Windows 10: Transfer old win 10 boot drive to new licensed win 10 computer

I've read the many similar threads here. Still unsure whether the following can be done:

Purchase new win 10 licensed computer
Run OOBE so the new computer is activated in ms win 10 database
Take old boot drive with win 10 and programs/data from another computer
Put old drive in new computer as boot drive (or do I need to boot from USB?)
Run update installation for anniversary edition win 10 retaining previous data and settings
Will I then have the old hard drive in the new computer validated for the new computer?
Can I then put a new hard drive in old computer and install win 10 there for that computer.

Not violating any licensing agreements but easier to transfer all the old stuff to new pc that way
thanks

:)

 

Moving Windows 10 to a new computer

Is it possible to transfer a Windows 10 license/key from an old computer to a new computer without having to buy a new license?

I am planning to make use of the free upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10 on release but on this current computer which is 5 years old. The new computer will not be purchased until Intel releases the new Skylake CPUs in a few months time (probably September) and
I am hoping I can transfer the Win 10 license over to the new computer, just as I have done previously with Win 7.

Moved from Insider

 

New laptop has Windows 10 Home and I have license for Windows 10 Professional

If the old computer came installed with win 10 Pro or you upgraded to Pro you cannot transfer to the new computer. If you had a retail license for Pro you can remove it from the old computer and transfer it.

How to Transfer your Windows 10 License to a New Computer

 

The licensing has nothing to do with the hard drive. You could always try running the update once the drive is moved, but I'm a firm believe in clean installs for different hardware. I see a lot of people who are unwilling to reinstall their apps and drivers, but that's what should be done for best results. It is never as difficult as some make it sound. With a little planning ahead of time, it's a simple process. I have a single flash drive with my drivers and apps on it. I keep it updated, so anytime I need to do a clean install, I only need the Windows 10 flash drive and then this drive as well to do everything.

 

Thanks. A clean install is best but takes time. Additionally, should have mentioned that old drive is SSD but new hard drive is 5400 HDD, so i'd like to keep the SSD in the new machine. Was going to put a smaller (and very inexpensive) SSD in the old machine

 

I have my routine down to be about 2 hours for a clean install, from booting to the Windows 10 media until I have all my normal, necessary apps installed. I probably could even lower that more if I chose to sync my settings.

 

@bdogg,

I've done exactly what you propose to do. As long as the Windows 10 is the same edition (Home or Pro) you won't have any problems. If the new computer is Windows 10 Pro and the old computer is Windows 10 Home, you still won't much problem, you upgrade the Home to Pro and then it will be fine. If the new computer is Windows 10 Home and old computer was Pro - that's a problem.

All you have to do is replace the SSD. The computer will boot from the newly installed SSD and the Windows 10 already installed on it. You'll get a "stall" screen that says it is installing new devices and then will boot into Windows when it gets done.

 

Thanks Navy. That's what I was hoping would happen.