Can you just plug a hard drive into a new motherboard?

rick-l · 03-08-2007, 10:15 PM

Can you just plug a hard drive into a new motherboard and have all your old apps work or do you have to reload the operating system and all the old applications?

If I put together a system like someone suggested for Wayne in a recent thread can I take the hard drive out of old computer put it into the new one and have it boot up ok? It currently runs Windows XP pro.

slodave · slodave's Garage

Easy answer - No. It can be done though. There is software out there that will allow you to do this, but I don't remember the name at the moment.

More than likely, XP will BSOD when you put it into the new computer.

Dave

rick-l · 03-08-2007, 10:24 PM

OK

It is not like a floppy disc system that searches through the dives for DOS then

slodave · slodave's Garage

It has to do with "chipsets" on each motherboard. XP keeps a "memory" of how it was first installed and when you want to change certain drivers (to change equip), XP does everything it can to put the original drivers back (new equip can't run on org drivers). Hope this makes some sense.

Dave

HardDrive · 03-08-2007, 11:08 PM

If you were taking the hard drive out of a Dell 270. and putting it in a 280, you mght get away with it. XP is going to be plenty unhappy, and find all sorts of new hardware, but it might fly.

But a totally new motherboard, naw. You can probably do a repair install over the top of your current install, and keep your apps.

Looks like you'll be talkin' to Mr. i386.

island_dude · 03-09-2007, 02:27 AM

It possible that it will work if the chipsets are close enough. The main problem you will encounter is that windows will XP will decide that you don't have a "Genuine" version. At that point you will have major problems with windows not letting you do updates and nagging you.

nota · 03-09-2007, 04:35 AM

if you use the old HD as a second HD with a fresh XP install on the first?
or spilt the HD in to DVDs to save the programs and then recopy back on the new HD

with the price of HDs falling and the value of data going up
an extra HD is cheap data insurance

id10t · 03-09-2007, 05:51 AM

Likely not with windows. With Linux I've done it, migrating a drive from a dual P2-350 to a 486 to a classic pentium and back up to a dual AMD setup. Only difference in all the systems was the 486 and pentium didn't have SMP capability, but it all booted and everyhting worked.,

fastpat · 03-09-2007, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rick-l
Can you just plug a hard drive into a new motherboard and have all your old apps work or do you have to reload the operating system and all the old applications?

If I put together a system like someone suggested for Wayne in a recent thread can I take the hard drive out of old computer put it into the new one and have it boot up ok? It currently runs Windows XP pro.

Depending on the type of hard drive; i.e. parallel ATA or serial ATA bus, the answer is yes, you can transfer the old hard drive into the new computer and it will run. Most new machines are Serial ATA (SATA) though, and depending on how old your current computer is, you could have the older parallel ATA type drive.

I'd get one of your local hardware savvy friends to help you do this.

VaSteve · 03-09-2007, 06:32 AM

I had a computer harddrive die, but I still have the CPU, etc. Can I buy a new HD and install XP on it and all the software, or should I put this thing on the curb?

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

A clean fresh install of the OS and Apps is going to make you much happier in the long run. You can slave your old drive and transfer all your files to the new drive. Once you've got everything moved, you can reformat the old drive and have the added storage space available.

rick-l · 03-09-2007, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by VaSteve
I had a computer harddrive die, but I still have the CPU, etc. Can I buy a new HD and install XP on it and all the software, or should I put this thing on the curb?

I would say YES. I put together all the PCs I have and they all started out life with no HD. The last one I built (Windows 98 SE

) You just hit F2 and tell the the BIOS to look for the operating system on CD.

scottmandue · 03-09-2007, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nota
if you use the old HD as a second HD with a fresh XP install on the first?

This is by far the easiest way to go... if you have the install disk(s)for XP.

Quote:

Originally posted by VaSteve
I had a computer harddrive die, but I still have the CPU, etc. Can I buy a new HD and install XP on it and all the software, or should I put this thing on the curb?

Yes but with the price of new computers you are probably better off buying new depending on how old your computer is and what you plan on doing with it.

YMMV

VaSteve · 03-09-2007, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scottmandue
This is by far the easiest way to go... if you have the install disk(s)for XP.

Yes but with the price of new computers you are probably better off buying new depending on how old your computer is and what you plan on doing with it.

YMMV

I bought a new one, I figure I could set this up for my 2 year old to mess with.