Moving an SSD with Windows 8.1 to another PC.

[togutas1]

This is my first post so I am sorry if I've broken any forum rules. It's an urgent matter and I need this to be resolved ASAP.

My PC was destroyed a couple of weeks ago and the only thing I managed to salvage was my Crucial M4 SSD with windows 8 and a few programs installed. I aim to build an entirely new PC with completely different components (AMD to Intel, AMD to NVIDIA etc) and use the salvaged SSD as a boot drive. I have already tested the SSD in another Intel machine and it seemed to boot to windows and run o problem (although this was only a quick test.)

One thing... I don't have the windows install disc anymore.

Here's what I want to do: Wrench out the SSD, put it in my completely different new machine, boot it, uninstall drivers, install correct new drivers and that's it (This seems to at least be worth a try as I doubt any other components will be damaged and it will save me £200)

Here's what I think I should do: Get a new SSD or secure erase the M4 and install a fresh version of windows.

What do you think I should do?

Any feedback appreciated!

 

[maniac]

As far as I remember, one installation of windows won't work on another pc unless it has exactly the same components. So I guess your best bet is to completely clean the SSD and re install windows.

 

[TheOuterOne]

Buying a new SSD is not needed at all, you can wipe your current and install Windows on it.

 

[SavageCupcake]

I'd just format the ssd and use that. Pretty sure you can download the iso from microsofts website. Have you still got the serial for it?

 

[hmmblah]

Ideally, you'd want to secure erase and install windows. However, you could pop it in as is, uninstall old drivers reinstall new as you said. Worst thing Windows will do is make you activate again. I've done this on quite a few win7 installs.

 

[Wraith]

You can get away with it "if" you use the exact same motherboard as you had previously, each windows install only adds the drivers it needs to run on that particular system at the time plus the boot log and registry are setup to use the original hardware. Best bet format and start afresh Microsoft will provide you with the ISO but you'll need your key.

 

[NeverBackDown]

You would probably be better off with AMD hardware as they support Mantle and FreeSync compared to Nvidias G-sync. On the CPU side of things a 8350 running Mantle performs next to the 4770k, however either the 8350,i5 4670k, or 4770k CPUs are all extremely fast so any choice is great.

Now on to the windows topic...
I would try to safely delete windows and create an ISO file to install the new version of windows on.

 

[hmmblah]

You can get away with it "if" you use the exact same motherboard as you had previously, each windows install only adds the drivers it needs to run on that particular system at the time plus the boot log and registry are setup to use the original hardware. Best bet format and start afresh Microsoft will provide you with the ISO but you'll need your key.

That was true on Windows XP and older, but not Vista and up. YMMV of course, but the newer OSes are much more forgiving when it comes to this. Like I said above it'll reset your activation, but doing that again takes 2 seconds.

 

[togutas1]

Cheers for the responses guys.

I am going to try reactiviting it on the the new machine and if that fails, i'll just wipe the drive and stump up the £70 for another Windows copy.

I'm fairly certain no components will be damaged so I've got nothing to lose in trying.

Thanks again.

 

[barnsley]

...however either the 8350,i5 4670k, or 4770k CPUs are all extremely fast so any choice is great.

Unless you play Dayz, in which case the 8350 is utter poop.


Yeah you'll need a new copy of windows if it was the OEM version you had on your old rig.

 

[paulstung]

As mentioned above, it doesn't have to be the same components, but the motherboard chipset. So Z77 or Z87 ect...Iv'e done it recently with 2 different Z87 motherboards, I just unplugged one and replugged it into the new board. The only thing I had to do was change the drivers, just be on the safe side.