Which SSD to buy?

[stratman]

cheap keys are linked to a specific hardware configuration

Product Keys and Digital Licenses may be linked to a specific hardware combination, but is the type of Key or License that dictates whether it can be installed on

1. any machine, over and over, regardless of of the hardware combination, but only one machine at a time (Retail versions of Windows), or,
2. only one specific hardware combo ever (OEM versions).

The "cheap keys" may be legal and usually are OEM if they are legal, so usually tethered to only one hardware combo ever.

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

Your wording was murky

Yes, you are right; I used VMWare longer time ago for similar reasons, it worked, but the setup got pretty complex once you get beyond the default settings. Virtualization is a completely separate subject, and I wouldn't want to mingle it with the Win10 update process.

 

[PeterBJ]

Was that computer previously run with Win 10 before the new SSD? If so, then there already was a Digital License (the new form of the old Product Key) assigned to that computer's hardware combination and the MS activation server, queued during Windows 10 Os's installation process, recognized the components and activated the OS reinstalled on a new drive.

Yes the laptop ran Win 10 on a traditional HDD. It was a free upgrade from Win 7. The laptop had become unreliable and slow, so I thought that either the OS had become corrupted or the harddisk was failing. I bought a 240 GB budget SSD to replace the HDD and I also wanted a clean install instead of the "patchwork" that I think an upgrade could easily become. The laptop is now much quicker than it was when it was new with the traditional HDD. So even on a laptop with limited resources the SSD was an improvement.

 

[stratman]

the setup got pretty complex once you get beyond the default settings.

So true!

 

[stratman]

Yes the laptop ran Win 10 on a traditional HDD.

That's probably why it did not ask for a Product Key when you reinstalled Windows 10 as a clean install. MS already knew your computer and had a digital License for it stored on their Activation server.

For most people, installing an SSD makes the single biggest improvement possible (outside of a new computer).

 

[PeterBJ]

For most people, installing an SSD makes the single biggest improvement possible (outside of a new computer).

It certainly does . I had considered buying a new laptop, but now I will keep this old one. Thanks to the SSD and a fresh install of OS and programs it is even better than when it was new.

I have now installed Win 10 on a formatted HDD on another laptop that had previously ben running Win 7. I used the key from the Win 7 install, and Win 10 is activated, so it looks to be true that you can still upgrade Win 7 and 8.1 computers to Win 10 for free. That is good news for owners of Win 7 computers , so thanks to @stratman and @SkedAddled for this very useful info.

 

[mikling]

Interesting that this workaround works. Now remember with a Digital License, you should need to register the PC with MS. If you don't and you change something significant on your PC, then you lose the activation. As long as this is available then you do the Win 7 routine, upgrade etc. The downside for me is that this stops the PC from automatically logging in without a password or PIN.
Since I use an older Win7 > Win 10 upgrade for my HTPC and streamer, I prefer to have the autologin. I have gone so far as to install a remote start for the HTPC.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4V-5V-6V-7-4V-9V-12V-Relay-DC-ON-OFF-Wireless-Remote-Control-Switch-Transmitter/182812387318?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
Simply power from the USB outlet on PC ( you will need to hack into an old USB cable or resetter cable) and then attach the relay to the start pins on the MB. Voila! remote turn on and turn off.
Now I'm thinking with this I should redo my setup to allow 4K and start over with Win7 and do it all over again while it is available.
Does anyone know if swapping a video card requires a new Digital License?
Also I'm now iffy on my Samsung SSDs. Since 3 yrs ago, all the SSDs I've purchased have been Samsung 860 and newer EVOs. The 250GB 860 EVO that is about 3 years old now seems to be slowing down. All my Sandisk and OLD Seagate SSD seem to be holding up fine. Those were all MLC though.

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

I got the Samsung Magician maintenance software with all my Samsung SSD's, which tell me some details about the usage status of the drives, it may help you have a look with it to the drives.
https://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/download/tools/#ge_semi_anchor_stand1

 

[stratman]

As long as this is available then you do the Win 7 routine, upgrade etc.

The downside for me is that this stops the PC from automatically logging in without a password or PIN.

Turn on autologon.

The 250GB 860 EVO that is about 3 years old now seems to be slowing down. All my Sandisk and OLD Seagate SSD seem to be holding up fine. Those were all MLC though.

Cannot speak to the NAND flash on your Sandisk and Seagate SSD's, but your Samsung 860 EVO is TLC, a 3-bit per cell version of 2-bit MLC.

Performance can be impacted by things intrinsic and extrinsic to the SSD. For instance, if you do not leave enough free space available then performance takes a hit. Also, how much data has been written to the drive, which may account for more cells being marked as "bad" and to no longer use, ultimately resulting in performance hits and eventual drive death. It is difficult to say what your issues are without further examination.

 

[SkedAddled]

Interesting that this workaround works. Now remember with a Digital License, you should need to register the PC with MS. If you don't and you change something significant on your PC, then you lose the activation.

I may actually be removed from such situations, now that it's been brought up like this. It's probably a significant factor.

My installation is actually tied to an OEM manufacturer via software key(s),
specifically, ASUS. It's been a matter of installing the OS while skipping the step of manually
entering a key, then installing the key software. After key installation, no further input
by me was required for a licensed and activated Win7 OS.
Clean installs were performed this way on 3 significantly different hardware systems,
to no ill effect.

This is likely a concession by MS to major OEMs, so that the OEMs needn't be bothered
by consumers with common installation troubles in relation to keys & activation,
such as mis-entered keys, poor eyesight, etc.

It is this latest Win7 OS on my current system which was used to run the Media
Creation tool and obtain the downloads. Perhaps it's the OEM key which was baked into
the install media. Win10 was then installed on the same system without the Win7
installation present, so it certainly could not have extracted license/activation info from
a prior installation present at the time.