Moveing HDD to new computer?

G

Guest

I want to move hard drive from old computer to a newer/faster one.

Can I do it this way?

Install hard drive in new computer.
- Insert Win7 DVD Install disk
- Boot new computer into Win7 setup
- Use REPAIR to allow Win7 to pick up new hardware on the new computer?

I'm not quite sure I will get an option to Repair. If not, what are my other
options?
 
W

Wolf K

I want to move hard drive from old computer to a newer/faster one.

Can I do it this way?

Install hard drive in new computer.
- Insert Win7 DVD Install disk
- Boot new computer into Win7 setup
- Use REPAIR to allow Win7 to pick up new hardware on the new computer?

I'm not quite sure I will get an option to Repair. If not, what are my
other options?
Not clear. Are you:

a) moving HDD with W7 on it to a new computer? If so, you'll probably
have to phone MS to enable using the existing key on new hardware. But
you won't have to repair the installation, as W7 will recognise all the
new stuff in the new computer. You may have to use disk management etc
to delete no-longer existing drives and such (W7 will still have a list
of the old stuff.)

b) adding an HDD scavenged from another computer? If so, just plug it
inm and boot. W7 will recognise any stuff you add.

HTH,
Wolf K.
 
R

richard

Not clear. Are you:

a) moving HDD with W7 on it to a new computer? If so, you'll probably
have to phone MS to enable using the existing key on new hardware. But
you won't have to repair the installation, as W7 will recognise all the
new stuff in the new computer. You may have to use disk management etc
to delete no-longer existing drives and such (W7 will still have a list
of the old stuff.)

b) adding an HDD scavenged from another computer? If so, just plug it
inm and boot. W7 will recognise any stuff you add.

HTH,
Wolf K.
Explain something to me.
Just how does MS know that YOU installed the OS onto another machine?
The CD/dvd is locked. It can not be written to.

Now let's say you happen to have 5 machines with the OS coming from the
same install disk. License keys match. How does MS know that there are 5
machines with the same license key? How do they know which one is legit?

To screw MS even more, none of the machines ever go online. So MS can't
phone home and check.

As far as I'm concerned, this one machine, one license thing is a frickin
scare tactic to get you to buy a disk for each computer you have.

It's my damn property, I can do with it as I please.
Even the governemtn copyright officce says so.
 
C

Char Jackson

Explain something to me.
Just how does MS know that YOU installed the OS onto another machine?
The CD/dvd is locked. It can not be written to.
They "know" because you're expected to activate the installation
within 30 days of installing it. You can activate over the Internet or
by phone. Either way, you provide some information to them, and in
return they provide some information back to you, and in the end your
installed copy of Windows is happy.
Now let's say you happen to have 5 machines with the OS coming from the
same install disk. License keys match. How does MS know that there are 5
machines with the same license key? How do they know which one is legit?
The first one to be activated is legit. The subsequent activation
attempts will fail.
To screw MS even more, none of the machines ever go online. So MS can't
phone home and check.
That's not a solution. You still need to activate somehow.
As far as I'm concerned, this one machine, one license thing is a frickin
scare tactic to get you to buy a disk for each computer you have.

It's my damn property, I can do with it as I please.
Even the governemtn copyright officce says so.
Except that it's not your property, so the rest of your claim doesn't
apply. You're only buying a license to use *their* property, and
you're agreeing to use it within their terms and restrictions.
 
P

Percival P. Cassidy

I want to move hard drive from old computer to a newer/faster one.

Can I do it this way?

Install hard drive in new computer.
- Insert Win7 DVD Install disk
- Boot new computer into Win7 setup
- Use REPAIR to allow Win7 to pick up new hardware on the new computer?

I'm not quite sure I will get an option to Repair. If not, what are my
other options?
The paid version of the Macrium Reflect 5.0 backup program has an option
that claims to be able to migrate an installation to new hardware. I
haven't tried it.

AIUI, if the original Windows installation was of an OEM version, that
remains tied to the original hardware and cannot be reinstalled (or,
presumably, reactivated) on different hardware.

Perce
 
W

Wolf K

Explain something to me.
Just how does MS know that YOU installed the OS onto another machine?
The CD/dvd is locked. It can not be written to.
During installation, you must enter the product key, which "activates"
Win 7. When you activate the copy of Win 7, it calls home and reports
deatils of the machines you've installed it on. If the MS database shows
this copy of Win 7 has already been installed on another machine, it
won't activate. You need a change in that database to enable activation
on the new hardware.

The process was already quite involved with XP, and it's become even
more so with Win7.

BTW, the CD/DVD isn't "locked". It's a read-only medium, is all. MS
doesn't distribute its OSs on writable media.

HTH,
Wolf K.
 
E

Evan Platt

Explain something to me.
This has been explained to you, ad nauseam, bullis. You just can't get
it through your thick skull.
Just how does MS know that YOU installed the OS onto another machine?
By this thing called the Internet.
The CD/dvd is locked. It can not be written to.
No, it's not 'locked', bullis.
Now let's say you happen to have 5 machines with the OS coming from the
same install disk. License keys match. How does MS know that there are 5
machines with the same license key? How do they know which one is legit?
The first one is considered legit.
To screw MS even more, none of the machines ever go online. So MS can't
phone home and check.
Good luck working with those unactivated OS's.
As far as I'm concerned, this one machine, one license thing is a frickin
scare tactic to get you to buy a disk for each computer you have.
That's the contract you agree to when you buy the software.
It's my damn property, I can do with it as I please.
No, it's not.
Even the governemtn copyright officce says so.
You're a moron, bullis.
 
P

Paul

Wolf said:
During installation, you must enter the product key, which "activates"
Win 7. When you activate the copy of Win 7, it calls home and reports
deatils of the machines you've installed it on. If the MS database shows
this copy of Win 7 has already been installed on another machine, it
won't activate. You need a change in that database to enable activation
on the new hardware.

The process was already quite involved with XP, and it's become even
more so with Win7.

BTW, the CD/DVD isn't "locked". It's a read-only medium, is all. MS
doesn't distribute its OSs on writable media.

HTH,
Wolf K.
Activation uses hardware information. An old article on the
subject is here.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

I don't know enough on the topic, to know whether
everything in the list on that page can be spoofed.

Paul
 
C

Char Jackson

Activation uses hardware information. An old article on the
subject is here.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

I don't know enough on the topic, to know whether
everything in the list on that page can be spoofed.
Windows 7 doesn't use WPA; they call it WAT now.

Windows Product Activation versus Windows Activation Technologies

And yes, everything can be spoofed, both then (XP) and now (7).
 
R

richard

Activation uses hardware information. An old article on the
subject is here.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm

I don't know enough on the topic, to know whether
everything in the list on that page can be spoofed.

Paul
If they can do that, then that opens up a whole new gambit of legal
questions.
yeah ok, they have the legal right to verify the license key.
but then they want to know everything about your machine too?
hey, why stop there? we'll just find all of your personal information, like
bank accounts, SSN's, credit cards and other good stuff.
Just because I bought their product, that does not give them carte blanche
rights to go snooping anywhere they damn well please.

I don't want to use my machine online. So why should I have to go online?
Can't I call an automated phoney system, enter the key and they verify it
that way?

Like a secure facility owned by the US government is gonna let MS snoop
around as they damn well please? I don't think so.

Isn't there a federal law about "unauthorized access"?
 
D

Dominique

"Percival P. Cassidy" <[email protected]> écrivait @dont-email.me:

AIUI, if the original Windows installation was of an OEM version, that
remains tied to the original hardware and cannot be reinstalled (or,
presumably, reactivated) on different hardware.

Perce
If the original Windows installation is of a "System builder" or if you
prefer "generic" OEM, it can be reinstalled and activated on other
hardware. It's against the licence agreement but it might work; never done
it with Seven but I know it used to work with XP.
 
C

Char Jackson

If they can do that, then that opens up a whole new gambit of legal
questions.
yeah ok, they have the legal right to verify the license key.
but then they want to know everything about your machine too?
No, you made that part up.
hey, why stop there? we'll just find all of your personal information, like
bank accounts, SSN's, credit cards and other good stuff.
Just because I bought their product, that does not give them carte blanche
rights to go snooping anywhere they damn well please.
And you made all of that up, too. Don't let your imagination run away
with you.
I don't want to use my machine online. So why should I have to go online?
Can't I call an automated phoney system, enter the key and they verify it
that way?
Yes, of course you can activate by phone. I mentioned that earlier in
this thread.
Like a secure facility owned by the US government is gonna let MS snoop
around as they damn well please? I don't think so.

Isn't there a federal law about "unauthorized access"?
There goes your imagination again.
 
A

arnold

"Percival P. Cassidy" <[email protected]> écrivait @dont-email.me:


If the original Windows installation is of a "System builder" or if you
prefer "generic" OEM, it can be reinstalled and activated on other
hardware. It's against the licence agreement but it might work; never
done it with Seven but I know it used to work with XP.
I don't remember where I read it, but I think it stated an OEM
installation of Win7 was keyed to the motherboard. Any different
motherboard became a different computer and would not be able to be
authenticated. However, I haven't attempted it yet. I would at least try.
 
V

Vic RR Garcia

If they can do that, then that opens up a whole new gambit of legal
questions.
yeah ok, they have the legal right to verify the license key.
but then they want to know everything about your machine too?
hey, why stop there? we'll just find all of your personal information, like
bank accounts, SSN's, credit cards and other good stuff.
Just because I bought their product, that does not give them carte blanche
rights to go snooping anywhere they damn well please.

I don't want to use my machine online. So why should I have to go online?
Can't I call an automated phoney system, enter the key and they verify it
that way?

Like a secure facility owned by the US government is gonna let MS snoop
around as they damn well please? I don't think so.

Isn't there a federal law about "unauthorized access"?
While you have the right to be paranoid, the question is:

Did MS forced you to install Win 7 in your computer?

Nope, you did it on your own, so you have to play by their rules.
As simple as that.

You already admit that your plan is to steal from MS, (buy ONE license
only, but install FIVE copies of same).

Why you expect MS to help you defraud them?.
 
E

Evan Platt

If they can do that, then that opens up a whole new gambit of legal
questions.
Oh boy, here we go....
yeah ok, they have the legal right to verify the license key.
but then they want to know everything about your machine too?
In a sense, yes. Essentially a checksum.

I know thinking isn't your forte so I'll keep it simple.

Let's say a AMD BIOS is 1, a Megatrend is 2. 1 hard drive counts as 2,
2 hard drives counts as 4. Let's say a USB mouse counts as 3, a PS/2
mouse counts as 5.

So, you have a AMD Bios, 1 hard drive, and a USB mouse. That's 1+2+3.
Since you suck at math, I'll tell you that's 6. That's sent with your
registration.
hey, why stop there? we'll just find all of your personal information, like
bank accounts, SSN's, credit cards and other good stuff.
Better put back on your tinfoil hat.
Just because I bought their product, that does not give them carte blanche
rights to go snooping anywhere they damn well please.
For once, you are correct. And they don't.
I don't want to use my machine online. So why should I have to go online?
You don't.
Can't I call an automated phoney system, enter the key and they verify it
that way?
Yes. This has been explained to you numerous times before.
Like a secure facility owned by the US government is gonna let MS snoop
around as they damn well please? I don't think so.

Isn't there a federal law about "unauthorized access"?
Yes. And it's not violated by Microsoft, st00pid.
 
P

Paul

richard said:
If they can do that, then that opens up a whole new gambit of legal
questions.
yeah ok, they have the legal right to verify the license key.
but then they want to know everything about your machine too?
hey, why stop there? we'll just find all of your personal information, like
bank accounts, SSN's, credit cards and other good stuff.
Just because I bought their product, that does not give them carte blanche
rights to go snooping anywhere they damn well please.

I don't want to use my machine online. So why should I have to go online?
Can't I call an automated phoney system, enter the key and they verify it
that way?

Like a secure facility owned by the US government is gonna let MS snoop
around as they damn well please? I don't think so.

Isn't there a federal law about "unauthorized access"?
Actually, the rules differ by license type. Corporations
use things like VLK, and apparently run their own KMS.

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/existing-customers/product-activation.aspx

The activation scheme on the Aumha site, is to stop "Wally The End User In His Basement"
from stealing copies.

OEM copies (you buy a Dell and boot it, with no activation) relies on
SLIC (agreement between BIOS information and some special files in the OS).
So again, no friction involved. If you didn't attempt to move that
OS to a non-Dell machine, it's self activating.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS#SLIC

That leaves "unbranded OEM" and "retail" installer CDs, as the ones
that use an activation scheme.

Wally (license key, hardware hash) -----> Activation Server
<---- (Token to complete activation and stop timer)

There are several responses your OS can give.

1) New install, disconnected from Internet, Perhaps 30 days grace before OS "limps"
2) Old install HDD, moved to new PC. Perhaps 3 days (72 hours) grace before OS "limps"
3) In some cases, I've heard of people being unable to get the OS to do anything,
so it's pretty close to "freeze" when you bust the activation. Note that, there
are a couple services considered key to OS security, and if you kill them
or offend them, the OS will shut down in under a minute "to protect itself".

The scheme was only ever intended to stop honest people.

Boris The Hacker, has no trouble activating his copy, and you can download
WinXP Black for example, if you want an activated copy. New hacks are
required over time, to keep pirate copies like that "afloat". There
are some "security patches", deemed essential before you can install
a service pack, that plug holes that Boris has discovered. And then
Boris has to dream up new solutions.

In terms of "chasing you down like a dog", Microsoft tends to respond,
when you steal $500,000 or more of product from them. It's not worth
sending the "legal bus" to your house, for stealing one copy. Having
the OS "limp" is enough to keep Wally honest.

Paul
 
Z

Zaphod Beeblebrox

I don't remember where I read it, but I think it stated an OEM
installation of Win7 was keyed to the motherboard. Any different
motherboard became a different computer and would not be able to be
authenticated. However, I haven't attempted it yet. I would at least try.
It doesn't become keyed to the motherboard (if I understand what you
mean) in that it prevents it from being able to be used on a different
one, it is only the licensing agreement that says you can't do it.
 
D

Dominique

I don't remember where I read it, but I think it stated an OEM
installation of Win7 was keyed to the motherboard. Any different
motherboard became a different computer and would not be able to be
authenticated. However, I haven't attempted it yet. I would at least try.
It's the case for branded OEMs like HP, Dell, Acer, Compaq, etc.

By "System builder" or "Generic" I mean OEMs distributed by Microsoft to
people building computers with differents parts like Asus MB, Antec or
Rosewill or unbranded cases, Antec or other brands power supplies,
Kingston, Corsair, Crucial or unbranded memory, etc. Usually those are
small speciality local store. In XP time those generic OEM OSs where
illegaly transferable but they would activate if the last activation was
more than 120 days. I don't know if it's still the case with Seven.
 

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