The Processor Dual

whs said:

You can swap the SSD from your current tower. But the OS that is on there will not work. You will have to transfer the OS of the new tower to the SSD (easy) and transfer the OS of the old tower to whatever HDD you put in. The OEM OS has to always stay with the system it came with.

Can I put the new HDD into the HP, then format it clean, then install Windows on it?

ignatzatsonic said:

Computer Parts, Laptops, Electronics, and More - Newegg.com

Above link is to Intel i-5 machines up to 500.

You don't need an i-5, but if it's in your budget you might consider one.

Some are refurbished.

Don't push the buy button on anything without further advice from someone.

I don't know what you might find at Best Buy, Walmart, Costco, etc.

Trust me, I will do nothing until I get opinion/advice from here. I will pick out a few and get input.

leehop71 said:

whs said:

You can swap the SSD from your current tower. But the OS that is on there will not work. You will have to transfer the OS of the new tower to the SSD (easy) and transfer the OS of the old tower to whatever HDD you put in. The OEM OS has to always stay with the system it came with.

Can I put the new HDD into the HP, then format it clean, then install Windows on it?

You can put pretty much any drive into any machine and install Windows to it.

Activating the installation is another question.

What you can activate depends on the PARTICULARS of the Windows license you have.

What are the gory details on this "Windows" you refer to?

OEM? Retail? Bought at Best Buy? Downloaded from someone? Copied from someone? Bought on Ebay. Bought by a friend but you don't know where he got it? Burned from an ISO?

What's the consensus on refurbished?

ignatzatsonic said:

leehop71 said:

whs said:

You can swap the SSD from your current tower. But the OS that is on there will not work. You will have to transfer the OS of the new tower to the SSD (easy) and transfer the OS of the old tower to whatever HDD you put in. The OEM OS has to always stay with the system it came with.

Can I put the new HDD into the HP, then format it clean, then install Windows on it?

You can put pretty much any drive into any machine and install Windows to it.

Activating the installation is another question.

What you can activate depends on the PARTICULARS of the Windows license you have.

What are the gory details on this "Windows" you refer to?

OEM? Retail? Bought at Best Buy? Downloaded from someone? Copied from someone? Bought on Ebay. Bought by a friend but you don't know where he got it? Burned from an ISO?

It came with my Dell refurbished that bit the dust Thursday.

whs said:

leehop71 said:

whs said:

You can swap the SSD from your current tower. But the OS that is on there will not work. You will have to transfer the OS of the new tower to the SSD (easy) and transfer the OS of the old tower to whatever HDD you put in. The OEM OS has to always stay with the system it came with.

Can I put the new HDD into the HP, then format it clean, then install Windows on it?

If you have the original installation disk, then yes. Else you will have to download the OS and activate it with the key that is on the COA sticker on the box.

What is the OS on your box and is there a COA sticker (in the back) that looks like that.

The safer thing might be to wipe the drive, sell it, by itself, then sell the HP, minus the HDD for a few bucks on CL.

leehop71 said:

What's the consensus on refurbished?

As a general term, not much. Primarily because you can't find out the details of what that means in any particular case.

You might go to the Dell Outlet Store at Dell's own website. They sell a lot of machines that are effectively new but that can't be labeled as new. Returned items, discontinued stuff, etc. They would have no hours or low hours. That's better than "refurbished" when you can't get more details.

But the Dell Outlet may not have what you want at any given time. And some items they do have may not be much cheaper than the outright new equivalent.

If in doubt, I'd buy new. You have enough budget and don't need a powerful PC.

Newegg is reliable as a dealer and better than most at customer service.

I've heard Costco and Amazon have good return policies also.

Generally--any breakdown beyond 30 days will force you to deal with the manufacturer of the particular part, rather than the retailer.

Up to you to read the fine print.