Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Disclaimer: I know nothing about building or repairing computers. With that being said, I recently upgraded to a new deskptop PC. My old desktop had a relatively new 1TB SSD hard drive. (Only a year old). This was the main drive running Windows 10 on my old desktop PC. Now I also have an 8 year old laptop running Window's 7. Would I be able to just replace the drive in the laptop with the new SSD drive. If I did, would it now be running Windows 10?

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

You might have to reload some drivers but I’d go for it. Make sure you have enough memory.

pwrxprt Loc: Beaumont, California

I'm certainly not a computer expert and that is an understatement for me. However, I would look at the size (dimensions) and manufacturer of the SSD in the deck top and the check with them via an email to see if it is compatible. My guess it would not be compatible for the shear difference is size. Laptop HD are usually smaller in size. Like I said, I'm not expert, but that would be my direction if I wanted to do something as you state. Let us know if you were able to get it to work.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

There are probably computer-brand specific functions in each computer, unique to the computer.
Simply swapping drives doesn't always work as expected.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

You'll also have to see if this has the same hardware interface {is wiring the same?}

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Go for it! You might have to download device drivers, but it’s worth trying. The other thing is Your Microsoft licenses may be tied to the motherboards, so a call to them may be required.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

I was running a 500gig SSD in an 11 year old Compaq laptop that started with Windoze XP if I remember correctly. It was running Windoze 10 when the display died last year.

As for burkphoto's comment about the license being tied to the motherboard, it takes some work but it can be transferred.

drjuice

There are some technical differences in what will run SSDs and I found out that those would prevent any SSD running on one of my older laptops (running XP Pro SP3). I finally got a rejected desktop from a previous employer that would run the SSD without changing the opsys and it's still my server today after 2 yrs.

🙋 virginia

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Depends on the SATA/power connector and the physical size. If it won’t physically fit or the connectors are different, you can always get a SATA to USB adapter cable and use it as an external drive.

therwol Loc: USA

You would normally reformat the new drive and clone it. Then you'd swap drives. In your case, you'd still be running Windows 7. It is still possible to upgrade 7 to 10 for free. This is discussed in many articles on the Internet.

KillroyII Loc: Middle Georgia

A lot of words here... but it isn't that hard...

A couple of hardware requirements: It has to physically fit and the laptop has to have the an interface cable/technology that is compatible with your SSD. Many laptops have a door on the bottom that may be secured with a screw that allows access to the disk... a first check is open that door and see if the cables connected to the disk is/are the same as on the SSD.

If you are OK on both of those hardware points... it COULD take a reinstall of Windows. Wouldn't hurt to plug it in and see if it boots up and runs (if the drive is compatible with your interface as stated above) but Windows may recognize it is in different hardware than what it was licensed with and give you an error message. Even upgrading certain hardware, or combinations of hardware in the same PC can trigger this message and you have to contact Micro$oft and get permission.

If Windows gives you the above hiccup... and Micro$oft will not allow that Win10 on the laptop... there is still a possible path... install your laptops Win7 on the SSD drive then get the free Win10 update (was advertised as available only a certain time but recently I saw it was still possible).

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Once you get past the HW issues (physical fit and connectors), it is HIGHLY unlikely it will boot and run Windows 10 as mentioned above. You have two choices. You can then either try to get Microsoft to relicense it for your laptop and then reload Windows 10 (and all the drivers and aps from scratch) or you can clean the disk and then using a USB to SATA cable and a cloning tool such as Acronis, clone the existing laptop drive into the SSD and then swap the SSD for the existing HD. It will still be running Windows 7, but all your aps and drivers will work and it will be a LOT faster if you were using a conventional HD before. You can then decide it your leisure whether to stay at Windows 7 (which is a solid OS, but no longer supported) or upgrade to Win 10, which if done correctly, won’t require you to reload all your aps.

decoonass Loc: San Antonio

A little twist, Win 10 and to a lesser degree Win 7, are able to identify the hard ware of the machine they are installed in. The Win 10 on that SSD will recognize right away that it has been installed in a different machine, and therefore will not run. There is a solution, download a free copy of Win10 on the machine running Win7, and then clone that disk to the drive currently running Win 10.

decoonass Loc: San Antonio