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    Transferring SSD w/ Windows 8 to a new Laptop

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by TheAtreidesHawk, Aug 10, 2014.

  1. TheAtreidesHawk

    TheAtreidesHawk Notebook Deity

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    I clean installed Windows 8 and activated it on a Samsung 830 SSD that I purchased about a year or so ago and currently have inside my Envy 17. My question is if I were to remove it and place the SSD in a new laptop (say a Lenovo or a Dell) would there be any problems as far as the Windows installation? What about programs such as Microsoft Office and everything? I plan on uninstalling them just to be on the safe side but was curious if there might be any troubles on that front.

    My main priority is making sure the Windows 8 on the Samsung SSD will work absolutely fine from a license standpoint or will I run into issues....again this was a version of Windows 8 that I bought with my own money from the store. Not per-installed on the Envy.
     
    TheAtreidesHawk, Aug 10, 2014
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  2. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    If it is your own retail copy, I don't see problems from an activation standpoint. You will want to remove every driver before hand and revert to the default MS ones though.
     
    tijo, Aug 11, 2014
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  3. TheAtreidesHawk

    TheAtreidesHawk Notebook Deity

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    Thanks for the response. I'm just hoping that the activation and license isn't tied at all the laptop I have right now and if I just swap it into the new laptop there will be no problems since it's already activated. Just a matter of recognizing new hardware (a heart transplant if you will).
     
    TheAtreidesHawk, Aug 11, 2014
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  4. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    If it's a retail license, it is not tied to any hardware.
     
    tijo, Aug 11, 2014
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  5. Temetka

    Temetka Notebook Consultant

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    You should be fine. I don't know if this holds true win Windows 8 as it used to with previous versions. But in the past even removing all the drivers then moving the hard drive could lead to weirdness in Windows. Sometimes things would be just fine, other times the OS would just feel "off" in someway. Since you bought Win 8 and apparently can re-install all your apps, why not save the potential headache of having to possibly troubleshoot issues and just reload the OS from scratch?
     
    Temetka, Aug 12, 2014
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  6. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Unless you move it from one PC to a same spec PC, it will have issues. Wipe and clean install...
     
    HTWingNut, Aug 12, 2014
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  7. s1rrah

    s1rrah Notebook Evangelist

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    Once you change the drive and boot the computer ... the operating system will have to loop through it's hardware detection routines (new CPU, new ports, etc.) ... but it should eventually stabilize ...

    You will finally have to re activate windows once all the detection stuff is done ...

    Best ...
     
    s1rrah, Sep 5, 2014
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