Donating your PC and swapping the SSD is feasible. It's still possible to maintain Windows on it.
Donating your PC and swapping the SSD is feasible. It's still possible to maintain Windows on it.
Sign in with your account is the recommended method. Booting from the original USB can also work if you clone the OS.
This rule applies strictly—same license can't be used on multiple devices.
We aim to clarify that the license is linked to hardware, mainly the motherboard. Even after wiping or reinstalling the original SSD on a new machine, and giving the original device a fresh installation, you can’t keep the same license active on both devices if they both connect to the internet. If you intend to keep the license key on the first machine while switching to a new one with its own key, that’s acceptable since each machine gets its own license. You can activate multiple machines using the same key, but once the first machine goes online, the license becomes invalid for the second device. Unless the second machine never uses the internet, it won’t retain the activation.
I’m not entirely certain, I’d just install it and link your dad’s account to check if it works. You don’t really risk much. But I bet one of my PCs turned on before I added my Microsoft account—even though it was a license key tied to my account. Of course, they’ve tightened security so local accounts can’t be created anymore, which might explain the change. In a crisis, Windows still functions if not activated. Or perhaps your dad could experiment with Linux instead.
The system is already working with a fresh key. I'm looking for ways to improve my older machine's SSD without needing a replacement key.
When you're ready for a clean setup on the new SSD, use the original key from the old machine if it hasn't booted up or connected to the internet. This will ensure a fresh start without locking you into the current software. Remember, this won't stop the old machine from functioning—it just retrieves its license. Before changing anything, back up important data from the original SSD to another device, then erase the installation. You can also consider using it as auxiliary storage in either system afterward.
No, you don’t need to use the SSD anymore. The key is still accessible through the computer’s settings or recovery options.
There are several options available. The most straightforward involves opening Command Prompt by pressing Win+R, typing 'cmd', and hitting Enter. Then input the command to retrieve the software licensing service key using WMI. Keep in mind that some systems might display no result, so running as Administrator could be helpful. Another method is using a tool named Magical Jelly Bean Key Finder.