I have a hard drive with Windows from a laptop of mine that is broken and would like to install it in a PC without one. Is that possible?
If only then with losses. Various drivers are installed on the hard disk, which have made the operating system with the given components executable. A simple plug & play should be difficult.
The easiest way is to format the plate and reinstall it cleanly. You can continue to use Key.
Can work. But you will most likely still encounter driver problems because your notebook has different hardware (= different drivers) than your PC.
I preferred to set up the PC again. So I can free myself from contaminated sites.
The thing is I don't have a key document. And no boot stick. Can you read out the key?
Theoretically yes.
However, if I changed the system, I would reinstall the operating system. This can lead to errors which can be avoided with the new installation.
You also have to note that all previous data is on the hard drive. But since the operating system should be reinstalled. This data must be backed up externally. Then reinstall all programs, data on it and you're done.
Somehow I have to get the key underneath and get a boot stick from somewhere
Sure it works! Of course you will have massive problems…
The odds are 50/50.
If your PC is similar to your notebook then this can be done.
You can probably forget about the key because your notebook has completely different hardware than your PC and the key is therefore invalid.
It is advantageous if you have previously signed in with a Microsoft account.
Read key: Open CMD → slmgr / dli → Enter
Create boot stick: https://www.microsoft.com/.../windows10
Why forget the key?! I've been through the topic a few times. And each time it was enough to call the support that I could use the key again.
Call support…
Hello, I'm Mr. Müller, I need a key.
I don't have an MS account and I never signed up… Believe me, I've always had Win10 … Now I have a new PC but without Windows.
Can you turn it on for me now?
Thank you
Someone has experience with support or a complete view.
If the key has already been used, a Microsoft account is also available. Logical that this will continue to be used.
I know the case from my own PC. Completely new system and the key was not recognized. This is also hardware-related. One call was enough and the key I used for my account worked again. Of course, in cooperation with the support via remote access, etc.
WT… What does the hardware have to do with a key?
If the key has already been used, a Microsoft account is also available.
That's not true.
But never mind, didn't want to discuss that now.
The KEY refers to the installed hardware.
Exemplary (simplified):
Win10 Key 4711xxx
Your hardware is registered under this key
HDD ID 0815
RAM ID 882255
Mainboard ID 007
GPU ID 6699
LAN ID 3344
Etc.
Now you change your hardware, these have different IDs, and the KEY no longer fits the hardware.
Therefore you change hardware only individually, restart the PC, then go online and wait until Win10 is active. So MS can adapt the ID to the KEY and everything is fine.
If you now change e.g. 3 components with one slip, it can happen that the MS thinks that it is a new PC and evaluates the key as already assigned and does not allow a new activation with the KEY
