The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Use laptop HDD (and its OS) in a desktop pc?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by BigDRim, Mar 9, 2015.

  1. BigDRim

    BigDRim Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Hi!
    Do you think i can use the internal laptop's HDD with pre-install W8.1 as the OS drive of a desktop computer, flawlessly?

    Thanks

    (I asked on the rog forums - i've got a G751 - too, so i'll update one thread if i get the answer on the other one)
     
    BigDRim, Mar 9, 2015
    #1
  2. Qing Dao

    Qing Dao Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,600
    Messages:
    1,771
    Likes Received:
    304
    Trophy Points:
    101
    The hard drive will work flawlessly. Windows 8.1 won't though.
     
    Qing Dao, Mar 9, 2015
    #2
    BigDRim likes this.
  3. BigDRim

    BigDRim Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Ok thanks :)
     
    BigDRim, Mar 9, 2015
    #3
  4. SL2

    SL2 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    829
    Messages:
    1,340
    Likes Received:
    266
    Trophy Points:
    101
    You need a new key to activate, the one from the laptop won't do.

    The Windows installation may work (without doing anything else than swapping the HDD) depending on how different the hardware is in the two computers.
    The Sysprep command makes sure that the migration should work, search for how to use it.

    Personally I'd do a clean install.
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2015
    SL2, Mar 9, 2015
    #4
    BigDRim likes this.
  5. BigDRim

    BigDRim Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    41
    I'll do a clean install with a clean windows cd key, i was just looking for a way to use windows before i buy it for my desktop. I'm gonna buy it faster i guess :)
     
    BigDRim, Mar 9, 2015
    #5
  6. SL2

    SL2 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    829
    Messages:
    1,340
    Likes Received:
    266
    Trophy Points:
    101
    FYI, Windows 10 will show up later this year, and it will be available as a free upgrade for most Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 owners. If that desktop has a W7 license you might as well use that until the W10 upgrade shows up.

    You can install and use Windows 8.1 without a key, the activation screen will pop up every now and than, but if you want to try it out before paying just go ahead.
    When the activation screen shows up, click "Go to PC settings" and then press Alt F4 to close it.
     
    SL2, Mar 12, 2015
    #6
    BigDRim likes this.
  7. BigDRim

    BigDRim Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    41
    No I didn't have any OS installed, and as I know that W10 will be a free upgrade, I don't care about buying 8.1 now :)
    But I use your method until I get my key.
     
    BigDRim, Mar 12, 2015
    #7