cloning new PC to SSD, license worry?

[broe23]

In every instance I've seen, no COA sticker == embedded key.

That is only if the machine comes with the OS pre-installed. I get all of mine with no OS. That means no embedded key.

 

[Ztruker]

Okay, that's a valid point, but very few people buy a computer without an installed OS.

I think we are really talking about big box manufacturers like Dell, Hp, Sony, Lenovo and not custom built systems.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

No key is kept in the bios. What you are thinking is the checksum that the UEFI uses to verify that OS is valid (MS wisdom to make an attempt to not allow Linux on PC's. & Laptops).

The machines can be ordered with the SSD's already installed, no OS if you are using a MS Volume license. You basically connect all of the machines up to a Lab LAN and go through the process of loading them up with the company Master copy of the OS with all updates on it and other software that is used during the course of users performing their duties.

Rather confusing when you stated this just last week:

It might be a problem, due to the UEFI bios will come back telling Windows 8.x, that it is not the same motherboard. So you may end up having to reactivate the OS, or call Microsoft Support, if unable to do it through the Internet.

You need to read up on the whole UEFI issue, that MS created. Has nothing to do with the key for the software. Windows 8 is looking for the same key on the bios, when you change out the motherboards. If they do not match. It can lock you out, or cause you to reactivate the OS, due to UEFI.

Used to be that you could get away with swapping the same motherboard with no problems. No longer is that the case with UEFI.

So what gives, Bro? Which is it?

BTW, MS may use UEFI, but did not create it. You can thank HP and Intel for it. Unified Extensible Firmware Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[dirtyvu]

alright, after cloning a drive from the HDD to SSD, did have to reapply the activation key.

 

[broe23]

Okay, that's a valid point, but very few people buy a computer without an installed OS.

I think we are really talking about big box manufacturers like Dell, Hp, Sony, Lenovo and not custom built systems.

I am too. Last two I ordered from Toshiba, came without the OS on them. No OS, no key in the bios. Both were custom spec'd.

 

[broe23]

alright, after cloning a drive from the HDD to SSD, did have to reapply the activation key.

Yes if you are using an individual key for each computer. You are better off as I stated before in this kind of situation, using an Enterprise Volume image, with all software that users are to use, pre-created.

Then you just image all of the machines on a Test Lab LAN, or with a Multi-Hard drive unit, used for imaging multiple drives at once.

 

[dirtyvu]

alright, office machines aside...

I also picked up an SSD for myself to upgrade from my old 120 GB SSD to a new 240 GB SSD on my home PC...

background: I originally bought Windows 8 Pro Upgrade when it was dirt cheap when it first came out. I then got the Windows Media Center upgrade for free during that early promotion. So I basically had 2 keys. I upgraded to 8.1 a couple weeks before the new SSD came in. So I was at 8.1 Pro Media center on the old SSD.

I clone to the new SSD. And I have to reactivate Windows. So it won't accept either of my keys (my 8 Pro Upgrade key or my 8 Pro Media Center key). After going through customer support for a couple of hours, they said I had to wipe my system, reinstall Windows 8 Pro on the new SSD, upgrade to the 8 Pro with Media Center, then to 8.1 Pro Media Center. What a pain! But at least I'm starting fresh with a clean system without the crud software I had accumulated over the past couple of years.

So installing 8 Pro, it accepted my key. then 8.0 Pro Media Center key worked. then the 8.1 upgrade worked and was still activated.