Windows 10 on second pc


  1. Posts : 65
    windows 10
       #1

    Windows 10 on second pc


    Hi , i have a PC that originally had a hdd with windows 10 on it and came with my PC already installed, since then i have upgraded to ssd so i copyied windows to the ssd.
    I am now building a new amd rig (was intel), and keeping the intel pc for the mrs ,and i want to have windows on both.
    I think there is still windows on the old hdd.
    So what will happen when i boot the old hdd ? will it work or block windows etc, i have activated windows and i think its oem .
    Will i be able to run both Pc's like this or will i have to buy another windows cd?
    Thanks Mark
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 31,467
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #2

    markfresh said:
    So what will happen when i boot the old hdd ? will it work or block windows etc, i have activated windows and i think its oem .
    Will i be able to run both Pc's like this or will i have to buy another windows cd?

    Windows 10 is very good about sorting out drivers and running on completely different hardware, the old HDD is likely to boot in the new machine. On minor hiccup may be if the old machine was a legacy bios MBR system an the new machine is UEFI. Even that can be made to work though.

    What will not transfer over is the activation. The digital licence is stored on the Microsoft activation servers and is linked to the hardware ID of the PC. As soon as the new PC running Windows 10 from the old HDD can contact the activation servers it will loose its activation because its hardware ID is different. W10 will still run unactivated, but with restrictions (mainly, you cannot personalise it such as setting a wallpaper for the desktop). Also, it is against the EULA to run an unactivated Windows.

    To activate it you will need to purchase a new licence for W10. If you are going to have to buy a new licence, you might as well clean install Windows 10 on the new PC.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 65
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Is the hardware id on the mother board or where?
    And sorry i just realised i explained it wrong, my intel PC (currently running) had a hdd with windows 10, i copied that to ssd and the ssd now runs the same PC.
    I am building a new PC so the ssd will go in the new pc and the old hdd will go back in the original setup.
    So does this mean the current pc will run fine after putting the old hhd back in it , but the new pc im building which will have the current ssd on it will need a new activation code?
    And both the ssd and the hdd have windows installed on them as i copied the whole hdd to the ssd.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,247
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #4

    markfresh said:
    Is the hardware id on the mother board or where?
    And sorry i just realised i explained it wrong, my intel PC (currently running) had a hdd with windows 10, i copied that to ssd and the ssd now runs the same PC.
    I am building a new PC so the ssd will go in the new pc and the old hdd will go back in the original setup.
    So does this mean the current pc will run fine after putting the old hhd back in it (YES) , but the new pc im building which will have the current ssd on it will need a new activation code? (Yes, the new PC needs a new license as the existing is linked to the current PC)
    You need a different license, one for each PC.
    As the current and new are completely different (one is Intel and the other is AMD) I suggest you do do a Clean install on the new one (AMD).
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 65
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    OK great, so with a clean install do i just do a windows reset? or am i supposed to wipe my ssd and then download windows via activation key?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 31,467
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #6

    markfresh said:
    Is the hardware id on the mother board or where?
    Windows calculates the unique hardware ID from a number of factors, including the CPU and the serial number of the motherboard. Understandably, MS keep quiet on exactly what else is used. One thing they have clearly stated that is NOT part of the hardware ID is the hard drive. That can be swapped without affecting activation.

    You new PC has a new hardware ID, you need to buy a separate new key to activate it.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 6,247
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #7

    markfresh said:
    OK great, so with a clean install do i just do a windows reset? or am i supposed to wipe my ssd and then download windows via activation key?
    Yes you can do a Reset to keep your files.
    I would do a Clean install, deleting ALL partitions on the SSD and installing 1903 from a USB disk.
    Once finished I would attach the HDD and copy your data files to the SSD.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 65
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    So to clean install i would have to copy my files somewhere , i guess i could plug in my hdd and copy my ssd to that and then copy it back , and i have a small external hdd could i install 1903 from that? and is 1903 the version of windows i imagine?
    And how do i copy everything but windows from ssd to hdd? do i copy it all to a folder on hdd then go in and delte the windows 10 files?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6,247
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #9

    As the SSD is up to date, clone the SSD into the HDD on the current computer. Use Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free Select Home (don't need to give email).

    Attach the SSD to the new computer and do a Clean Install. Boot the installation disk as UEFI. Be sure to delete ALL partitions on the SSD then proceed.
    Once finished, attach the HDD to your new computer, Boot from the SSD and copy your data files from the HDD to the SSD.

    Yes, 1903 is the latest Win 10 version.
    Yes you can use the small external HDD to make it a installation disk. Everything on it will be erased.
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10
      My Computers


 

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