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New hard drive?

branbradmom
By branbradmom
in Windows
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With prebuilt systems (not necessarily gaming) the motherboard has its own "Windows Key" right? I've been having issues with the hard drive so if I were to install a new one and then install windows 10 through USB I shouldn't need a key right? Also, any suggestion for getting data off of the old hard drive? The computer won't boot into windows, which is a problem I've had with it before, so I'd take it out and install the new one. How can I get my files off of the old hard drive? Thanks

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6 minutes ago, branbradmom said:

With prebuilt systems (not necessarily gaming) the motherboard has its own "Windows Key" right? I've been having issues with the hard drive so if I were to install a new one and then install windows 10 through USB I shouldn't need a key right?

As long as it came with Windows 8 or 10 preinstalled, you should be fine. However, for a measure of safety, you can extract the key using this tool: http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/produkey.html

6 minutes ago, branbradmom said:

Also, any suggestion for getting data off of the old hard drive? The computer won't boot into windows, which is a problem I've had with it before, so I'd take it out and install the new one. How can I get my files off of the old hard drive? Thanks

A simple copy and paste to the new drive after setting everything up should do, assuming the drive itself doesn't have hardware issues.

 

I have a blog! And a list of guides I've posted

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8 minutes ago, branbradmom said:

With prebuilt systems (not necessarily gaming) the motherboard has its own "Windows Key" right? I've been having issues with the hard drive so if I were to install a new one and then install windows 10 through USB I shouldn't need a key right? Also, any suggestion for getting data off of the old hard drive? The computer won't boot into windows, which is a problem I've had with it before, so I'd take it out and install the new one. How can I get my files off of the old hard drive? Thanks

when you have windows running from the new drive, install the old one as a second drive and copy your data over to the new one. 

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Posted (edited)

When the prebuilt system was sold, it should have come with a Windows license in one form or another. I don't get it where you get the idea of the "key being on the MB", that's just nonsense (maybe you are mixing it up with secure boot, but that has nothing to do with license / product keys).

 

If you install Windows to a machine, that has no previously installed Windows, you need to type in the product key during installation (or registration). Make sure you have it somewhere - or extract it as suggested by @M. Yurizaki. If there is an old installation, installation program should pick it up.

 

What kind of problems does the HD have, is it a corrupted file system or is the HD broken?

 

There are several ways to extract the data. I'd connect it aftwerwards via USB if it's just few files I need to copy over.

 

If it is mechanically near breaking point, data recovery is a whole different discussion; don't connect it until you have the setup required for recovery, since further unnecessary attempts at reading and especially writing might destroy the data you are trying to recover.

Edited by Wild Penquin
Suggestions about data recovery elaborated a bit
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4 minutes ago, Wild Penquin said:

When the prebuilt system was sold, it should have come with a Windows license in one form or another. I don't get it where you get the idea of the "key being on the MB", that's just nonsense (maybe you are mixing it up with secure boot, but that has nothing to do with license / product keys).

 

If you install Windows to a machine, that has no previously installed Windows, you need to type in the product key during installation. Make sure you have it somewhere - or extract it as suggested by @M. Yurizaki. If there is an old installation, installation program should pick it up.

 

What kind of problems does the HD have, is it a corrupted file system or is the HD broken?

 

There are several ways to extract the data. I'd connect it aftwerwards via USB if it's just few files I need to copy over (if it is mechanically near breaking point, data recovery is a whole different discussion).

I'm good on the windows part now, I just need to know what I should get to connect the hard drive to the computer afterwards so I can get my files off. You said something about USB?

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Just now, branbradmom said:

I'm good on the windows part now, I just need to know what I should get to connect the hard drive to the computer afterwards so I can get my files off. You said something about USB?

Well, that was just a suggestion (or: a brainfart). It doesn't actually need to be USB - anything that is most convenient for you. For connecting a SATA drive a USB adapter is needed (I find I need one every now and then, and they don't cost much). But just opening the case and popping in the drive temporarily will do.

 

The most important point is in my edited comment: is the HD broken, or just corrupted file system? That will affect a bit what can be recommended for data recovery.

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Posted (edited)
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2 minutes ago, Wild Penquin said:

Well, that was just a suggestion (or: a brainfart). It doesn't actually need to be USB - anything that is most convenient for you. For connecting a SATA drive a USB adapter is needed (I find I need one every now and then, and they don't cost much). But just opening the case and popping in the drive temporarily will do.

 

The most important point is in my edited comment: is the HD broken, or just corrupted file system? That will affect a bit what can be recommended for data recovery.

Not sure, either way in going to need a new hard drive, this is the second time this has happened. It just won't boot into windows. I'll probably just get a USB adapter. Thanks!

Edited by branbradmom
Forgot something
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About Windows product keys: Well I googled a bit (because something was telling me to at the back of my head) and: https://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-retrieve-windows-8-oem-product-key-from-bios

 

So they are stored in the BIOS/UEFI in case of OEM computers (only!).

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