Replacing HD with SSD

IrishChr1s · 4 Jan 2014 at 16:20

Hi guys,

I was after an SSD for a while and nabbed one fairly cheap, its for my desktop replacement laptop, HP Envy 17. Now I've previously been shown how to upgrade the drive, thanks for some very helpful forum members, but my issue is my Windows 8 licence.

Id rather if possible do a complete reinstall, I'm currently running windows 8.1. How do I find out the licence that's registered to this laptop?

Cheers

Chris

Captain · 4 Jan 2014 at 16:21

Are you trying to find the license key?

If so use http://pcsupport.about.com/od/system-security/fr/belarc-advisor-review.htm

Scotteh · 4 Jan 2014 at 16:31

I'd imagine your laptop would come with a recover disk as well as your product/license key?

IrishChr1s · 4 Jan 2014 at 16:38

Clov!s said:
Are you trying to find the license key?

If so use http://pcsupport.about.com/od/system-security/fr/belarc-advisor-review.htm

That's great, it gave me the whole breakdown.

The laptop comes with a section of the HD partitioned for recovery, it didn't come with any discs or stickers on the bottom to show the code.

So if I was to download the 8.1 ISO from the MS website, I should be good to go?

Scotteh · 4 Jan 2014 at 16:40

Assuming you got Product Key then yeah, just download it stick it on a CD/USB then boot from it.

Would need to download all drivers etc again.

IrishChr1s · 4 Jan 2014 at 16:46

Scotteh said:
Assuming you got Product Key then yeah, just download it stick it on a CD/USB then boot from it.

Would need to download all drivers etc again.

Good stuff, I've a few days free next week, so downloading everything again isn't much issue.

It was a cheapo 120gb sandisk SSD, (450r/350w) but I'm sure ill see good
improvements over the 1tb 5400rpm drive currently in it.

Not that it was any issue, few programs took longer than I liked to load

Scotteh · 4 Jan 2014 at 16:48

Yeah, should notice quite a speed increase in some stuff more than others, especially using a 5400rpm drive

Macky · 4 Jan 2014 at 16:55

I'd be interested to see if you could get the official .iso to download as it wouldn't accept my key. Also on a laptop.

IrishChr1s · 4 Jan 2014 at 17:03

Macky said:
I'd be interested to see if you could get the official .iso to download as it wouldn't accept my key. Also on a laptop.

I've been reading a few other threads, my original key is for windows 8, they had recommended installing a generic W8 iso, then changing the key to my own, then download the 8.1 via the market.

But ill try the 8.1 iso to start with. I'd much prefer a nice fresh install, and to get rid of the HP bloat ware.

This thread shows how it's done here

Scotteh · 4 Jan 2014 at 17:04

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

Should allow you to download 8.1 from there and use the License key.

Macky · 4 Jan 2014 at 17:26

So if my key is baked into the bios, it means I can't use it to download the iso?

IrishChr1s · 4 Jan 2014 at 17:30

Scotteh said:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

Should allow you to download 8.1 from there and use the License key.

Just gave that a test, wouldn't recognise my product key :-$

Scotteh · 4 Jan 2014 at 17:36

Tried 8 instead of 8.1?

wazza300 · 4 Jan 2014 at 17:38

the license key is printed on a sticker on the side of your pc/laptop (retail pc's)

Scotteh · 4 Jan 2014 at 17:39

I believe the license key for 8 and 8.1 are different (according to technet), so will need to install 8 then update through Store.

Captain · 4 Jan 2014 at 18:32

IrishChr1s said:
That's great, it gave me the whole breakdown.

The laptop comes with a section of the HD partitioned for recovery, it didn't come with any discs or stickers on the bottom to show the code.

So if I was to download the 8.1 ISO from the MS website, I should be good to go?

Glad it worked for you

Yep should work fine

IrishChr1s · 4 Jan 2014 at 21:11

Scotteh said:
Tried 8 instead of 8.1?

just tried both, same issue :S Cloning the drive may be the only way.

KIA · 4 Jan 2014 at 21:49

See http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthrea...ws-8.1-OEM-ISO&p=335448&viewfull=1#post335448 & http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthrea...ws-8.1-OEM-ISO&p=351604&viewfull=1#post351604

IrishChr1s · 4 Jan 2014 at 23:08

KIA said:
See http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthrea...ws-8.1-OEM-ISO&p=335448&viewfull=1#post335448 & http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthrea...ws-8.1-OEM-ISO&p=351604&viewfull=1#post351604

Looks good, will give that a go, generic serial - install - change to my own.

Thanks bud!

IrishChr1s · 5 Jan 2014 at 11:52

Thought id ask another question...

I reordered the SSD last night as the standalone I had originally ordered didn't come with the caddy to make it fit in the laptop, well I hope it does now due to the price difference.

The original 1tb 5400rpm drive will become the second drive in the laptop, when I install windows 8.1 onto the SSD, a nice fresh install with all the necessary drivers, is there a way of cloning what I've done, save it on the second hard-drive and link the windows recovery option to it?

I hope I've explained that well

SSD - backup - save on second drive as the recovery option.