Moving HD from one pc to another?

[crustacean1]

Hi guys.

Mine is a simple (and potentially stupid question):
Would it be harmful to the data on a hard drive if I were to move it from one pc to another?
I ask because I will soon be getting a new PC and want to move 2 of my current drives to the new computer. I am planning on backing up all of my important data on one of them so I dont have to spend days burning DVDs.
Would this work OK? As in, would the data show up fine in the new computer, or do new drives require formatting or something?
Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks very much.

 

[oynaz]

The data will be fine, but you might need to reinstall most applications.

 

[Billb2]

Yes, many people are confused by the difference between "data" and "programs". That leads to disapointment, heartbreak, and probably psoriasis.
For example:
"Data" is the MS word .doc file that you saved (in My Documents?).
"Program" is the MS Office program that you installed which loads, reads and edits the .doc file.

If you put an old HDD that has MS Office installed on it, and also has the .doc file on it (in My Documents?), into the new computer, the new computer will be able to "see" the .doc file, but won't be able to load. read, or edit it because the new computer won't be able to run the MS office from the old HDD. Once you install MS office onto the new computer, that copy of Office will be able to load, read, and edit the .doc file. (but note that there will be two My Documents folders, one for the new OS, and one on the old HDD. But then too, the old HDD will contain wasted space taken up by the old MS Office program that won't run.

So, yes, you want to save your "data", and yes, just installing the old HDD into the new computer is an easy way to do that. But then, how much "data" (documents, photos, music, etc) do you really have? A new computer is a good excuse to back then up onto CDs/DVDs anyway.

You didn't mention "settings", things like bookmarks, game configuration files, program settings (that tell the program where to save files), etc.. These things do not automatically work when you reinstall programs onto the new HDD. So be prepared for a little grief and some additional work.

Once you get the new computer up and running to your satisfaction, you can delete everything from the old HDDs and you can use then again. I'd suggest reformatting them first.

 

[robisbell]

if these are not either of your boot drives, you should be fine.

 

[crustacean1]

Thanks for all of your replies guys.
No, neither are boot drives, and I realise that no programs will work until reinstalled.
Basically I have a LOT of video files (because I do a lot of filming/editing) and tranferring them on a HD is much more attractive to me than having to burn all of them (100 GB +) to a bunch of DVDs. Then there is the music et al, which is probably another 100 GB.
I have no problems reinstalling programs, its a good excuse to have a nice clean efficient system with no programs that I dont use.
Thanks again for all of your replies, Ill get on to getting that new system now!
Cheers.