If I Change My Hard Drive Do I Need to Buy Windows Again?

My current drive is too small in size, which is causing my computer to run slow. I want to buy a new one to change it. Do I have to buy another Windows 10 license when I install a new hard disk? Or is there a better way to solve this problem? Thanks!

Best Answered by

Jerry· Answered on Jun 06, 2024

You don't need to purchase a new Windows if you only change the hard drive.

You can reinstall Windows 10 anytime for no cost except your time. Since you had Windows 10 installed previously, it won't be a problem for activation. If you have a retail license for Windows, you can jump through a few steps and use it on the new hardware configuration.

Skip the steps when it asks you for a license during installation, and then select the option "I am reinstalling Windows 10 on this PC". A digital entitlement will be saved on the Microsoft Activation Server for your PC.

You can find the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft and the latest Windows 10 ISO. Select "Create Installation Media for Another PC" and create a bootable USB drive (at least 8GB) with the tool. Then, set the USB drive in the boot order of your BIOS as the priority and start the installation.

Note: It will be a different case if you are also planning to replace the CPU or motherboard. You won't be able to activate Windows on the new hardware if it's an OEM version in this case.

You can also download disk cloning software like EaseUS Disk Copy, which is an easier and faster way to migrate Windows OS from one hard drive to another. You don't have to reinstall the operating system during the process. However, you should always back up the important files before cloning to avoid unexpected data loss.

If you choose EaseUS Disk Copy as your solution, below is a related post for you to learn the detailed steps.

Related article: [Solved] How to Move OS to Another Drive Without Reinstalling Windows and Applications

Download the smartest and easiest Disk Cloning Software

Use EaseUS Disk Copy to upgrade small HDD, replace old/failed hard drive, migrate OS, clone HDD to SSD without reinstalling data.

  Free Download

Support Windows 11/10/8/7

100% Secure

People Also Ask

How Do I Transfer Pre-installed Windows to an SSD?🔥

How do I transfer pre-installed Windows to an SSD? Do you want to know the answer? This article will tell you how to transfer your pre-installed Windows to an SSD with the help of EaseUS Disk Copy.

Jerry

Apr 23, 2024

How Do I Install Genuine Windows 10 on a New Hard Disk?

How do I install genuine Windows 10 on a new hard disk? Do you want to acquire the answer? This article will tell you how to install your Windows 10 on the new hard drive with the help of a cloning tool.

Jerry

Apr 23, 2024

How Do You Copy Data from a Regular Hard Drive to an SSD?

Copying data from a traditional hard drive to an SSD can back up the data and improve computer performance. Thus, finding a great method for achieving this is significant.

Jerry

May 21, 2024

Apricorn EZ GIG IV Alternative Recommended?

Apricorn EZ Gig IV is an excellent hard drive cloning software, but it has many obvious drawbacks. This article focuses on the Apricorn EZ Gig IV alternative and provides you with an even better cloning solution.

Rel

Aug 01, 2024

What Size Flash Drive Do I Need to Backup my Computer?

What size flash drive do I need to backup my computer? Do you want to know the answer? This short post will tell you what size flash drive you need to back up your computer.

Jerry

Mar 15, 2024

How Do I Transfer Info to a New Computer?

It is a tedious task to transfer all information from one PC to another while swapping to a new computer. This guide from EaseUS provides the easiest and most efficient way to do it with a professional disk cloning tool.

Larissa

Apr 23, 2024