Could I do this with my HDD instead of buying another OS?

[Stevenw43210]

Hello, so I have am building a new PC, and currently am upgrading from an 2 year old Dell PC, and I am going to reuse the Hard Drive in it, and I know that the OS wont work because it's formatted for the old PC , but could I put the old HDD in and then put in the Dell OS reinstallation disc and will that work? Or will I just have to wipe the drive and get a new OS?

[WorldDominator]

If you have an activation key I think it should work.

[piplupgao]

I don't see why not

[Assassin]

I don't think so. the os that came with it was most likely OEM. it is tied to yout motherboard. 

[Stevenw43210]

I guess I try it, and if it works, it works, but if it doesn't I'll just buy a new copy of windows 8

[Duluxdoggy]

i am aware of a dell vista pro disc that was being passed around in the day, that when clean installing didnt require a licence key to be typed in, and worked with any hardware. soooo, it may work, it may not. 

 

I guess I try it, and if it works, it works, but if it doesn't I'll just buy a new copy of windows 8

 

hmm, it is your call, but windows 8 is not as good as win7

[Stevenw43210]

Another question, since it already has windows 7 on it, I could just get the Win8 upgrade version instead of the full version right? Or would it not work since it's a dell OEM version of Win7 on it?

[cxz]

You can't upgrade with OEM versions.  Also if you plan to play video games, I think 8 still has problems with some, but not sure because I went back to 7 after 8 was giving me compatibility issues.