... I guess if I'm going down the fresh install, that'll be a purchased Windows 11 and a whole new account etc?
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I don't have mine registered, but I believe if you do have the key registered, sometimes it'll just reactivate, sometimes you can reactivate it yourself (I think there's a troubleshoot activation option now rather than having to call).

If it doesn't activate and you have your old retail key, you can try using it with the new install, but I think OEM Windows 7/8 keys don't activate fresh Windows 10/11 installs anymore.
 
I just went through this. New MB/Processor/RAM (Lots of help from the great guys on here). I put my Win 10 activated HDD back in but it came up with not activated. Just to note : The activated Win 10 was the free upgrade from a retail copy of Win 7.
Tried everything to get it to activate so I could upgrade to Win 11, but ended up having to buy Win 11. The peeps at Microsoft customer services couldn't/wouldn't help, they said that you could no longer upgrade if you don't have a Win 10 key or a registered 'working' Win 10 on my account. This meant my Win 7 key was useless and the fact that I had Win 10 registered on my Microsoft account didn't count for spit.
I got passed around a bit saying they could get me a discount or if I "found" a Win 10 key they could reset it for me but nothing came of this.
When I say 'working Win 10 on my account' I'm guessing that it has to be not via an upgraded version of Windows.

I have another PC to upgrade so next time I'll try to force a Win11 installation on the old hardware and see if I can pass that onto the new hardware before trying to upgrade to Win 11.
 
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See if you can install W10 with your (retail) key and then upgrade to W11 (still a free upgrade).

EDIT

After looking online it does look like you need a new key.

Shame, as i will be in the same boat if i ever want to do a fresh install (my key is from W8.1 also).
 
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I would do the build and use your existing cloned drive to get things going. Windows these days is pretty robust with driver issues, not like the old days with BSOD at the slightest whiff of a dodgy driver.

Then, after getting online and checking activation status....then do a fresh install.

I've done this exact process myself and not had to buy a new license. Usually with a retail licence but it has also happened with OEM licences too.

Just recently I put windows on a 10+ year old MacBook Pro. Windows just activated itself no problem. So either the original owner bought an OEM licence to go with the machine and didn't tell me or Microsoft are just very loose with qualification these days. My experience is the latter.
 
I would do a fresh install definitely, cloning doesnt matter for activation. If it activates cloned, it will activate from fresh.
 
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Trouble shooting in the future would be a nightmare if you use a cloned install but I suppose you could just wait till then to do a fresh install. Just be aware that some redundant code still sticks to the OS plus you got e and p cores which you didn't have 9 years ago.

Sorry, just to add. Are you using 13/14 gen intel cpu?
 
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sg0 said:
Trouble shooting in the future would be a nightmare if you use a cloned install but I suppose you could just wait till then to do a fresh install. Just be aware that some redundant code still sticks to the OS plus you got e and p cores which you didn't have 9 years ago.

Sorry, just to add. Are you using 13/14 gen intel cpu?
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This would be on a brand new Intel build.

I think it's pretty clear a fresh Windows 11 install is wise ;)
 
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Well it has worked for me for 4 years now, so i wont mind getting one again if it fails. But thanks for the warning!!. It us usually the advice given on this forum i believe. Edit it was win 10 pro and it upgraded to win 11 free no problem.
 
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