Win7-64: clone hard drive serial number to another PC

[peterh337]

I have a very old bit of software, no longer supported, which appears locked to the HD serial number. This PC is eventually going to pack up and I am trying to get another one going to replace it when it does.

I can read the S/N:

C:\Users\peter>wmic diskdrive get model,serialNumber,size,mediaTypeMediaType Model SerialNumber SizeFixed hard disk media Samsung SSD 860 PRO 1TB ATA Device
34534e32464e4b303037393238322054202020201024207994880

But how can I write the S/N to the destination drive?

I found a program https://hard-disk-serial-number-changer.en.softonic.com/ but I can't be sure it isn't malware, so I wonder if there is another way?

Thank you all for any pointers.

 

[SIW2]

I dont think that does. It might change the volume serial number which could be done with various partition managers such as aomei

change-serial-number



How to change Hard Disk's Volume Serial Number (Volume ID) - WinTips.org

 

[samuria]

Clone the drive and that copies the serial number
Yes, disk cloning typically copies the disk serial number. Cloning software, especially those performing a direct block copy of the entire partition, often includes the volume label and serial number. This means that the cloned disk will have the same serial number as the original source disk. However, some cloning tools may intentionally assign a new serial number to avoid potential conflicts.
Elaboration:

Volume Serial Number:
The volume serial number (also known as the Volume ID) is a unique identifier assigned to a disk partition by the operating system.

Cloning Process:
When you clone a disk, the cloning software typically copies the entire partition, including the volume serial number.
Potential Issues:
While the cloning process copies the serial number, some applications and software might rely on the serial number for activation or other purposes. If you clone a disk and then use it in a different system, you might encounter issues with software activation or other functionalities that rely on the original serial number.
Avoiding Issues:
If you need to use the cloned disk in a different system and want to avoid potential conflicts, you might need to consider using a different method, such as a clean installation of the operating system followed by manually copying your files.
Software Activation:
Some software might be tied to the hardware, including the disk serial number, and might require reactivation after cloning.
Reformatting:
If you format the cloned disk, the serial number will be reset, and a new one will be generated.

 

[peterh337]

One problem is that I do not want to overwrite the destination drive, or any part of it, except the serial number. It is a running machine which has a lot of valuable software on it and a lot of hugely complex config. I can do a Trueimage image backup (which has a high chance of working because the SATA controller runs in IDE mode) but there is a risk.

I just want to clone the drive S/N.

I think the above post is from ChatGPT :smile: Yeah, a fresh OS install is a great idea

If a format operation rewrites the S/N (rather than just the xxxx-xxxx volume number as usual) that is interesting because it suggests it should be very easy.