can I transfer only my windows copy from a laptop to a new pc?

[CampbellsCannedSoup]

I'm building a pc and I don't want to spend money buying a new copy of windows, I have an old laptop and I wanted to know If I can transfer its copy of windows to the pc and have them both still work.

[Akolyte]

You can sometimes transfer Windows copies from one PC to another, you usually have to call Microsoft to do so.  They will not be able to be activated at the same time, using the same license key.

 

If it's a laptop, you most likely did not buy a retail copy of Windows, I'm also unsure if it's possible for Windows 10 copies. Windows Installs tie Directly to the Motherboard. Meaning regardless of the system, if you're changing the motherboard, you will need a new license, or to call Microsoft and transfer over a license. 

 

If I was you, and building a brand new system, just buy a Windows copy, you can get some (questionable) license keys online that are usually legitimate and work for quite cheap, but generally buying an OEM key from a trusted store is the way to go.  Better to do it right and not have any regrets in the future. 

 

Just my advice

[CampbellsCannedSoup]

Advice taken. Thanks a lot dude.

[LIGISTX]

38 minutes ago, Akolyte said:

You can sometimes transfer Windows copies from one PC to another, you usually have to call Microsoft to do so.  They will not be able to be activated at the same time, using the same license key.

 

If it's a laptop, you most likely did not buy a retail copy of Windows, I'm also unsure if it's possible for Windows 10 copies. Windows Installs tie Directly to the Motherboard. Meaning regardless of the system, if you're changing the motherboard, you will need a new license, or to call Microsoft and transfer over a license. 

 

If I was you, and building a brand new system, just buy a Windows copy, you can get some (questionable) license keys online that are usually legitimate and work for quite cheap, but generally buying an OEM key from a trusted store is the way to go.  Better to do it right and not have any regrets in the future. 

 

Just my advice

This.

 

If the key is tied to your microsoft account, you can go online and active a new machine with the old key pretty effortlessly. But as its coming from a laptop, that may be a little tricker as it may not play so nicely with that.

 

Basically, this advice is correct. It may be possible to transfer, and honestly in my experience..... depending how you do it they may both still work even though they shouldn't, that likely isn't worth it. This can get pretty annoying and frustrating.