Using old Dell OS and IDE HD for new build...

[threeheaddog]

when i plug in my old ide hd loaded with dell xp home to my new system it wont boot to os. why?

on a biostar 945p-a7a E6400

what to do now?
i have a sata hd with xp mediactr os ready to go but wanted to see if this would work

 

[Harvey]

Your old Dell installation isn't finding the same motherboard, hardware or driver configurations, some of which may be exclusive to your original Dell hardware. You might be able to boot into Safe Mode, but there's no way that hard drive will boot correctly into a full working session on your new machine.

 

[zodder]

For a long time now, Dell OEM copies of Windows XP HAVE to be installed in a Dell system. The installation code won't work on anything but a Dell motherboard.

 

[MichaelD]

Hopefully you have a copy of Windows (NOT the recovery CD that came with the Dell). If you don't, you're going to need to buy one.

Harvey told it like it is and zodder added the icing on a very bitter cake.