7275935e230e1dc1b061aeb4d9ef2e40 asks:
I bought a new laptop without an OS because the CPU in my old computer broke. I still have the hard drive of my old computer which ran Windows 7. I was wondering if I would be able to install Windows 7 on the new machine using the hard drive for the old one.
I think the old one should have come with a restore partition, though i am unsure. How else would I install this copy of Windows 7?
Thanks!
Browser: Safari 4.1
System: Mac
Tagged: install operating system, internal drive, laptop, windows tips
System: Mac
Tagged: install operating system, internal drive, laptop, windows tips
22 Answers -
Bruce Epper
September 26, 2012If a laptop (at least those sold in the US) doesn’t come with installation media, it must come with a way to create installation media. The setup instructions that come with these laptops tell you how to create the required CD/DVD sets and in many cases will start the creation program the first time you fire up the computer. Even if this was done, there is still the possibility it wouldn’t work unless the both computers are the same brand (some OEM keys are locked to specific vendors).The only way you will positively know if it will work or not is to try it. And accessing the restore partition (if it exists) may end up being a trick in the first place.
ha14
September 26, 2012as Bruce mentioned this depends on the license type you have, if it is commercial then sure you can install and reinstall, but if it is linked to hardware like hard drive, motherboard… then this cause problems and failure.
muotechguy
September 26, 2012No, you cannot install to a different computer using the restore disks of an old one, even less possible from the recovery partition. You should’ve bought Windows with the new machine, it would have been heavily subsidised. Your only option is to install linux, or buy a retail copy of Windows 7 now.
And before you say – “but i already own windows 7 from my old pc, im not buying a new licence!” – that doesn’t matter. That license is locked to the old pc, via an OEM agreement that it wouldnt be installed on any other machine.
Amit Sinha
September 26, 2012the better way is to buy another copy of windows that suits your requirement.
bonioloff
September 26, 2012I think you need to reactivate the Windows, and you should check the drivers for the new computer, because it may be different hardware from the old one.
Muhammad Ahmad
September 26, 2012yes you can use it.
i do not think so
September 26, 2012Kernel Recovery Tools
September 27, 2012I think you need to buy new license for windows 7.
Alex
September 27, 2012I did this trick with Paragon HDM WinPE (it has a built-in tool for system migration to new hardware).
First you have to prepare the drivers for the new hardware (for chipset and other things). Create a bootable flash drive Paragon HDM WinPE, there also save the folder with the drivers. Connect the old system HDD instead of the new. Boot from a flash drive. Inject new drivers from folder into the old system. Its all.
Nikhil Chandak
September 27, 2012yeah why cant u
u can
but u must ask this question on GooglE or Yahoo or Ask.com or etc…..
Ronaldo
September 27, 2012Hello,
Since you bought a laptop, you will need to use a HDD Case to plug the HDD from old computer on the USB.
New laptops and desktops models can boot from USB, so i think you can use windows 7 from this HDD on the laptop. You will need to install the drivers since the hardware is different.
If you get Blue Screen, you will need to use a Windows 7 DVD to repair the windows installaion.
Best Regards
Marcus
September 28, 2012It’s hit and miss really, I have done what you are suggesting before with Windows 7 and it worked fine after installing the new drivers. Another time it was demanded that I enter a different license key to activate. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.
Dayaanand1
September 28, 2012It is possible to install a clean copy of Windows 7 on the old HDD, but a restoration of the old copy of Win 7 cannot be used. The data on the old HDD can be extracted.
Reý Aetar
September 28, 2012download the windows 7 iso from microsoft website or any torrent site then activate it using your original key
or use the old hdd to boot your new comp
Dimal Chandrasiri
September 29, 2012ok.. first of all you are trying to connect a hard drive from a desktop to your laptop. ( that’s what I got from your question ) that’s a very bad idea. the only method is to connect them together is, to get an usb adapter for the old HDD.
the second thing is, you are trying to install an OS from an old HDD via USB. that’s another bad idea. please dnt try to install windows from an old HDD. do it only using an installation disc. this way, the OS would be reliable.!
Vijaynand Mishra
September 30, 2012NO ….it is not possible until and unless both the laptop’s model are same…
Nikhil Gupta
October 5, 2012no u can not install…
Bodi Hemanth
October 5, 20121st you install the old hdd in the same model laptop that the configuration is same on both.
and then download the windows 7 activation backup from this link
http://180upload.com/p9wp7lc4xtbt
and follow the instructions given in the word fole
after that download the windows 7 iso file from the below link
http://djsoftguru.blogspot.in/2012/09/windows-7-aio-54in1-x86.html
install the windows 7 on your new laptop and restor the license backup on your new laptop.
Anandu B Ajith
October 8, 2012if you have DVD And Product Key You Can Install
Saurabh Shrivastava
October 9, 2012did you try image restore?
Jim Chambers
October 11, 2012I moved a Win 7 HDD from one desktop computer to another with different hardware and much to my surprise it booted and installed required drivers Try it with your laptop maybe it will work for you. You could then clone system onto new HDD.
Douglas Mutay
October 23, 2012Stop giving yourself headache and use Linux!!!
Igor Rizvi?
January 16, 2013Yes you can…