# Two identical model HP laptops..
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 8, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368 "2019-08-08T20:29:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368/1 "2019-08-08T20:29:52Z")
Can I take the hard drive out of one and put it in the other? Will anything go wonky because of copyright protection or unique identifiers on the component parts, or will it work just the same?
I ask because I dropped one and basically destroyed the display. It works fine if I read through the cracks and/or hook it up to an external monitor. I bought three identical for my business and was thinking I could just swap the hard drive from the bad one and into a good one.
Am I entering a world of pain?
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368/2 "2019-08-08T20:33:15Z")
What operating system are they running?
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368/3 "2019-08-08T20:34:21Z")
You’d probably have an easier time swapping the display. It’s basically just held on with screws (hidden, granted) and a wiring harness.
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### Author:  [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368/4 "2019-08-08T20:37:08Z")
Windows 10 operating system.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368/5 "2019-08-08T20:46:15Z")
Here’s what you’re up against: [Redirecting](https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/moving-hard-drive-with-windows-10-installed-to-a/245ae02a-2054-4f97-ad54-21dedd32a2b6)
Executive summary:
> [@linked page](#):
>
> If you had originally upgraded from a retail Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 license to the Windows 10 free upgrade, yes, you can.
>
> If Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 came preinstalled with your computers motherboard, what is known as a an OEM license, then you cannot.
>
> Learn more:
>
> [How to Transfer your Windows 10 License to a New Computer](http://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windows-10-license-new-pc/)
Plan B:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nstes4o3WRk)
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### Author:  [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368/6 "2019-08-08T20:54:17Z")
[quote=“KneadToKnow, post:5, topic:838368”]
Here’s what you’re up against: [Redirecting](https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/moving-hard-drive-with-windows-10-installed-to-a/245ae02a-2054-4f97-ad54-21dedd32a2b6)
Executive summary:
Plan B:
[/QUOTE]
So bottom line=world of pain
Damn. It shouldn’t be that difficult. I have a license for both computers and the hardware is identical. But thanks, though, for everyone’s very helpful advice.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368/7 "2019-08-08T20:59:49Z")
> [@UltraVires](#):
>
> the hardware is identical
I disagree about the “world of pain.” Watch the screen-swap video. You’ll wind up doing twice as many screws because you have to disassemble 2 laptops to move one screen to the other, but that’s really all it is. Screws and like 2 electrical connectors. That’s what swapping hard drives would amount to as well, and you’d have to do 2 sets of that as well to move from one machine to the other.
Obviously, look to see if anyone has done one for your particular model.
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### Author:  [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368/8 "2019-08-08T21:08:55Z")
If I remember correctly, the license is locked to the motherboard, but replacing it with an identical motherboard is supposed to be permissible. You may have to call Microsoft support to make it happen.
You may also be able to re-activate Windows by entering the license key that was on that computer previously (i.e. on the old hard drive). Not sure.
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### Author:  [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368/9 "2019-08-08T22:02:14Z")
I think it’s going to work fine. It’s certainly worth trying since it’ll take 5 minutes to do the drive swap.
The Windows license will require an HP OEM key present in the BIOS, but that’ll be true of both system boards.
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### Author:  [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2019, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-identical-model-hp-laptops/838368/10 "2019-08-08T23:52:36Z")
I think that MS has gone to individual serial numbers on the OEM licence with Win 10. So I’m thinking i it will require re-activation.
But I don’t know how much of a problem that will be. If it’s just MS, no problem at all. If MS tells you to go to HP, (because it’s an OEM licence) it might depend on your warranety or service contract.
But I’d do it anyway. I think it will work at least in the short term (30 days), which will give you a chance to see if it requires activation.