Will activation work?


  1. Posts : 284
    Ten
       #1

    Will activation work?


    So in my current build I am thinking of switching to a SSD.

    My current Windows is a Windows edition upgraded from Windows 8.1.

    If I buy a new SSD and install Windows in it with my key which I have used to clean install multiple times, will I lose my copy of Windows 10 because it was meant specifically for my hardware configuration with my Hard Disk?

    I heard Windows 10 upgrade from 8.1 doesn't give you a retail key.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Swapping disks is perfectly ok. Activation should be automatic as MS's record is keyed to your MBO.

    You don't have to clean install, you can use disk imaging to move everything from one disk to another.

    However, with SSD you will want to use AHCI for better performance, so if you are currently set to use IDE, a clean install is easier. but it means you have to reinstall everything.... and of course you would need a current Win 10 bootable medium.
    AHCI vs IDE - Difference and Comparison | Diffen
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 284
    Ten
    Thread Starter
       #3

    dalchina said:
    Swapping disks is perfectly ok. Activation should be automatic as MS's record is keyed to your MBO.

    You don't have to clean install, you can use disk imaging to move everything from one disk to another.

    However, with SSD you will want to use AHCI for better performance, so if you are currently set to use IDE, a clean install is easier. but it means you have to reinstall everything.... and of course you would need a current Win 10 bootable medium.
    AHCI vs IDE - Difference and Comparison | Diffen
    Thank you for that.
    And of course I will be clean installing. Only savages don't clean install. And then pay the price by the most slowed down device ever.

    The AHCI vs IDE page was quite informative, thank you for that as well.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #4

    p
    lolcocks said:
    Only savages don't clean install. And then pay the price by the most slowed down device ever.
    What a dumb statement!


    If pc is running fine, cloning will be fine as well.

    In fact a clean install could run slower as you may need to optimise settings to get best performance!
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 19,516
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       #5

    My computer: W7>8>8.1>W10 since the beginning with with all Insider versions, substantial HW change in the mean time, end of savage story.
      My Computers


 

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