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Question

Changing Computers/rives and Resale of Old One !

Feb 24, 2018 12:18PM PST

Okay,I just purchased an HP dc8300 with W10 from compter recycler on the bay. The seller upgraded it from 8-to 10. My old dc900 was purchased from a similar dealer. The os tag on that was Vista business and was changed over to retail W-7 Home Premium. I had it for a few years and really have it set up with all I need. I really didn't want to change os but the computer itself was in need of upgrade to a faster system. Anyway, I tried W8 bit I'm an old guy and it seemed to be so foreign to what I was used to.. I tried to make w7 look more like 7 but it still seems "harsh" to me. Squarish, brighter/harsher ect. Anyway I tried putting the W7 drive in the new one but it froze as the gui stars up. I redid the mbr but to no avail. I would eventually like to dual boot if I could. My questions are:

1. Can i use that drive in the new computer ? I made an image of it on the W10 drive. I have a w7 64 bit retail disk, can it be loaded on that new computer if needed and use the activation. Will a new W7 purchase needed ?

2. The best way to handle the sale of mine. Reload W7 Home Premium with my disk and not activate it or ship with a reformatted drive. Someone who looked a windows activation file of the W 7 said whoever loaded the W7 originally did something different and the new owner might have issues with it. I never did as it said activated and always got updates. I would rather avoid issues and make the sale as seamless as possible.
Thanks for any help. GBY

Discussion is locked

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Answer
1. With rare exceptions you can't move Windows from machine
Feb 24, 2018 12:35PM PST

to another machine. This is well discussed and not a Windows strength.

2. Your choice. Here we only get W10 requests with a rare call for older OSes.

Finally if it did run W10 the good news is no CD KEY or such is required. Microsoft's new digital entitlement means I can clean install W10 without hunting for license keys.

I can't answer the need to buy W7. There are some dozen license systems so I don't know which you own.

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Answer
Changing
Feb 25, 2018 4:40AM PST

On the old machine grab a copy of dban and wipe the hdd.
Leave the disk blank and sell the machine.
The new owner can put whatever OS they want on it.

On the new machine if you don't like the way w10 looks grab a copy of classic shell.
That should make it look more like w7.

Before you wipe the old hdd give some thought to bookmarks/email/passwords....etc.