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    Lenovo Y40-80 SSD upgrade + Windows 8.1 Install

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by chunkysoup, Feb 7, 2015.

  1. chunkysoup

    chunkysoup Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello,

    I have the Lenovo Y40-80, and it came with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. I want to replace the hard drive with a new ssd, but I'm not understanding how I can activate my pre-installed OS on the new ssd. Unfortunately because Windows came pre-installed, I don't have the key, and neither Lenovo or Microsoft seem to have records of what it may be. Can someone help me?


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    chunkysoup, Feb 7, 2015
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  2. alexhawker

    alexhawker Spent Gladiator

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    Win 8.x keys are typically stored/encoded in the BIOS. It should automatically detect and activate automagically.
     
    alexhawker, Feb 8, 2015
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    chunkysoup likes this.
  3. Orlbuckeye

    Orlbuckeye Notebook Evangelist

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    You have 2 ways you can do it. Neither of these ways require entering a key.

    1. Clone the current OS drive. This requires cloning software which you could find free on the internet and an external SSD drive case. I have done this 3 or 4 times and I Acronis True Image clonign software. I got it at Best Buy. They sell a 1 or 3 PC license.

    2. Create System restore DVD and Driver DVD. This should be the first thing you do whenever you purchase a PC. Every manufacturer does this a different way (some have utility software that creates the system restore and others use function keys. Also most OEM's have the restore DVD's available for like 20.00. The System restore doesn't need the key. You will have to reset your computer just like it was new using this method.
     
    Orlbuckeye, Feb 10, 2015
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  4. Miller_91

    Miller_91 Newbie

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    Hi,
    I got a Y40-80 laptop lately and tried to replace the original sshd with ssd, but the bios did not recognize my intel 330/335 ssds (120g). Could you please tell what is your bios version and which ssd model you are using?

    Chees,
    Miller
     
    Miller_91, Oct 6, 2015
    #4