Transfer OS solely from HDD to SDD?
Transfer OS solely from HDD to SDD?
Hello, you're planning to upgrade your PC by swapping the HDD for an SSD while keeping the OS intact. You want to transfer Windows 7 from the old HDD to the new SSD without formatting it, and you're not sure if you can do this directly. You also mentioned concerns about reactivation on the motherboard when switching systems. It's possible that using a bootable installation media could help move the OS while preserving the current setup.
Only the entire HDD image can be cloned, which makes it impractical most of the time. The HDD image is typically very large and full of unnecessary data, so you don’t really need it. A fresh Windows installation is suggested instead. For activation, simply reuse the key and set up Windows per device—all done in under five minutes.
You can reinstall the OS and turn it back on using the same key again on your SSD. For removing Windows from the HDD, there are likely instructions available online. Deleting the Windows folder should work, but you’ll need to claim ownership of that folder or the whole drive first (see tutorial: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/libra...53659.aspx).
For a brand new Windows experience, performing a clean installation would eliminate the need to navigate through complicated procedures.