Using the same HDD, new system.

Hey I am new to building computers and i was wondering something that i hope you guys can help me out with.
I am scrapping my current system, but but hard drive is still great.
I 1. don't want to buy a new hard drive,
and 2. I don't want to buy Windows 7 again.

So is there a process for building a new machine, and using my current Window's 7 installed HDD? Note the old computer will not be used, so its not like i am trying to copy or transfer my current windows 7.

Thanks very much in advance.

Ridisk said:

Hey I am new to building computers and i was wondering something that i hope you guys can help me out with.
I am scrapping my current system, but but hard drive is still great.
I 1. don't want to buy a new hard drive,
and 2. I don't want to buy Windows 7 again.

So is there a process for building a new machine, and using my current Window's 7 installed HDD? Note the old computer will not be used, so its not like i am trying to copy or transfer my current windows 7.

Thanks very much in advance.

Depends on many factors. Is the win 7 image "OEM" Do you have a win 7 DVD?

Tell us what you had for a system since you have not filled out the specs I figure it's because you will build/buy a new system.

If you had a PC like a DELL, ASUS etc. they may have had the OS placed on the HDD w/o sending you a 7 disk but manufac. will provide the disk if you are in the USA. Even though it may be an OEM disk it can be installed as a fresh installation but you cannot use reinstallation disks for this since they are bound to the BIOS and look for the OEM signature.

If this was simply a generic system you could start with changing the mobo and using the old PSU, CD/DVD, KB, Mouse and HDD, I've done this in the past then swapped out the PSU and CD/DVD etc and the HDD worked just fine.

My HP PC came with Vista, and I upgraded it to windows 7 ultimate via the student download. I have no disks.

1) The student upgrade edition of win7 is a retail copy for functional purposes. When you install win7 on a computer using this edition, activation is required to be done online. During this process (same as retail), the key gets tied to a hardware hash generated by your computer and this combination is stored in MS servers. The hardware hash is based on various hardware components such as the motherboard, hdd, RAM etc.

2) Now, if you make a major change such as changing the mobo (which you are doing), the hardware hash generated by the new computer will be different, as a result win7 will fail to activate.

3) What you need to do is to build the new machine, install win7 using the edition you have, then activate using phone activation. You'll need to call MS and if the robo doesnt successfully activate the install, you'll need to speak to a human who will activate for you.

Activate Windows 7 by Phone

4) You can make a bootable dvd out of that student download, then install win7 on the new machine by booting off the dvd.

Make bootable iso from student d/l

5) Even if you dont plan to install win7 afresh, your current activation will be lost once you use the old hdd in a new machine. Just activate by phone, using the tutorial linked above.

However, AFAIK, the student upgrade edition was available only in 2 flavours- home premium and Professional, Win7 ultimate was never offered as a student deal. So perhaps you'll explain to us how you upgraded to ultimate with the student edition download?

If it's retail you can move it anywhere you want unless it's Builder's OEM. Just requires a robocall to MS during reactivation to update the new hardware signature in MS computers.

Thanks for the very quick reply's.
To Bill2, thanks for taking your time to help me out, and after you brought up the Ultimate windows 7 question, I realized the error in what i said, I have windows professional 7, and yes from the student download.

If you plan on transferring the disk and NOT reinstalling, you will need to do a repair install so the drive boots with the new hardware.

PolishPaul said:

If you plan on transferring the disk and NOT reinstalling, you will need to do a repair install so the drive boots with the new hardware.

Unlike XP, a Win7 Repair Install is done from the desktop by running an Upgrade over itself: Repair Install As such, it cannot be used to start Win7 on new hardware.

Your Win7 HD may start up on the new build. If so, it will swap out all drivers and request several restarts. If not, you can boot into Safe Mode and try to install Chipset and other key drivers until it starts. Otherwise you'll have to clean reinstall. Reinstall the Product Key to reactivate at Computer>Properties.