Solved: is windows copy oem or retail? - HP Support Community

AJit_Gawade · ‎10-18-2017

i have pavilion g6 2231tx, windows 8. Is my laptop's os oem or retail? Actually now my laptop's motherboard is dead. So I bought new laptop with free dos. Can I use my old laptop's hard disk to boot my new laptop? by connecting externally or installing inside the laptop?

Paul_Tikkanen · ‎10-18-2017

Hi:

The W8 product key is actually in the BIOS chip on the motherboard of your g6-2231tx.

It would be a violation of the Microsoft OEM licensing rules to put the hard drive of the PC with an OEM operating system installed into a new PC even if it is made by the same manufacturer.

So, while you may be able to boot from the disk that you remove from the notebook in the new one, you would have to activate Windows because there will be no valid product key code associated with the hard drive anymore, and Windows will ask for a product key, and to be activated.

Also, there would be no W8 drivers for the new hardware, so what you want to do would be a waste of your time.

View solution in original post

Paul_Tikkanen · ‎10-18-2017

Hi:

The W8 product key is actually in the BIOS chip on the motherboard of your g6-2231tx.

It would be a violation of the Microsoft OEM licensing rules to put the hard drive of the PC with an OEM operating system installed into a new PC even if it is made by the same manufacturer.

So, while you may be able to boot from the disk that you remove from the notebook in the new one, you would have to activate Windows because there will be no valid product key code associated with the hard drive anymore, and Windows will ask for a product key, and to be activated.

Also, there would be no W8 drivers for the new hardware, so what you want to do would be a waste of your time.

TheOldMan · ‎10-18-2017

Actually Windows 8 activates in a different way than previous Windows OS have been activated as OEM products. If the product's motherboard was manufactured for a mdel that was to come with Windows 8 OEM, then it might be OK but since this one did not have Windows from HP but FreeDOS, I would assume it will not like the situation. It will most likely not allow this as a allowed situation.

BTW: Windows does not allow booting from an external device as far as I know.

P.S. What @Paul_Tikkanen says is the way Windows activates on Windows 8 and 8.1

We were typing at the same time

I'm not an HP employee.
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is windows copy oem or retail?

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