Swapping HD's win 8

[cdropper]

I have two toshiba satellite laptops, different models.One has a bad hard drive, one has a broken screen.

I want to put the good hard drive in the computer with the good screen. I have factory installed version of Windows 8(no discs) on the good hard drive and have the product key for it.

What are the steps to doing this?

I've read a lot on it, but still confused. I don't want to end up with no working computer. I'm currently using the laptop with the broken screen(monitor, mouse and keyboard hooked up.)

 

[johnb35]

You can't do that if they have different hardware. You will have to wipe the drive and reinstall windows using the key for the correct laptop.

 

[cdropper]

You can't do that if they have different hardware. You will have to wipe the drive and reinstall windows using the key for the correct laptop.

would the following work?
1. Copy my files to dvd(pics, docs, etc)
2. Go to Microsoft and download a Windows 8 with my product key and put it on a usb stick.
3. Unregister windows from my current computer with the good hard drive.
4. Reformat(this is where I'm getting confused, if I wasn't in the first place)
5. Throw the wiped hard drive in the computer with a good screen.
6. stick the usb in and boot it up.

Am I not even on the right track? Thanks for the reply

 

[voyagerfan99]

There is no "unregistering of Windows". New Windows 8 machines have the product key saved in the BIOS. All you need to do is back up any data you need, throw the hard drive in the other PC, then go through the install process of Windows 8 (which includes wiping the drive and installing Windows).