Installing a HDD

[philwhite100]

I have Windows 8.1 on my laptop which has just about had it, screen gone bad etc so I want to take out the HDD and put it in my desktop pc that I built myself so that part is easy.

Now I am aware that once fitted when I boot from that drive it will see different chipset etc and Windows might need reactivating but this could be where I am snookered as like with all PC's there is no Windows disc so that means I have no activation key which I assume is on the HDD somewhere.

Is it easier that I am anticipating or what??

[truthspeaker]

you can't just swap your laptop hard disk with desktop hard disk.
if you do. you have to format your hard drive then it can be used.

ask someone for windows 8.1 from gumtree, for a cheap price. or Ebay.
or get it free from the internet.
am not sure if am allowed to tell you or i might get banned from the forum.

[djmagnifique]

give this a try before you remove the drive. https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

[heero_yuy]

Worth looking to see if the HDD has the windows\i386 folder. It's not needed from 7 onwards but someone might have been kind and made it. Probably hidden. It's an image of the install disc(s).

[v0id]

Boot up the laptop with an external monitor and use something like Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder

[Halcyon]

Is it just to get data off it? If so then this is useful. I have one.

SATA to USB connector,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-5-3-5-SA.../261487588216?

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by philwhite100

I have Windows 8.1 on my laptop which has just about had it, screen gone bad etc so I want to take out the HDD and put it in my desktop pc that I built myself so that part is easy.

Now I am aware that once fitted when I boot from that drive it will see different chipset etc and Windows might need reactivating but this could be where I am snookered as like with all PC's there is no Windows disc so that means I have no activation key which I assume is on the HDD somewhere.

Is it easier that I am anticipating or what??

No harm in just taking it out of your laptop and putting it in your desktop to try it. Works most of the time in my experience.

There is no issue with reactivation. Reactivation does not require a disk or activation key.

---------- Post added at 23:48 ---------- Previous post was at 23:47 ----------

Originally Posted by truthspeaker

you can't just swap your laptop hard disk with desktop hard disk.
if you do. you have to format your hard drive then it can be used.

Wrong. You can, and it almost always works fine as long as you stay with Intel <=> Intel or AMD <=> AMD.

[DABhand]

Do you have the Windows Key on the bottom of your laptop? Even brand name Laptops/Desktops come with your own unique key and is stuck on somewhere.

If you do, goto microsoft's site and download an ISO of that version of windows 8, You will know what version it is because the sticker with the key will tell you which version it is.

[MovedGoalPosts]

Windows 8 seems to be licenced differently to windows 7 and earlier stuff. Frequently the OEM Win 8 doesn't have the cert. Instead due to the UEFI install process it is somehow being integrated to the hardware of the PC.

In simple terms if your lappy had an OEM windows (OEM versions are licenced to the original installed computer and not supposed to be transferable) rather than a retail version, you might well not be able to reactivate it on another PC.

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by Rob

In simple terms if your lappy had an OEM windows (OEM versions are licenced to the original installed computer and not supposed to be transferable) rather than a retail version, you might well not be able to reactivate it on another PC.

This is true. Though if it does run, it will do so without needing a disk, and if it can reactivate, it will do so without a key.

[DABhand]

Usually you can get away with it by using the phone option with no network available to do it over the net.