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cloning sata ssd to m.2 nvme

Anonymous
2022-07-23T08:30:32+00:00

Hi so i'm planning on building a new pc and my main storage drive on it will be an m.2 nvme and i want to clone my current pc's main sata ssd with my windows install on it to the new pc, I already know how to clone sata ssd to m.2 nvme and keep all my old files and keep windows but i'm wondering if there will be any hardware problems since my new pc will have a completely different motherboard, cpu and gpu, if there is any hardware problems is there anyway to get around it? or would i just have to install windows by itself on the new m.2 nvme and then afterward copy all the files except windows from the old ssd

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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  1. DaveM121 868K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-07-23T10:06:55+00:00

    Hi ensiv,

    It depends, what type of Windows licenced o you have, is that a pre-installed OEM licence, or did you purchase a full Windows retail licence from Microsoft or from a 3rd party retailer?

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-07-23T10:02:58+00:00

    quick follow up question, if i copy just windows from the old ssd onto the new m.2 and install it there, do i need to put in an activation key for windows or will it just boot since it's technically already been activated previously on the old ssd

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  3. DaveM121 868K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-07-23T09:58:47+00:00

    Hi ensiv, glad to help!

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-07-23T09:57:12+00:00

    ok thanks for the help, i'll try and copy everything over and then boot and if it doesnt work then ill just erase the m.2 nvme and then clean install windows onto it and then copy over my files

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  5. DaveM121 868K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-07-23T09:46:54+00:00

    Hi ensiv

    That is a big change, I believe the processor and motherboard change will be too great and Windows would not be able to adjust to that change.

    However, the only thing you can do is try to boot up that drive on the new hardware, it will either work, or will blue screen, and then you would need to clean install Windows.

    Hopefully Windows can adjust, but the only thing you can do is try that, there is no hard and fast rules on which hardware Windows can adapt to.

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