Windows 10 question.
Nov 12, 2021 07:27:27 #
This is not a photographic question although I do run Photoshop on this PC. The PC is an HP Prodesk 400 G1 MT. It's a 3rd gen I5. The computer came with Win 7 pro and free upgrade to Win 8.1 pro. I have since upgraded it to Win 10 Pro. Now it's dead, I think it's the motherboard. So I ordered an identical PC from Ebay. If I take the hard drive out of the bad computer and put it in the one that is coming I am sure it would start up but would Win 10 activated? I worry that Win10 won't be activated.
Nov 12, 2021 07:28:58 #
Nov 12, 2021 07:46:49 #
Jack47 wrote:
If the HD is good you shouldn’t have a problem.
The HD is good but I am afraid Windows won't be activated.
Nov 12, 2021 07:48:52 #
rcmd you take the HD to a computer repair shop and have your documents/pictures transferred to a flash drive. The new computer will probably have W10 installed on its C: hard drive so your windows 10 is not needed and would not be recognized on boot up.
Nov 12, 2021 08:04:46 #
BebuLamar wrote:
The HD is good but I am afraid Windows won't be activated.
You may have to adjust the boot sequence in the BIOS to tell it to go to your hard drive first. You may be able to leave the new PC's original hard drive in place, but it would probably be a good idea to re-format it once your own hard drive is in place and working.
To get in to the BIOS setup, switch the PC on and keep pressing Del until the BIOS screen appears.
Nov 12, 2021 08:19:17 #
BebuLamar wrote:
This is not a photographic question although I do ... (show quote)
I concur with R.G. if you aren't comfortable playing with bios you might get some help but it's not that difficult.
Nov 12, 2021 08:47:25 #
R.G. wrote:
You may have to adjust the boot sequence in the BIOS to tell it to go to your hard drive first. You may be able to leave the new PC's original hard drive in place, but it would probably be a good idea to re-format it once your own hard drive is in place and working.
To get in to the BIOS setup, switch the PC on and keep pressing Del until the BIOS screen appears.
To get in to the BIOS setup, switch the PC on and keep pressing Del until the BIOS screen appears.
I have no problem with this. The problem is that Win10 was activated with a different computer and it may not activate. I am sure it will boot up and run Windows 10 but it may asked for a new license as the old license is registered to a specific PC. Even the 2 computers are of exact made and model it knows the 2 computers are not the same one.
Nov 12, 2021 08:53:05 #
BebuLamar wrote:
I have no problem with this. The problem is that Win10 was activated with a different computer and it may not activate. I am sure it will boot up and run Windows 10 but it may asked for a new license as the old license is registered to a specific PC. Even the 2 computers are of exact made and model it knows the 2 computers are not the same one.
If you want to increase the chances of W10 activating, you could swap over the CPU, but you may find that you don't have to. Since the OS providers started using online activation, the need for consistent hardware isn't as high as it used to be.
So far I haven't seen anybody saying "NOOOOOOO!!!!", so maybe you should just try it and see.
Nov 12, 2021 09:24:38 #
You can call MS and tell them you are moving your copy to another computer - they will help you activate it.
Nov 12, 2021 15:19:10 #
Nov 12, 2021 16:08:20 #
BebuLamar wrote:
This is not a photographic question although I do ... (show quote)
When I had a hard drive problem I got concerned about having to pay for a new Windows install. I was told that replacing the hard drive would not require buying new Windows since the licensing info is on the motherboard and not the hard drive. So in your case (bad motherboard) the licensing info would no longer be available for reuse.
But why is this an issue when, as someone said earlier, your new computer will come with Windows installed?
Nov 12, 2021 16:22:58 #
It seems to me I recall that Windows 10 authenticates using a number of factors, including some information it obtains from the motherboard. So, it's quite possible you won't be able to reactivate.
Nov 12, 2021 16:24:17 #
BebuLamar wrote:
This is not a photographic question although I do ... (show quote)
What does 'identical PC' really mean? The same model number from HP? The Prodesk 400 G1 comes in many configurations. The OS on the HD from your 'old' computer is configured for whatever the specs are of the old computer, which may not match (and likely won't) what's in the 'new' machine. Plugging in the HD from the old machine into the new expecting it to work flawlessly might well be expecting way more than you will actually receive.
I wish you luck...I think you will need lots of it for this to work.
Nov 12, 2021 16:34:40 #
DWU2 wrote:
It seems to me I recall that Windows 10 authenticates using a number of factors, including some information it obtains from the motherboard. So, it's quite possible you won't be able to reactivate.
That is right. It authenticates by information from the motherboard and in this case I basically replace the mother board.
Nov 12, 2021 16:35:21 #
fredpnm wrote:
What does 'identical PC' really mean? The same mod... (show quote)
The hardware are the same and I am not worrying about drivers and stuff like that. Only the Windows 10 activation.
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