New computer H/W, Old computer HDD w/XP SP3

[RoConno]

Can I install my old computer's HDD with Windows XP SP3 and all my applications into a new computer, as the master HDD? Since everything is new, I'm sure it will try to load new drivers etc.
Any ideas?? Thanks!

 

[pete1229]

Does the new PC already have an hard drive with an operating system installed?

 

[VirtualLarry]

It's hit or miss. Check out the sticky in the Operating Systems forum.

 

[RoConno]

pete1229, The new computer has never been powered up and currently has no HDDs installed.

VirtualLarry, Thanks for the tip about the sticky in the Operating Systems forum. I'll go check that out in a minute!

Has anyone else tried something like this before, and what were your results? Thanks.

Edit1: VirtualLarry, I can't find the sticky in the Operating Systems forum. Could it be somewhere else? Thanks.

 

[corkyg]

Yeah - I've tried it. Unless the chipset is pretty much the same, the most common result is a BSOD.

It costs nothing to try it. You can always then revert to a clean install.

 

[RoConno]

corkyg, Thanks for the reply. I'm going to give that a try. I wasn't sure if I would be dong some kind of damage to the new system or the data on the old HDD. If I do a clean install, that would remove all my old data files with the 'format' that is done during the install and I don't want to do that.

 

[oynaz]

You have a backup, right?

 

[Kukag]

This is very interesting as I didn't think a HDD with an installed operating system was ever system dependent? just like how I'd change spare drives, change ram, upgrade video card, and I never had a problem with bsod or anything. Why would it be different for just taking the harddrive out of an older computer and slapping it into a new one without any existing drive?

 

[cubby1223]

Match chipset brands, then do a repair install. Still a percentage if it'll work or not, but it'll either completely work, or it will completely fail to load into Windows. There is no guesswork maybe it's okay, maybe there is a hidden problem that will surface later? No, either this process works or it doesn't. If you complete reactivation, you're good.

Just did this successfully on a pair of computers for a local business over the past weekend.

 

[cubby1223]

corkyg, Thanks for the reply. I'm going to give that a try. I wasn't sure if I would be dong some kind of damage to the new system or the data on the old HDD. If I do a clean install, that would remove all my old data files with the 'format' that is done during the install and I don't want to do that.

No damage to the new system or to the data.

Hard drives are cheap. Buy a second, clone them, then go nuts.

 

[THRiLL KiLL]

This is very interesting as I didn't think a HDD with an installed operating system was ever system dependent? just like how I'd change spare drives, change ram, upgrade video card, and I never had a problem with bsod or anything. Why would it be different for just taking the harddrive out of an older computer and slapping it into a new one without any existing drive?

it is system specific, or to be more exact, its based on the driver that is used in the controller for the hard drive.

Most systems have ide or sata set in legacy mode, which primary use the same driver.

if you move the hard drive to a new system that uses a different controller and a different driver is needed then you would get a BSOD with a 7b stop code

 

[Kukag]

it is system specific, or to be more exact, its based on the driver that is used in the controller for the hard drive.

Most systems have ide or sata set in legacy mode, which primary use the same driver.

if you move the hard drive to a new system that uses a different controller and a different driver is needed then you would get a BSOD with a 7b stop code

Very informative! Thanks and will remember this for the future!

-Kukag