Transfer data from Windows 8 laptop to another operating system
Transfer data from Windows 8 laptop to another operating system
Read the instructions for removing your product activation code so you can apply the license on another device. If you need to reinstall, obtain the key from your original Windows installation.
You might remove the entire old hard drive to eliminate the chance of failure. Another option is to set up the alternative operating system in a separate partition. But if you make an error—something typical during OSX installations—you could lose all your data.
I considered replacing the HDD or SSD, but I still need a battery.
Ok, so what the others are saying is right, but there is an easier way. When it comes to laptops, the license for Windows 8 is embeded into the motherboard of the laptop, meaning even if you reinstall it with Windows with 10 and then go back to 8, 8 will be automatically registered with your current license. All you will need to do is just downlaod a copy of it and install it. During teh install the Windows will not need a license and when you land in the desktop it will say that it is registered.
Sure, I've tried this several times—on my tablet, her laptop, and a client's machine—and it consistently performed as expected.