Windows 10: what the best way to move SSD from broken Laptop to a new one

Scenario: I am business traveling, and my laptop died (SSD is OK, I think). My possible resources are very poor (Greek island). So I don't see a chance for mirroring, etc. HDs here.

So I have to buy a new laptop - windows 10 pre installed.

I have (hopefully) all essential data saved (stick and my servers in internet). I have tons of MB of software and additional data on the SSD or can download again. But I would like to save the time for downloading all this stuff again.

First idea - works for sure I think:

• Finish the installation and activate new Win10 license
• Replace HDD with SSD and boot with my Ubuntu Stick OS
• Save data on USB device
• Replace SSD with HDD
• Copy data from USB device
• repeat 2 - 5 for all missing information

Second Idea - good question - will it work?

• Finish the installation and activate new Win10 license
• Make a repair system DVD (or DVDs)
• Replace HDD with SSD
• Repair system with booting from DVD
• go back to "idea 1"

Third Idea - very insecure - I think

• Finish the installation and activate new Win10 license
• Make a repair system DVD (or DVDs)
• Find and copy the license key
• Replace HDD with SSD
• Boot
• try to activate the key
• go back to "idea 2"

I think idea 2 is good, but will it work?

Are there other solutions (no until now I did not find a USB case to put my SSD in) ?

:)

 

What is the best \ easiest way to move from windows 7 to windows 8 phone

Sign into your new phone with the same Microsoft account you used as the other phone. Your contacts and calendar will come back automatically.

Use the
purchase history page to download your apps to your new phone.

 

What is the best \ easiest way to move from windows 7 to windows 8 phone

How do I bring over mt apps and info??

 

Welcome to the forum the simple way with no risk is to get a USB enclosure which are very cheap so you can just plug in to the new laptop and copy what you want no danger. Taking the HD out of a new PC under warranty may invalidate it

 

with "no until now I did not find a USB case to put my SSD in" I meant no USB enclosure - if I find it, it's #1

 

EU consumer laws say "the manufacturer has to prove, that a system fault activating warranty is the direct problem following my action" - opening alone is - at least in EU - not a problem. If I break the sockets while changing the HDD - my fault, if the display dies 2 weeks later, not.

Sorry for my English

 

halfbit,
I have read this thread a few times and it seems that the only way to make a choice as to how to proceed is to see if the current SSD is accessible and has any of your software on it that you can retrieve. Here is how I did it when I was traveling for business and the same thing happened: Can you power on your current laptop and reach the BIOS to set it to boot from your Ubuntu USB stick? If yes, then do so and see if Ubuntu can read (and hopefully copy) the files that you need from the SSD. Then all you would have to do is activate your new laptop, leave the HDD inside, for now and copy your files from the USB stick.

If the above does not work then you are back to downloading everything over the network or finding a USB case for your SSD.

 

As long as the two Windows are the same version (Home, Pro, Single Language, N, etc.) or if the new laptop has a higher version of Windows such as old laptop is Home and new laptop is Pro:

Export the drivers from the new laptop to a USB flash drive - probably going to need at least an 8 GB flash drive. Make a folder on the flash drive, I just use drivers as an example. Let's say it is G:\Drivers. After completing the activation of Windows on the new laptop:

Open a command prompt (admin) or powershell (admin)
Run:
dism /online /export-driver /destination:G:\Drivers
change the path in red to match the folder on your USB flash drive.

Also, download and run SHOWKEY plus from here:
ShowKeyPlus - - Windows 10 Forums

Write down the product key from the new laptop.

Then take the SSD out of the old laptop, install it in the new laptop, and boot the new laptop from the SSD. If any of the new hardware does not have drivers for it (unknown devices in device manager or exclamation points) you can install those drivers from the drivers you exported to the USB flash drive.

If the Windows versions are the same, it should reactivate as soon as you connect to the internet. If not, then change the product key to what was given to you by showkey. If the Windows versions are different, then the Windows on the SSD won't activate. You may also have to re-activate programs like Microsoft Office that depend on the hardware ID to maintain activation.