Can you use your PC’s windows product key on a SSD device?

amit yakovian 1 Reputation point
2020-03-18T12:54:51.593+00:00

Hi there,
I’ve recently purchased a SSD device in order to have a “portable pc” instead of having to work on multiple pcs. My question is, when I install Windows on that SSD device, can I use my PC’s Windows Activation Key in order to activate it there as well?
Thanks!

Windows 10 Setup
Windows 10 Setup
Windows 10: A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.Setup: The procedures involved in preparing a software program or application to operate within a computer or mobile device.
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  1. Dave Patrick 425.8K Reputation points MVP
    2020-03-18T13:01:32.987+00:00

    Windows will install and activate fine using an SSD, but moving the disk to other hardware is likely going to trigger the need for reactivation.

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  2. Kapil Arya 7,576 Reputation points MVP
    2020-03-19T09:07:29.18+00:00

    Hello,

    That purely depends upon type of license you've on your PC.

    If the license is retail type, you can transfer it to SSD.

    But if the license on PC is OEM, it can't be transferred to installation made on SSD.

    Regards.


  3. Tripredacus 151 Reputation points
    2020-03-20T17:53:04.103+00:00

    You can't use the same license on two separate computers. You will not be able to move a normal installation of Windows 10 on an SSD or any other type of disk between different computers and retain activation. You'll need to look at something like Windows to Go instead.

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  4. Teemo Tang 821 Reputation points
    2020-03-24T02:15:22.63+00:00

    Welcome to our new Microsoft Q&A Platform.

    For your question, it is depend on your product key type, where do you get it?

    If you bought the key from a Microsoft retailer, of course you could activate your new SSD by this product key, even your product has been using on the PC. Note, one proudct key can only actiave one PC, change hard disk is allowed, but actiave two PCs is not allowed.

    Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

    However, if your product was bought from OEM, this key is bound to the specific device, you need to consult seller for help.

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