My desktop is slow, and I want to change out the system drive to SSD.
Is this possible? I do not have a Windows key as it was merely a free upgrade.
Can I just clone the existing drive onto an SSD and swap? Or will windows deny me this upgrade?
Yes @FUState. The free upgrade stored a digital licence on Microsoft's activation servers which is tied to the unique hardware ID of the PC.
Microsoft have explicitly stated that the HDD is not part of this hardware ID. You could even put an SDD in and do a clean install of the same edition (Home or Pro), it will still activate automatically from the digital licence.
Changing the motherboard or the processor would cause problems, but the disk is OK to swap out.
No problem, an HDD or SSD replacement is an allowed hardware change. MS will have your Hardware IDed linked to your license.
I always re-install Windows on a new drive as a matter of principle as cloning just transfers any problems to a new drive.
Thanks guys.
I'll definitely do a clean install, as this computer has problems already. The only reason I thought of cloning was in case that was the only way to do it.
Make sure you install the same edition as before, Home or Pro. The digital licence is only valid for one edition.
When asked for a key, click the 'I don't have one' link. Activation will happen automatically as soon as it can contact the activation servers.
TenForums tutorial: Clean Install Windows 10
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