Move Windows 7 to New Computer without original CDs

I have a used computer with Windows 7 installed on it. The product key is on a sticker on the bottom. The computer is dead, but the hard drive works. How can I transfer Windows 7 onto a new computer that does not have Windows 7 installed? I do not want to use the old hard drive in the new computer because it's too old, slow, and small.

Solution 1:

You can create a system image using a third party software such as Acronis True Image, Norton Ghost or a free software such as Easeus Disk Copy and image the new drive.

There is also the built-in Backup/Restore functions which essentially does the same thing.

Microsoft provides the following guides to system images:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-a-system-image

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Restore-your-computer-from-a-system-image-backup

The following tutorial is very simple to follow through the entire process of backing up and restoring:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4241/how-to-create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/

Solution 2:

If the product key is on the bottom of the computer, then it's more than likely an OEM license. OEM licenses are tied to the hardware. It is illegal to move that product key on other hardware.

Consider than you also do not have the disk, my suspicion is that this is an OEM license.

I'm reminded way back in the day when OSes were commonly hundreds of dollars, before inflation. . .