Windows 10: Best way to move current windows license on prbuilt PC to new SSD?

Hi,I got a prebuilt ASUS PC (ROG G20CB), it comes with Windows 10 home. (The windows installation is fresh, I dont have any data yet, I just care about the license)The only problem is that it has a regular HDD and its really slow, I want to install an SSD and use that as my primary. I dont want to lose my Windows, so how do I install my activated Windows on the new SSD?I checked google, and some sites recommend backing up to USB from the windows backup option, but one site recommended that if I signed in and linked my account to the current installation license I can then just download another windows 10 from here: Access Denied and login to get my license back.Which would be my best option?Thanks

:)

 

Transferring Windows

Generally for most who'd ask this: No. But . . .

"There’s no way to move this “digital entitlement” license to a new computer. It’s associated with that particular hardware you upgraded to Windows 10. Yes, even if you upgraded a system that was running
a Retail license of Windows 7 or 8.1 that allowed you to move it to other PCs, you can’t move the resulting Windows 10 license to a new PC. However, Microsoft should allow you to reactivate Windows 10 on a PC if you had to replace the motherboard because it
was broken." ( RE: When Can You Move a Windows License to a New PC? )

Is your Windows 7 a RETAIL license or OEM license?

 

Best Way to Transfer Hard Drive To New Computer

I recently purchased a new Windows 10 Professional license and installed it on a new 1TB WD Hard drive. Shortly after doing so the motherboard on my HP h8-1124 died. I am purchasing ASUS Z170-A mother board and other components to build a new PC. What is
the Best way to transfer this hard drive over to the new computer without having to purchase another windows license?

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

 

You can link a retail licence to your account...
Microsoft Account - Link to Digital License on Windows 10 PC

...but an OEM licence is linked to the hardware of your PC. Microsoft's activation servers store the hardware ID for the PC. If your system is activated your hardware should already be linked to a licence for Windows 10 Home.

The disk does not form part of the hardware ID, so you are free to replace it with an SSD, do a clean install of W10 Home (when asked for a key, skip this or click 'I don't have one') and it should activate automatically as soon as it can contact the activation servers.

 

Since the computer came pre-installed with Windows 10 Home from the factory, the product key should be stored in UEFI. If you get asked for a product key when doing a clean install of Windows 10 you are likely trying to install the wrong edition, you are trying to install Single Language Edition when you should be installing just plain Windows 10 for example.

 

Thanks. That's interesting. So I just can't download from the link I provided and activate it? How do I find my exact version? All I know it's Windows 10 home

 

When you download the Media Creation Tool, run it and select the option to Create Installation Media for Another PC, the next screen will tell you which is the proper edition to download for your computer.

Windows 10 ISO Download





You can also just use the currently installed Windows 10 to create a recovery drive for your computer that will include the software and drivers included with it from the factory:

Recovery Drive - Create in Windows 10