I receive tons of “computer questions” from my friends, family members and associates, and an interesting one that pops up from time to time concerns moving a legal copy of the Windows operating system from one computer to another. Typically, they want to move a newer version of Windows from a PC that has died onto one that still works fine but is running an older version of Windows. There are a couple of things that determine whether or not you can move an existing Windows license to a new machine:
1 – Is this version of Windows OEM or Retail?
Did the copy of Windows you’re wanting to move to another PC come pre-installed on the old computer or did you purchase it seperately in a retail box? Most off-the-shelf computers these days come with an OEM (ie. Original Equipment Manufacturer) version of Windows pre-installed on the hard drive. OEM copies of Windows cannot be legally transferred to a different computer. Period. End of story.
Why? Because when computer manufacturers purchase OEM copies of Windows they pay a vastly reduced price to Microsoft for the privaledge of installing it on a specific computer, and the license for that Windows installation is forever tied to that specific computer. You can upgrade that computer with a new motherboard, hard drive, etc. (a call to Microsoft might be required in order to reactivate the OS), but you cannot move that OEM Windows license to a new machine.
However, a boxed, retail copy of Windows can be moved to a new computer at any time provided you remove it from the old machine before installing it on the new one. After all, you bought the software at retail and it didn’t come bundled with a specific computer.
2 – Can the other computer actually run the newer version of Windows?
Typically, every new major release of Windows requires a faster processor, more memory and more hard drive space than the version it is replacing in order to run at an acceptable speed and capability. Is the older PC that you’re wanting to move the newer verions of Windows onto capable of running it? Well, you can always compare the minimum hardware requirements for the newer OS (found on the Microsoft website) with the hardware inside the PC’s case, but the easier way is to simply run the Windows Upgrade Advisor. You can find it right away by searching on those words in your favorite search engine.
To use the Windows Upgrade Advisor, you simply download and run a small utility from Microsoft that scans your system, then identifies the hardware and software within and tells you straightaway whether the PC in question is capable of running the newer version of Windows. Sometimes a minor upgrade will be required (such as adding more RAM), in which case the advisor will tell you that. Sometimes there will be a list of required upgrades that you must make. And if the system is simply too old to run the newer version at all, it will tell you that as well.
Making the move…
If you determine that your copy of Windows is a retail copy AND your other computer is capable of running it, here are the steps required in order to move it from the old computer to the new one:
1 – If the old computer still runs, remove the Windows installation in question from the hard drive. The easiest way to do this is use one of the many “Wipe Drive” types of software programs on the market. Another way to “wipe” the drive is to simply format it. A third option is to install a different operating system over top of the Windows installation. (Linux anyone?)
If the computer is completely dead and you don’t plan to have it repaired, simply remove the hard drive and discard it in whatever manner you prefer. If you sell it or give it away, be sure to install it in another computer just long enough to wipe the drive clean. This will remove both the Windows installation AND any sensitive data contained on the drive such as credit card info and such.
2 – Make a complete backup of the contents of the hard drive in the PC that you’re planning to install Windows on. Even if the newer version of Windows will allow an in-place upgrade (i.e. it is an “upgrade version”), things do occasionally go wrong. And if they do, you’ll need to have a backup of your data to restore from. If you’re installing a full version of Windows (not an upgrade version), then the existing Windows installation will be overwritten completely – and that includes any software and data on the hard drive.
3 – Make sure the PC’s Bios settings are such that the system will attempt to boot from the optical drive first, then insert the Windows installation disc into the drive and boot up the computer. You’ll be greeted with the Windows Installation Utility which will give you the option of ugrading to the new version or replacing it. Make your choice as you wish and the installation process will proceed.
4 – After the new version of Windows had been installed you will be prompted to call Microsoft to reactivate this copy of Windows. Assuming you installed a retail copy instead of an OEM copy everything will be fine. Make sure you verify this BEFORE beginning the installation procedure, because once the hard drive is wiped, it’s wiped!