Probably a stupid question about swapping HDDs.

Transam · 31 Jul 2017 at 18:25

I have two identical Dell N7110s. One is very dead (screen cable socket is mangled after too many screen changes - I have a habit of breaking them!).
The other is fine.
If I was to swap the HDD from my dead 7110, to the good one, am I likely to run into licence issues?
Both are on their original licences and the same OS, Win7 Home 64 bit.
Or, if I do to the hassle of swapping MY original HDD into the good 7110, would it be OK, and run as the old one did? It involves taking the laptop to bits, no easy 4 screw HDD cover swap on this model.
Only asking because I have a load of stuff on the HDD from the dead 7110, and transferring it all would be a serious hassle.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Transam · 31 Jul 2017 at 18:29

PS - I know it's an ancient, rubbish laptop, but it surfs the web fine and had no issues until I finally mangled the screen cable socket! The "new" one only cost me £50, so a HDD swap with no licence complications would be brilliant!

Akagi · 31 Jul 2017 at 18:33

I suspect it would be fine. Even if not, Microsoft's ever helpful software activation phone system will sort it.

Transam · 31 Jul 2017 at 18:46

Great stuff - I shall probably set about them both with the crosshead drivers this weekend - thanks, much appreciated!

Akagi · 31 Jul 2017 at 21:23

Also presumably the replacement laptop has the licence key on the bottom anyway?

Transam · 1 Aug 2017 at 20:39

Err...I'll tell you that once I've got it out of my vast pile of "not needed" laptops... it's had a hard life, so it may be worn off like my dead one is, but I'll have a check NOW!

EsaT · 1 Aug 2017 at 21:10

Transam said:
Err...I'll tell you that once I've got it out of my vast pile of "not needed" laptops... it's had a hard life, so it may be worn off like my dead one is, but I'll have a check NOW!

There are plenty of programs which can show Windows product key.
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/10-best-free-product-key-finders-1079718
So you can use that to find product key of Windows in working laptop.

Transam · 1 Aug 2017 at 21:11

It does indeed have a totally readable licence key - would this mean I wouldn't have to phone Microsoft? It's running IE8, lol, as the guy I got it from must have used the recovery discs before he sold it to me.
It looks brand new, unlike mine which is coveres in cigarette ash and other dusty trash!

Transam · 5 Aug 2017 at 19:54

Just to close this out (I hate it when you give advice and people don't answer!) - I have swapped the HDD from the dead laptop to the new one, and it works perfectly. No licence issues at all.
Thank you!