(First Post so I dont know much)
I am planning to build a pc soon, and am going to use my 500gb WD hard drive from my old pc. This has Windows 7 on it. If I am to use to same Hard Drive, will Windows transfer over? If it does, will I be able to upgrade to Windows 10?
Cheers
Best off reinstalling windows if you're doing a major hardware change
What do you mean by reinstalling?
like a fresh install.
On the hard drive?
Some times Windows will deactivate your key when there is a major hardware change. If the Key is OEM then you "could"
extract it, but you can also purchase a Windows key very cheap...
How exactly do Windows keys work, I dont really understand it. Are they the same as OEMs?
On the hard drive ya, should partition it into 2 parts, probably like 150gbs and 350gbs when you reinstall to make future reinstalls easier so you don't lose things like your steam library.
and I'd avoid grey market keys if you need a new windows key, just find it in a back alley if you're trying to get it on the cheap.
an OEM key is a key that can only be used once basically, and the home/pro whatever full/retail keys can be used however many times more.
A Windows key is like purchasing the CD yourself. Just a digital copy. OEM is when you buy a PC from a vendor and Windows comes preinstalled. That key is tied to the hardware...
Well the version of Windows on my hard drive came with the pc which we payed for a local store to build, so I presume its a OEM then.
So what would be the best way to get windows onto my new pc that I'm building?
You can try your method of just plugging in the HDD, but if it doesn't work then you would need to install Windows all over, as if it was new. If you have stuff on that HDD, it would be a good time to backup your stuff before you try.
Just make a windows USB, you can download an ISO and use Rufus to make a bootable USB, or just make one using a tool from microsoft, if you aren't finding it from a back alley, you'd need a key
By buying windows?
How is the best way?
(sorry for all the questions by the way just a little bit confused :/)
You can use a tool to find your product key
you can buy windows 10, possibly avoiding grey market keys
Or find windows in a back alley, you already paid for it once anyways, so however you want to go
Yes... You can find affordable Windows keys online from "semi" reliable sources around $20 US, With that key you could "possibly" re validate your Windows from the 500GB HDD... Or just simply backup your data from the 500GB HDD & reinstall Windows downloading an .iso file from Microsoft and your newly purchased key.
''' see below'''
Best place to buy the keys from? (In australia would be preferable, dont know if it matters)
May god have mercy on you
wait what the hell, why doesn't it cost near 500? it's only like $50 more than here
https://au.pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-fqc09131
otherwise, like I said if you want to save money, back alley, 100% off.
and if you go windows 10 you don't want home if possible, you can't control your updates in home if I'm not mistaken.
Cheers that video was helpful
1 Like
I'd still avoid grey market keys as they may be rejected at any time, and may have been obtained illegally. At least with piracy you know where you stand, and save additional cash.