Upgrade Laptop HDD without losing Licenses
Hello Gurus,
I need to upgrade my HDD on my laptop from SSD 256 to SSD 1gb. How do I clone it so that I don't lose my windows licenses and don't have to re-install everything ?
It is window 10 Pro
Thanks.
I need to upgrade my HDD on my laptop from SSD 256 to SSD 1gb. How do I clone it so that I don't lose my windows licenses and don't have to re-install everything ?
It is window 10 Pro
Thanks.
Mal Osborne
Just do it, Windows will recognise your machine as having a valid license, and automatically re activate.
Samsung SSD drives have a cloning utility Data Migration built-in. It works great. IDK if other brands do.
ASKER
I am sorry , but I have never done this. Do you have any tutorial, what is the tool to use ? how to use it ?
Thanks
Thanks
Clone it with something like Acronis and then when you restore it to the larger drive, then as Mr. Osborne posted above, the Microsoft Licensing server will have your license.
Acronis has tutorials on their website.
Do you already have the drive? What brand and model?
ASKER
I have bought the drive. My other problem is that It is m2.sata and Don't know how to "plug" it to the Laptop so I can start the process...
Is there any m2.sata to USB cable ? Does it work ?
Or Can I can clone the existing drive to an "image" and then install the new one and "restore that image ?
Maybe the "easiest" ?
Is there any m2.sata to USB cable ? Does it work ?
Or Can I can clone the existing drive to an "image" and then install the new one and "restore that image ?
Maybe the "easiest" ?
I know for a fact that some software keys off the serial# of the HDD. Cloning will break that licensing. But then, vendors accept such things and deal with it when it happens.
As for MSFT?? The HDD serial # used to be part of the authentication process .. back in the days of windows XP. So bottom line, just clone it with suggestions by others, but realize that there is a possibility that some non-MSFT code will complain about software. When/if that happens, deal with it by contacting the vendor.
As for MSFT?? The HDD serial # used to be part of the authentication process .. back in the days of windows XP. So bottom line, just clone it with suggestions by others, but realize that there is a possibility that some non-MSFT code will complain about software. When/if that happens, deal with it by contacting the vendor.
Mal is Right. If you are still scared about activation then download belarc advisor software, which pull out all hardware and software information from the system.
Here is the link.
https://www.belarc.com/products_belarc_advisor
Here is the link.
https://www.belarc.com/products_belarc_advisor
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ASKER
These are the steps I am thinking of doing
Can u please validate them for me ?
1-Backup my Whole PC using Acronis true Image. (my Laptop has 2 HDD now 1 SSD 256 GB and 1 HDD 1TB)
2-once backup done, remove the 256 GB SSD and install the new one (1TB SSD). Keep the second HDD as is.
3-Restore using Acronis
Will it work this way ?
Can u please validate them for me ?
1-Backup my Whole PC using Acronis true Image. (my Laptop has 2 HDD now 1 SSD 256 GB and 1 HDD 1TB)
2-once backup done, remove the 256 GB SSD and install the new one (1TB SSD). Keep the second HDD as is.
3-Restore using Acronis
Will it work this way ?
>> 1-Backup my Whole PC << why? i would remove the 1 TB drive and only clonetthe OS drive -256 GB
2 and 3 are ok
be sure you have a bootable cd, or usb stick for restoring the image
2 and 3 are ok
be sure you have a bootable cd, or usb stick for restoring the image
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