Swap Fresh Windows 7 SSD into Windows 10 Laptop >> Possible?


  1. Posts : 9
    Windows
       #1

    Swap Fresh Windows 7 SSD into Windows 10 Laptop >> Possible?


    Hi guys,

    I have a quick (trick) question.

    Let's say I have a brand new Windows 10 laptop which came with an HDD. Let's say that this laptop is UEFI-based and it proved to be locked up by the manufacturer, meaning that I am unable to disable Secure Boot and enable Legacy Boot. For this reason, I was unable to install Windows 7 on the stock HDD using a bootable USB.

    Now assume that I clone Windows 7 from my desktop onto a brand new SSD. And I purchase a valid Windows 7 license key. The question is...

    Would it be possible to pull the HDD out of the laptop and make the Windows 7 SSD run on it?

    Thanks for the feedback.
      My Computer


  2. Arc
    Posts : 1,626
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home
       #2

    omega83 said:
    it proved to be locked up by the manufacturer, meaning that I am unable to disable Secure Boot
    That is the only item where it stops. Windows 7 will not support secure boot.

    If you can manage to disable secure boot, and the windows 7 license is a retail license, IMHO the rest will not be a problem.

    Legacy BIOS is not needed to install Windows 7 (64 bit at least), it works with UEFI very nicely. UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Help Forums
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 9
    Windows
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Arc said:
    That is the only item where it stops. Windows 7 will not support secure boot.

    If you can manage to disable secure boot, and the windows 7 license is a retail license, IMHO the rest will not be a problem.

    Legacy BIOS is not needed to install Windows 7 (64 bit at least), it works with UEFI very nicely. UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Help Forums
    OK. Well, since secure boot cannot be disabled. The answer is clear then. Thanks Arc.

    And by the way, I am issuing a warning to everyone buying a PROFESSIONAL Windows 10 laptop from HP (such as a ProBook). These laptops' BIOS are totally locked up. And although the BIOS is branded HP, Customer Support denied any intervention on the software, claiming that it is not within HP's responsibility. I assume that Microsoft is making them enforce this policy.

    Basically, what you will be offered if you want to install a different OS is to return the laptop (I kid you not) and to exchange it for a retail version. So please, don't waste hours of your life trying to disable Secure Boot to install Windows 7 like I did. It is impossible.
      My Computer


  4. Arc
    Posts : 1,626
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home
       #4

    I think the policy of locking up the BIOS by the OEM manufacturers is a real PITA for the users.

    Sometimes a BIOS update may reduce the degree/level of the locking up. But the user should have the liberty to use the OS that he wants.
      My Computer


 

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