Loading Windows onto a hard drive

[BluePriest]

I am getting a new pc, (well its my friends old one) and it has everything but the hard drive. So here is my question. I have an old laptop that has windows 7 that im not using anymore, and never will. The key for it is no longer readable. Is there a way to load windows from that pc onto my new (ok well, technically old, but new to me) hard drive? As long as I dont use the old laptop, I dont know why this wouldnt be legal since im essentially just transferring my copy of windows that i already purchased when i boughht it from one pc to another, but the thing is I dont know how to do this. Any idea on how to do this?

[eaglgenes101]

You should be able to unscrew your laptop open and remove the hard drive, but the hard drive sizes in desktops and laptops are different, so you may need to get a special case and/or adapter.

Alternatively, you could clone the disk of the laptop and put it onto the new hard drive.

Warning: in both cases, the Windows installation may figure out that it's been installed on a new computer (it checks the serial numbers of everything in the computer every time it boots up). You may have to call Microsoft and explain yourself to unlock Windows.

Note that technically you shouldn't do this as it is against the Windows fine print (the software was tied to the laptop you got it from). If you can explain yourself to Microsoft, more power to you. I'd not risk it. New copies of Windows are fairly cheap if you get the "OEM" versions.

[BluePriest]

You should be able to unscrew your laptop open and remove the hard drive, but the hard drive sizes in desktops and laptops are different, so you may need to get a special case and/or adapter.

Alternatively, you could clone the disk of the laptop and put it onto the new hard drive.

Warning: in both cases, the Windows installation may figure out that it's been installed on a new computer (it checks the serial numbers of everything in the computer every time it boots up). You may have to call Microsoft and explain yourself to unlock Windows.

Note that technically you shouldn't do this as it is against the Windows fine print (the software was tied to the laptop you got it from). If you can explain yourself to Microsoft, more power to you. I'd not risk it. New copies of Windows are fairly cheap if you get the "OEM" versions.

Its illegal? KK, Guess I will just have to buy a new copy of windows.

[Manatuner]

Try using this program on your old laptop http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Windows-7-Product-Key-Checker.shtml, this will get you your Windows 7 license key that is no longer readable.

Then head over to this page http://www.mydigitallife.info/download-windows-7-iso-official-32-bit-and-64-bit-direct-download-links/ to look for your windows 7 versions disk image.

Burn it to a dvd, install and use your license key from your old laptop. It should work.