• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

gonna replace my laptop HDD with my desktop ssd...

Naer

Naer

Diamond Member
If theres windows already installed on the ssd, do I still need a CD or thumb drive to install on the ssd?
 
Probably yes. If you have Windows on the laptop CD, the quickest and easiest way is to clone the laptop HDD to the SSD. TYhen you simply swap the drives. Since that usually takes about 10 minutes using Acronis TI 2014 on a bootable flash drive, it is for me, the best solution.

There are many who prefer a clean install. But, on a laptop that can be a PITA to get all the feature drivers on hand and installed. Also, you would need to reinstall all software.

If the cloning is not to your liking, you can always go the clean install route.

But, with respect to your basic question, Windows is not transferrable directly from one computer to another.
 
corkyg said:
Probably yes. If you have Windows on the laptop CD, the quickest and easiest way is to clone the laptop HDD to the SSD. TYhen you simply swap the drives. Since that usually takes about 10 minutes using Acronis TI 2014 on a bootable flash drive, it is for me, the best solution.

There are many who prefer a clean install. But, on a laptop that can be a PITA to get all the feature drivers on hand and installed. Also, you would need to reinstall all software.

If the cloning is not to your liking, you can always go the clean install route.

But, with respect to your basic question, Windows is not transferrable directly from one computer to another.
Click to expand...

Footnote: I have done exactly the same: to clone the lappie HDD to an SSD. True-Image 2014 will work; I used Acronis Disk Director 11 update-2 on an optical disk. In fact, I used a USB "BlacX" bare-drive dock connected to the lappie USB port -- with the SSD in the dock.

I have no problems about cloning, unless you've assured yourself that the source disk is a corrupted OS installation.

Also -- per "transferring" a Windows-configured SSD directly. That's not likely going to work unless the HDD controllers are of the same manufacture and "version-family." Or you could investigate an MS/Windows utilities called "SYSPREP." If you were taking the SSD from a lappie that was identical to the lappie where you intend to install it -- sure. If the source system is a desktop or different , but the controllers are similar, you'd still have to reinstall all the laptop drivers to replace those of the source system. There would be many uncertainties associated with making that approach work. And then, you'd likely need to reactivate Windows with a different Product ID key.
 
If your laptop came installed with Win8, then more likely secure boot is in use. Be sure you do an exact clone. In my experience only Paragon's software was reliable enough to easily clone. Others needed a little coercing.

Otherwise you can turn off secure boot prior to cloning.
 
corkyg said:
Probably yes. If you have Windows on the laptop CD, the quickest and easiest way is to clone the laptop HDD to the SSD. TYhen you simply swap the drives. Since that usually takes about 10 minutes using Acronis TI 2014 on a bootable flash drive, it is for me, the best solution.

There are many who prefer a clean install. But, on a laptop that can be a PITA to get all the feature drivers on hand and installed. Also, you would need to reinstall all software.

If the cloning is not to your liking, you can always go the clean install route.

But, with respect to your basic question, Windows is not transferrable directly from one computer to another.
Click to expand...

The laptop HDD is not funtional as I can't boot cant boot to win7 on the laptop. Can I still clone it?
 
Naer said:
The laptop HDD is not funtional as I can't boot cant boot to win7 on the laptop. Can I still clone it?
Click to expand...

If it is non-functional, then, no. That door would be closed. If it can be read in another PC, i.e., via an external case or internal connection, then maybe.
 
corkyg said:
If it is non-functional, then, no. That door would be closed. If it can be read in another PC, i.e., via an external case or internal connection, then maybe.
Click to expand...

A sad situation . . . I thought my 2-cents-worth was sufficient, but he has . . . complications . . .
 
BonzaiDuck said:
A sad situation . . . I thought my 2-cents-worth was sufficient, but he has . . . complications . . .
Click to expand...

So just replacing the HDD with the ssd and running a usb thumb drive with win7 should work? I'm waiting for a screw driver in the mail to open the back of the laptop. There's a win7 key on the back of the laptop so that's a relief
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top