Question when installing Windows 10 on new SSD

gafx · 25 Jan 2018

Thanks for all input.
I bought an inexpensive laptop last year. When installing a new blank SSD drive into it....This is what I want to do:

Find the Win 10 key w magic jelly bean
copy key onto piece of paper
Remove original hard drive
Install new SSD
Install fresh new copy of Windows 10 via bootable flash drive made via instructions from this Microsoft site >>>> Download Windows 10
In fact I have already made this Win 10 bootable flash drive
-
So I install Windows Ten on SSD this way
QUESTION- will the laptop's original Windows Ten key work to validate the new Windows Ten installed on the new SSD?

Thanks!

NavyLCDR · 25 Jan 2018

Short answer is yes. You won't even need any product key at all to activate the same version of Windows 10 it had on that computer before.

PolarNettles · 25 Jan 2018

Assuming your laptop came with Win10 installed already then most likely the key is already part of the firmware and Windows will automatically activate without you needing to input anything.

But you should run ShowKeyPlus - Windows 10 Forums just to make sure you actually do have an OEM license for the correct version.

gafx · 26 Jan 2018

Thanks guys. Yes the laptop was bought Nov 2017 and came with Windows Ten installed. By the Windows Ten key being in the firmware you must mean in the BIOS? I was not aware this was done. I will use show key plus to see what Win Ten key I have and copy that onto paper just in case.... Never heard of that program before.

But as you say Windows Ten should just activate itself due to being embedded in the HP laptops firmware.
I rather start fresh and clean than bother cloning the original installed drive onto the new SSD

Clintlgm · 26 Jan 2018

One thing you might want to do before clean installing. Gather up all your hardware drivers and have them ready to go. Most notebooks use proprietary drivers. you should have the latest download and ready to install in case of issues with windows native drivers.

PolarNettles · 26 Jan 2018

Yes, the key is in the BIOS - specifically the MSDM and SLIC ACPI tables.

(Technically "BIOS" no longer exists on modern systems - it's now UEFI, or just firmware to be generic)

dalchina · 26 Jan 2018

Clintlgm said:

One thing you might want to do before clean installing. Gather up all your hardware drivers and have them ready to go. Most notebooks use proprietary drivers. you should have the latest download and ready to install in case of issues with windows native drivers.

Windows should look after your drivers. Two more common caveats: a very few people find that when upgrading to a new major build they may have to use an OLDER graphics driver; to get full touchpad functionality (one finger scroll, chiral (circular) scrolling e.g.) you may need an older touchpad driver - these functions seem to be lost for some with later drivers.

Bottom line- only intervene if there's a problem. A 'fix it until it breaks' approach is not recommended.

And remember to use disk imaging routinely - so many advantages when things go wrong- you may not even have to post here! E.g. Macrium Reflect (free).

AddRAM · 26 Jan 2018

As already mentioned, I would at least get your network (ethernet) drivers before you do a clean install on any PC, especially a laptop, I would never trust the installer to have it.

If it does that`s great, but I`d rather be safe than sorry.

dalchina · 26 Jan 2018

I clean installed Win 10 on this laptop bought new with no OS- no driver problems.

kado897 · 09 Apr 2020

gafx said:

Thanks guys. Yes the laptop was bought Nov 2017 and came with Windows Ten installed. By the Windows Ten key being in the firmware you must mean in the BIOS? I was not aware this was done. I will use show key plus to see what Win Ten key I have and copy that onto paper just in case.... Never heard of that program before.

But as you say Windows Ten should just activate itself due to being embedded in the HP laptops firmware.
I rather start fresh and clean than bother cloning the original installed drive onto the new SSD

Check your activation status. It should say you have a digital licence linked to your Microsoft Account. If that is the case, unless you change the Mobo and its digital signature has changed it should activate automatically when you clean install.