Cloning Win7 On USB to Install on New HDD?

[Struzinski]

Merry Christmas everyone! I need a bit of help with installing an operating system on a new hard drive. I'm not sure how Windows works with OS installation since I've never done it before; every computer I've owned had the OS factory loaded on HDD and never had to replace. However, now I'm building my gaming PC and I'm looking to put a copy of Windows 7 onto the SSD I got. Right now, I have a laptop with a regular SATA drive in it. But would it be possible to copy the OS from this HDD to install it on the SSD? Preferably USB just because I don't have an optical drive for it. I'm just trying to save money and trying to avoid purchasing another copy.

I know it's possible to make a recovery USB, but do recovery USBs actually have the power to install the OS onto the new SSD? I figured there would be some sort of issue there due to the ridiculous hardware changes from this computer to my gaming PC. Any help or support would be appreciated!

 

[office politics]

my sig has a link descibing how to move your install to a new drive. it is almost the exact senario except the usb part. im not sure ho you can get a pc to boot windows off usb.

 

[Struzinski]

my sig has a link descibing how to move your install to a new drive. it is almost the exact senario except the usb part. im not sure ho you can get a pc to boot windows off usb.

Clever, but the directions were not clear enough. A video tutorial would be much more helpful.

 

[office politics]

If you need anything cleared up, feel free to ask.

I have no plans to make a video for this.

Thanks.

 

[Drogos]

the usb has to be plugged to the pc b4 u go into boot menu. i just boot the pc with the usb already plugged. i remember the first time i went into boot menu b4 plugging the usb and dint show u can also change the boot order in bios to the usb.
i have used this myself for the last year and a half. worked great so far
Microsoft Store
wen i got my ssd it came with a cloning software i dont if urs did u might be able to clone it and just plug the drive in the other pc.
u can download a copy of windows from Microsoft if u already have a cd kay