OS from one PC to another PC to get Windows 10

Rig18 · 14 Nov 2018

Not every license can be moved to another computer.
If your W7 key cannot be moved to another computer, only thing seems to be using W10 on old computer.

If you have a W7 key that can be moved on another computer;
Question is do you want just A W7 installation on another computer or do you want YOUR W7 installation on another computer?
If former, then as previously suggested, just install W10 and use your W7 key (since you want W10 on new computer); if latter, you might not be in luck. Even if you have similar computers, and connect your disk to new computer, windows may (probably will) fail to start as main OS on new computer. But you can still boot from W10 installation media, and try to make it see the W7 installation on the disk so it can preserve data if it can. But it will be just data I presume, I think all (or most) programs will need to be reinstalled.
You can try to clone your old disk to your new disk of course. Then, again, boot from W10 installation media and find out if it sees the W7.

bro67 · 14 Nov 2018

Rig18 said:

Not every license can be moved to another computer.
If your W7 key cannot be moved to another computer, only thing seems to be using W10 on old computer.

If you have a W7 key that can be moved on another computer;
Question is do you want just A W7 installation on another computer or do you want YOUR W7 installation on another computer?
If former, then as previously suggested, just install W10 and use your W7 key (since you want W10 on new computer); if latter, you might not be in luck. Even if you have similar computers, and connect your disk to new computer, windows may (probably will) fail to start as main OS on new computer. But you can still boot from W10 installation media, and try to make it see the W7 installation on the disk so it can preserve data if it can. But it will be just data I presume, I think all (or most) programs will need to be reinstalled.
You can try to clone your old disk to your new disk of course. Then, again, boot from W10 installation media and find out if it sees the W7.

The OP wants to use the license to run Windows 10 upgrade on the other machine, not run Windows 7 on the other machine.

Rig18 · 14 Nov 2018

bro67 said:

The OP wants to use the license to run Windows 10 upgrade on the other machine, not run Windows 7 on the other machine.

That part is clear. The unclear part is if the OP wants an upgrade and keep the data from W7 installation, or a clean W10 installation will work for him or not.
Another question is, if this free upgrade can be done with any W10 installation media with a movable W7 license or the free upgrade must be done from inside a working W7 OS. If it has to be done from W7, then he has to run W7 on another machine. According to AddRAM, he can do a clean W10 installation with a retail W7 key.

spapakons · 15 Nov 2018

If the new hardware is not too different (for example Intel to AMD), there is a great probability that Windows 10 will load and all he will have to do is update drivers and of course activate Windows. Details such as setting the disk controller to AHCI or IDE mode (according to the original setting) can also make a difference. In worst case he will have to install Windows from the beginning using the old key. To activate Windows, if it cannot be done automatically, he will have to call Microsoft which of course will examine the license key and determine if it should be activated again on not. Have in mind that Microsoft cannot be cheated. Even if you say your old computer is broken and they activate Windows again on the new computer, they will bind the key to the new hardware and is it a matter of days before the old computer will reject the key and need activation again. Of course you could also install Windows 10 to a new computer without any key and use the 30 days grace period to see how it performs and then decide to activate using the old license or buying a new one. Remember to install the appropriate version Home or Pro to match your key.