ok - the idiot munkie has broke his comp again - please help

right - desktop PC has died [ power // thermal issues ] - it now runs < 5 min before shutdown - cleaned everything - but still fans start then fail - then comp dies

so new PC hear - i EXPECTED it to come with no OS [ it has a HHD ] - my plan // delusion was - open it up - add my old comp SSD in the vacant slot above the HHD [ 2 wires with correct terminals present - but SEEMED rather short

but on unpacking - box has a genuine WIN10PRO licence tag

so - like an idiot - i put the cover back on - attached all leads and presssed the big start button

and after much faff - i has WIN 10 PRO running

my problem - the " old " SSD has a fully legit WIN 10 HOME install - and i has backed up the key code and MS account credentials [ oops i has used the MS login on the new comp ]

and it has genuine MS OFFICE 2013 PRO - with VISIO too - and al the correct credentials - i bought it cheep in dec 2018 - all MS tags and holograms etc

plus i has some files on the SSD - google earth , some specialist fonts and other fings .

which i naturally made no copies off

so - what the hell do i do now ??????????????

can i put the SSD in the new machine - and use the licence on top to boost my SSD windows install to 10 PRO ???

or will that be blocked now i has started the machine off the HHD ???

what was meant to be simples - has turned into nightmare

help // advice - solutions ???

Step 1- Throw old computer in trash
Step 2- Buy new computer
Step 3- Never open up computer if you don't know what you're doing

Done!

originally posted by: ignorant_ape
right - desktop PC has died [ power // thermal issues ] - it now runs < 5 min before shutdown - cleaned everything - but still fans start then fail - then comp dies

so new PC hear - i EXPECTED it to come with no OS [ it has a HHD ] - my plan // delusion was - open it up - add my old comp SSD in the vacant slot above the HHD [ 2 wires with correct terminals present - but SEEMED rather short

but on unpacking - box has a genuine WIN10PRO licence tag

so - like an idiot - i put the cover back on - attached all leads and presssed the big start button

and after much faff - i has WIN 10 PRO running

my problem - the " old " SSD has a fully legit WIN 10 HOME install - and i has backed up the key code and MS account credentials [ oops i has used the MS login on the new comp ]

and it has genuine MS OFFICE 2013 PRO - with VISIO too - and al the correct credentials - i bought it cheep in dec 2018 - all MS tags and holograms etc

plus i has some files on the SSD - google earth , some specialist fonts and other fings .

which i naturally made no copies off

so - what the hell do i do now ??????????????

can i put the SSD in the new machine - and use the licence on top to boost my SSD windows install to 10 PRO ???

or will that be blocked now i has started the machine off the HHD ???

what was meant to be simples - has turned into nightmare

help // advice - solutions ???

I had a '69 Nova fitted w a 427 corvette engine, tri-power carb, hooker headers, Hurst shift, overhead cams...

I STILL blew it up at Detroit Dragway....so....just leave things alone, and buy external drives. Everything...EVERYTHING...is copied over monthly off the computer

originally posted by: ignorant_ape
help // advice - solutions ???

First, relax, you'll be fine, I've been doing this for a living for 30+ years...

Standby...

can i put the SSD in the new machine - and use the licence on top to boost my SSD windows install to 10 PRO ???

Yes , if you have the product key. (unless it is an OEM version tied to a store bought PC)
And , the SSD is of the same type
Bad news , you may have to call Microsoft to do so .

ETA - -

it now runs < 5 min before shutdown - cleaned everything - but still fans start then fail - then comp dies

Desktop - Watch videos on YouTube on how to remove , clean , and reapply thermal grease to the CPU .
Seems as if you have nothin to lose.

You can buy a USB caddy to connect the old drive so you can pull files from it and if your MB can support it you could even boot from it and run something like belarc advisor to pull off any keys from the system.

In theory you could just swap the hdd's over and after a reboot or 3 while it does all the hardware detection be back to how it was but there is a risk of something getting its knickers in a twirl and ending up a complete clusterf---.

You probably could of got the old machine working for the cost of a few fans which normally can be had for peanuts since thats what was causing the thermal cutout.

First - your post is a little unclear, I'll ask for clarification where needed...

originally posted by: ignorant_ape
so new PC hear - i EXPECTED it to come with no OS [ it has a HHD ] - my plan // delusion was - open it up - add my old comp SSD in the vacant slot above the HHD [ 2 wires with correct terminals present - but SEEMED rather short

So... you opened up the actual new computer intending to install the old HDD?

but on unpacking - box has a genuine WIN10PRO licence tag

so - like an idiot - i put the cover back on - attached all leads and presssed the big start button

So, you didn't do anything, replaced the cover, and plugged it in and turned it on?

If so, you're fine...

and after much faff - i has WIN 10 PRO running

Good, Pro is better than Home...

my problem - the " old " SSD has a fully legit WIN 10 HOME install - and i has backed up the key code and MS account credentials [ oops i has used the MS login on the new comp ]

First... are you intentionally using a connected MS account? Do you sync all of your data to their cloud?

Or - and please understand I mean no disrespect - do you even know what I mean?

Fyi, I strongly discourage using a MS login unless you are fully incorporated into the MS world and want all your stuff in their data center. Use a local computer account instead.

See here for how to convert the MS connected account to a local one.

Or, unless you have critical unbacked data in the current MS connected account, I'd just create a new Local account, and delete the MS connected account you just created.

and it has genuine MS OFFICE 2013 PRO - with VISIO too - and al the correct credentials - i bought it cheep in dec 2018 - all MS tags and holograms etc

So, you do have the Office Install Key? But not the install files/disc?

You can download the official ISO using the Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool to download the version you want, but you need to make sure it is the exact same version, or the key won't work. I recommend the 32bit version, as MS still recommends it over the 64 bit version unless you really need to be able to work with huge (4GB+) docs.

plus i has some files on the SSD - google earth , some specialist fonts and other fings .

which i naturally made no copies off

so - what the hell do i do now ??????????????

Question - are you going to toss the old computer in the trash? If so, just install it as a secondary drive internally (if there is room - it didn't sound like this was a laptop, so there should be), or you could buy an external case, and connect the drive to your new computer as an external/secondary drive.

can i put the SSD in the new machine - and use the licence on top to boost my SSD windows install to 10 PRO ???

If you mean swap them... no, don't do that. There is a trick you can use to sometimes get away with using a drive from one system as the system drive in another, but there are a ton of drivers involved with respect to the chipsets and devices inside that makes it a really bad idea to even try.

or will that be blocked now i has started the machine off the HHD ???

I'm unclear as to what you mean by 'blocked', or exactly what you are asking.

Simply booting from the pre-installed drive doesn't 'do' anything to the computer, although it does walk you through an activation process for the OS that is installed on it.

The BIOS settings determine the drive that boots for OS. So you can just hook up the old ssd to a SATA cable connected to the motherboard. You should see the drive in the windows explorer under this computer.
Not sure if you can acces all the files on it, been a while since I tried it.

You cannot go back to the old windows installation on the new pc, nor can you upgrade it. But you don't want that anyway.
Unless your new pc doesnt have a ssd, which it should, just get the files you want and move on.

a reply to: ignorant_ape

So halfway fill a bathtub with hot water.
Then you want to get a tub of bleach, and ammonia. Mix this and put the pc in the bathroom.......

Jk please do not do that

a reply to: ignorant_ape

Thermal paste on chip or silicon paste - 5 dollars.

Seems like the thermal paste on your old chip has dried up, basically remove the heatsink, and apply new thermal paste, your old computer should work fine after that, it's a simple fix that costs hardly anything.

Remember the old Red Ring on the Xbox 360? that was due to the same issue, overheating due to a lack of thermal paste, I've worked on Computers before and this seems like the most likely option.

If you're still having issues, drop me a message on here, I'm happy to help.


As for your new install unfortunatley Microsoft are no longer doing free windows 10 updates from windows 7 otherwise I'd suggest getting a copy of that and upgrading from there, however, you should be able to get the activation key from your old computer by going through control panel if I remember correctly, since your license for windows 10 lasts forever.

originally posted by: ignorant_ape

help // advice - solutions ???

Roll with it. Slave the old ssd to pull data. Install onlyoffice desktop editors.

a reply to: zGrimReapah

You can search on Windows 10 the term "Activation Key" on your old device and find it that way.

Or you can login to your email address that uses your Windows 10 Account, and find it on outlook also.

[Edit: More info]

I imagine attaching the same account would have all of your product keys, I may be wrong, but I don't think I am thinking about it, since all of your keys if purchased through the microsoft store will be available there.

Depending on the brand and bios, you may, repeat may be able to boot from your old drive by selecting it as the boot device. Be aware that your win 10 may see new hardware and decide that hell no, I ain't booting in which case you call MS and give them your number and whatnot. Or throw the thing in a USB housing and boot from USB as has been suggested. As far as the old one goes, if that thermal shutdown has cycled more than a few times, the CPU is probably toast.
a reply to: ignorant_ape

a reply to: ignorant_ape

In regard to your old PC:

What you described could be caused by a host of things. If I were diagnosing my first three steps would be to check the PSU, then the RAM ( Reset BIOS to remove any possible auto XMP settings, make sure all RAM is seated correctly, remove one stick at a time and boot to see if that resolves the loop ) and then move on to checking the CPU cooling ( cooler fans, thermal paste etc ).

Unless you raised the CPU voltages in an overclock it's likely not dead. Killing a CPU with heat, these days, is actually not an easy thing to do. They'll throttle all day long before they'll cook themselves.

In regard to the conflicting Win versions:

Your Win registration is tied to your motherboard. You should be able to boot from either hard drive without issue but the older drive will likely result in receiving a message that your Win install isn't registered to your PC and a watermark on your desktop.

However if you connect both drives at the same time and use the BIOS to ensure that the NEW drive is the boot drive then it should boot into the new Windows, with the registration working correctly and with the OLD drive simply read as a secondary, storage drive.

The versions of Win should not conflict IF you make sure that you are booting from the new drive.

ok - thanks for all the usefull replies - and the none-=usefull ones made me smile

the old comp = headed for recucling - its OLD and underpowered

the new comp is working - yey

at " some point " - i hopes to put the SSD in it as the OS drive - but it will be format first - and start again - i has heeded the various warning about my delusion to just plug it in " as is "

i needs to get some data off - there more crap on there - than i realised - thats vital and poorly backed up

so - all is good for now

there MAY be a new year thread " help i need to install windows on the SSD and delete it from the HHD" - but thats a bridge i shall cross laters

this new comp - = quad core with tons of ram and an awesome [ to me ] GPU

so its still fast - even with no SSD

toodle pip

originally posted by: Jubei42
The BIOS settings determine the drive that boots for OS. So you can just hook up the old ssd to a SATA cable connected to the motherboard. You should see the drive in the windows explorer under this computer.
Not sure if you can acces all the files on it, been a while since I tried it.

You can, done this many times. Whether or not I install it internally or just use my external case depends on if the user wants to keep it as a secondary drive or not.

originally posted by: zGrimReapah
You can search on Windows 10 the term "Activation Key" on your old device and find it that way.

Note: if this was an OEM version of Windows, you cannot (legally) transfer the license to a new PC.

That said, I have many times done this, though you'll usually have to call their phone support (it is automated) to get a new activation key) due to the fact that the online activation will only allow for small changes in hardware. An entirely new PC will not just reactivate - at least in my experience.

originally posted by: billxam
Depending on the brand and bios, you may, repeat may be able to boot from your old drive by selecting it as the boot device.

This is highly discouraged.

The only way I've had any success is by doing the following...

Open the 'Device Manager' on the drive while booted on it in the old PC

Delete anything and everything in their that will allow you to delete it. I mean everything.

DO NOT REBOOT... just SHUTDOWN.

Install old drive in new PC, configure it to boot from it, then cross fingers and toes that Windows is able to install enough of the drivers to get you a functional PC. Then go to each vendors website and update all drivers for everything they offer (Chipset and other low-level drivers are most important, then the rest.