New Hard Drive

[ArmenianMobster]

I just ordered a 2TB Black Western Digital HDD to replace my 1TB Green WD HDD and my question is: is there a way I can reinstall Windows 10 onto my new drive without having to buy it? I initially got Windows 10 on my current drive from the free upgrade but you can no longer do that so I'm at a loss. Thank you!!

[007agentHP]

use a program called Produkey

 

get the Windows 10 license key (25 alphanumeric password)

 

reinstall and when they ask for a key put that one in

 

http://downloads.tomsguide.com/ProduKey,0301-26388.html

[ArmenianMobster]

Just now, 007agentHP said:

use a program called Produkey

 

get the Windows 10 license key (25 alphanumeric password)

 

reinstall and when they ask for a key put that one in

 

http://downloads.tomsguide.com/ProduKey,0301-26388.html

Wow thank you so much! I didn't know this existed!!!

[ArmenianMobster]

3 minutes ago, 007agentHP said:

use a program called Produkey

 

get the Windows 10 license key (25 alphanumeric password)

 

reinstall and when they ask for a key put that one in

 

http://downloads.tomsguide.com/ProduKey,0301-26388.html

Well actually I have a question. When I install my new HDD, do I still put in my Win 7 disk I first bought? Or what do I do when I first turn on my PC after installation? 

[007agentHP]

Just now, ArmenianMobster said:

Well actually I have a question. When I install my new HDD, do I still put in my Win 7 disk I first bought? Or what do I do when I first turn on my PC after installation? 

go here

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10/

 

grab the windows 10 media creation tool

 

run it

 

write it to usb or dvd or whatever you are using

 

install

[Damocles]

Can't you just clone it over? The capacity and type of drive doesn't hinder the fact you can clone it. Unless you're cloning an 8 TB 100% full onto a clean 1TB drive, I don't see why you should bother reinstalling everything.

[ARikozuM]

Why not make your life easier and use Macrium Reflect to clone the drive?

[Captain_WD]

4 hours ago, ArmenianMobster said:

~snip~

Hi there

I would also cast my vote for cloning your old drive as the easiest option. You can get the Acronis True Image WD Edition and use it to move everything from your old WD Green on your new WD Black drive and then manage the remaining 1TB unallocated space in the Disk Management either as a new partition or extend the current one. 

Here's a guide on how to proceed with the cloning procedure.  

Have in mind that it is highly recommended to first check the health of your old drive as the cloning procedure moves everything bit by bit and will transfer everything including any potential errors on the drive. You don't need to reinstall or swap anything as all your data, OS, applications and everything else will be moved just the way it is. 
I would recommend to use WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic tool to check the WD Green drive's health. Check if the drive passes both the quick and the extended tests. 
 
Let me know if you need help with anything! 

Captain_WD.

[ArmenianMobster]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I will get to this when I can and I will be sure to ask questions if I run into any problems! 

[ArmenianMobster]

16 hours ago, Captain_WD said:

Hi there

I would also cast my vote for cloning your old drive as the easiest option. You can get the Acronis True Image WD Edition and use it to move everything from your old WD Green on your new WD Black drive and then manage the remaining 1TB unallocated space in the Disk Management either as a new partition or extend the current one. 

Here's a guide on how to proceed with the cloning procedure.  

Have in mind that it is highly recommended to first check the health of your old drive as the cloning procedure moves everything bit by bit and will transfer everything including any potential errors on the drive. You don't need to reinstall or swap anything as all your data, OS, applications and everything else will be moved just the way it is. 
I would recommend to use WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic tool to check the WD Green drive's health. Check if the drive passes both the quick and the extended tests. 
 
Let me know if you need help with anything! 

Captain_WD.

So would I need to connect the new Drive into system first and then run this program? 

[Captain_WD]

12 hours ago, ArmenianMobster said:

~snip~

Yes, both drives need to be connected into the same computer during the cloning procedure. It basically reads the info from one drive and writes it in the same identical place on the other drive. Check the manual of the application.

 

Captain_WD.