Computer Hope

Other => Other => Topic started by: strttech223 on April 28, 2018, 12:44:34 PM

Title: salvaged hard drive
Post by: strttech223 on April 28, 2018, 12:44:34 PM

Hello, I recently took out the hard drive of a liquid damaged laptop HP, the hard drive is still working(I think) because I recovered the personal files using a SATA/ USB cable to a good working laptop.  Now, my question is how do I find out if the hard drive has windows 10 operating system on it and is it possible to boot from this hard drive?
Title: Re: salvaged hard drive
Post by: DaveLembke on April 28, 2018, 08:36:37 PM
Well the situation you have here is that Windows was licensed only for the original computer. Placing the hard drive into a different computer and use of Windows is in violation of the EULA. Additionally if you were to do this the drive would likely boot loop because of drastic differences between original hardware and the hardware its running on now.

One loop hole in this would be if you found another exact model laptop with same main board and CPU that was also licensed to run the same OS and software/drivers, it would be similar to as if the main board was replaced due to damage as a "Repair". Anything beyond that though is not permitted by Microsoft.
Title: Re: salvaged hard drive
Post by: Salmon Trout on April 29, 2018, 01:55:07 AM
how do I find out if the hard drive has windows 10 operating system on it?

Assuming you can get to the \Windows\System32 folder in Windows Explorer, and see the file ntoskrnl.exe, then you can right click the file and get the Properties up. In the Details you will see product version information:

4.x: NT 4.x
5.0: Windows 2000
5.1: Windows XP
5.2: Windows 2003 Server or Windows XP-64-bit
6.0: Windows Vista
6.1: Windows 7
6.2; Windows 8
6.3: Windows 8.1
10.x: Windows 10

This is on a Windows 7 boot drive:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/fc/b1/SbqnaKC7_o.jpg)

This is on a Windows 10 boot drive:
(https://images2.imgbox.com/ca/13/PE6ttABp_o.jpg)

and is it possible to boot from this hard drive?
What Dave said about the EULA and boot loops. If it boots at all, if the make and model are similar but not identical you might get erratic behaviour, if it is the exact same model, motherboard revision, CPU model and stepping, etc, it could be OK, BUT bear in mind the OEM hardware signature the install was activated against includes hardware  serial numbers for CPU, hard drive, and motherboard chipset at least, so you are going to be way past the bar for a "significant hardware change" and you will most likely have to phone Microsoft and convince the agent you are entitled to a new activation code. Even if you don't face activation issues at the time of first trying it, a Windows update could put the system into the non-activated state, and if you have sold on the machine as having full legal Windows, you may get an angry customer banging on your door.


Title: Re: salvaged hard drive
Post by: Salmon Trout on April 29, 2018, 03:24:10 AM
Note for Google indexer: How can I find the Windows version installed on a hard drive or mounted drive image?