Best way to re install windows on a new PC ?

[aj1soad]

I've nearly finished building my new PC but i need to take my ssd from my current pc to the new one but I'm not sure how i would go about installing windows again as i originally have a windows 7 64bit disc and took the free upgrade to Windows 10. Is my windows 10 serial code the same as windows 7? Will i need to download a copy of win 10 or just use the win 7 disc and my free upgrade will still be there ?

[kalniel]

What version of Windows 7 is it? Retail, or OEM/system builder?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

You should be fine reinstalling it:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computi...ade-reinstall/

[kalniel]

You should be fine reinstalling it:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computi...ade-reinstall/

That's talking about the same computer, not a new/different one.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

That's talking about the same computer, not a new/different one.

On OcUK people have said they reinstalled it onto a new computer fine since it is tied to your MS ID apparently.

Edit!!

This might be useful for the OP to read:

https://www.howtogeek.com/226510/how...%99s-hardware/

[Dashers]

You don't need a CD key or anything for Windows 10. Whilst there is an option to put one in for activation, your computer should automatically activate based on it's "hardware id".

You don't need to install Windows 7/8 first.

If you have problems with activation, just give MS a bell, they're pretty helpful on that front.

[scaryjim]

On OcUK people have said they reinstalled it onto a new computer fine since it is tied to your MS ID apparently....

As shown by CAT's link, if you have the anniversary update and you log in to your computer with a Microsoft account you can optionally associate the license with your Microsoft account, and you should then be able to activate a new install by associating that new install with the license associated with your MS account.

HOWEVER

This may not be legal as that will depend on the terms of the original Windows 7 license.

If you have retail Windows 7 and you've kept the discs, you can simply install Windows 10 and input your Windows 7 license key to activate the Win 10 install - MS will identify that you upgraded that copy of Win 7 during the free upgrade period.

If you have Windows 7 OEM, then the copy is tied to hardware by the terms of the Win 7 license and you'd have to buy a new copy of Win 10 for the new computer.

So, as kalneil said in the first reply, you need to check what terms your original copy of Win 7 was bought under...

[aj1soad]

Thanks for all the replys. It's an OEM disc ive got. I'll be transfering all 3 hard drives from my old pc into the new one.
Originally i did have win 7 installed on a 1tb HDD and then added the 120gb ssd and re installed win 7 on that. I used the ssd as my primary hard drive then but i never re format the 1tb one so i basically had 2 copy's of the same win 7 installed. I then added the 500gb ssd for my games so seeing as I'm re using those 3 would it still show up as a new system ?

[scaryjim]

... seeing as I'm re using those 3 would it still show up as a new system ?

Yes. OEM licenses are tied to the hardware they're originally installed on, I believe its specifically the motherboard for most OEM licences but it's certainly more than just the hard drive it's installed on.

There are some exceptions for reactivating OEM software if you've had to replace hardware due to failure and it wasn't possible to source an exact replacement. But that doesn't sound like the case here. In which case you *should* get a new copy of Windows 10.

The one hiccup in that is the new ability to tie a license to your account, rather than to your hardware. It may be that MS updated the Win 10 license when they introduced that ability. You'd need to dig out and carefully read through a full version of the Windows 10 license agreement to check on that, though ... I've certainly not seen anything in the usual tech press about a change in policy.

[aj1soad]

Thanks CAT.That did clear a few things up but it didnt mention if i need to install win7 first with the disc I've got or get a copy of win 10

[aj1soad]

I don't normally have a username or password to log into my pc so I'll have to do that first then to tie it to my account

[aj1soad]

been in touch with MS on the chat and explained my situation. they gave me a link with an ISO for windows 10 that i can download to a usb and install it on the new pc. then i would need to contact them and show them proof of my new motherboard and cpu purchase and then they would generate me a windows 10 serial for free. thanks everyone

[cruiser]

Good to know it is very easy and free for another pc. Should be a good future reference here.

[aj1soad]

Yes but i ended up having to download the windows 10 tool programme to create an ISO of Windows 10 to out on a usb(4gb minimum) and then boot from USB. When i tried installing Windows 7 first the keyboard and mouse wouldn't work only in boot so i couldn't set anything up. I don't know if this was a mobo issue or wasn't sure if ryzen worked with win 7?