Hello all,

I'm trying to settle an argument with someone about the following:


Is it possible to take a hard drive out of one system (say a custom
built machine) with a fresh Windows XP installation along with my
applications, and put it into another system (another custom built
machine with different hardware) and boot up normally?


My argument is because of the different hardware and internal things
specific to the first system, there is no way that it will work in
something that has totally different hardware. I remember trying
this
in Windows 98 long ago, but something about drivers and registry
things stopped that thought cold...


If I am right or wrong, please give some supporting links/
documentation or an argument as to why.


Thanks!

Whether it will boot is dependant on the Mass Storage controller
driver. If the source machine has a VIA technology chipset it will
use a VIA Driver to mount/use the hard drive Windows is installed
on. If you move that drive to a PC with a Intel Chipset then XP
will likely fail to boot since the required Mass Storage driver will
not load. Platform matches between PC1/PC2 would boot but is
going to experience a number of issues, among them Activation
and a complete re-detection of all the hardware on the new PC.
The only "Workaround" solution is prior to a platform change to
change the Mass Storage driver to a generic type which will load
on almost any chipset vendor PC and then re-apply the correct
vendor driver after the switch-over is completed.

"Chris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:d85a78d6-ce5f-4e04-b918-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello all,
>
> I'm trying to settle an argument with someone about the following:
>
>
> Is it possible to take a hard drive out of one system (say a custom
> built machine) with a fresh Windows XP installation along with my
> applications, and put it into another system (another custom built
> machine with different hardware) and boot up normally?
>
>
> My argument is because of the different hardware and internal things
> specific to the first system, there is no way that it will work in
> something that has totally different hardware. I remember trying
> this
> in Windows 98 long ago, but something about drivers and registry
> things stopped that thought cold...
>
>
> If I am right or wrong, please give some supporting links/
> documentation or an argument as to why.
>
>
> Thanks!

Chris wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I'm trying to settle an argument with someone about the following:
>
>
> Is it possible to take a hard drive out of one system (say a custom
> built machine) with a fresh Windows XP installation along with my
> applications, and put it into another system (another custom built
> machine with different hardware) and boot up normally?
>
>
> My argument is because of the different hardware and internal things
> specific to the first system, there is no way that it will work in
> something that has totally different hardware. I remember trying
> this
> in Windows 98 long ago, but something about drivers and registry
> things stopped that thought cold...
>
>
> If I am right or wrong, please give some supporting links/
> documentation or an argument as to why.
>
>
> Thanks!


It won't work because of XP and activation etc, and it is also a license
violation (OEM Version)...........
It is not a violation if the XP is of the upgrade license type, but
to get it to work,,,,,,,, would be to not to boot the unit to the moved hard
drive.
but boot instead to the XP install cd and choose install then choose a
repair install when XP see's the other installation of Windows XP.
when this repair install is completed you will need to activate XP again,
over the phone no doubt, just tell them it is a motherboard replacement
under warranty and Microsoft should give you a new product code..

Clark...
--
Don't you have Google in your part of the world?

On May 29, 12:36*pm, "R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSp...@mindspring.com>
wrote:
> Whether it will boot is dependant on the Mass Storage controller
> driver. If the source machine has a VIA technology chipset it will
> use a VIA Driver to mount/use the hard drive Windows is installed
> on. If you move that drive to a PC with a Intel Chipset then XP
> will likely fail to boot since the required Mass Storage driver will
> not load. Platform matches between PC1/PC2 would boot but is
> going to experience a number of issues, among them Activation
> and a complete re-detection of all the hardware on the new PC.
> The only "Workaround" solution is prior to a platform change to
> change the Mass Storage driver to a generic type which will load
> on almost any chipset vendor PC and then re-apply the correct
> vendor driver after the switch-over is completed.
>
> "Chris" <chris.ho...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:d85a78d6-ce5f-4e04-b918-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>
> > Hello all,
>
> > I'm trying to settle an argument with someone about the following:
>
> > Is it possible to take a hard drive out of one system (say a custom
> > built machine) with a fresh Windows XP installation along with my
> > applications, and put it into another system (another custom built
> > machine with different hardware) and boot up normally?
>
> > My argument is because of the different hardware and internal things
> > specific to the first system, there is no way that it will work in
> > something that has totally different hardware. *I remember trying
> > this
> > in Windows 98 long ago, but something about drivers and registry
> > things stopped that thought cold...
>
> > If I am right or wrong, please give some supporting links/
> > documentation or an argument as to why.
>
> > Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you for your response R. McCarty; This makes total sense as you
explained it. Could you point me to a few sources where this type of
information can be found? I've been out of the PC game for quite
sometime, so it would help to know where to look when I have future
issues.

Thanks

Chris wrote:

> On May 29, 12:36 pm, "R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSp...@mindspring.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Whether it will boot is dependant on the Mass Storage controller
>>driver. If the source machine has a VIA technology chipset it will
>>use a VIA Driver to mount/use the hard drive Windows is installed
>>on. If you move that drive to a PC with a Intel Chipset then XP
>>will likely fail to boot since the required Mass Storage driver will
>>not load. Platform matches between PC1/PC2 would boot but is
>>going to experience a number of issues, among them Activation
>>and a complete re-detection of all the hardware on the new PC.
>>The only "Workaround" solution is prior to a platform change to
>>change the Mass Storage driver to a generic type which will load
>>on almost any chipset vendor PC and then re-apply the correct
>>vendor driver after the switch-over is completed.
>>
>>"Chris" <chris.ho...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>>news:d85a78d6-ce5f-4e04-b918-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>Hello all,
>>
>>>I'm trying to settle an argument with someone about the following:
>>
>>>Is it possible to take a hard drive out of one system (say a custom
>>>built machine) with a fresh Windows XP installation along with my
>>>applications, and put it into another system (another custom built
>>>machine with different hardware) and boot up normally?
>>
>>>My argument is because of the different hardware and internal things
>>>specific to the first system, there is no way that it will work in
>>>something that has totally different hardware. I remember trying
>>>this
>>>in Windows 98 long ago, but something about drivers and registry
>>>things stopped that thought cold...
>>
>>>If I am right or wrong, please give some supporting links/
>>>documentation or an argument as to why.
>>
>>>Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>- Show quoted text -
>
>
> Thank you for your response R. McCarty; This makes total sense as you
> explained it. Could you point me to a few sources where this type of
> information can be found? I've been out of the PC game for quite
> sometime, so it would help to know where to look when I have future
> issues.
>
> Thanks

Look in the Microsoft Knowledge Base, example
How to move a Windows installation to different hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/249694

"Chris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:d85a78d6-ce5f-4e04-b918-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello all,
>
> I'm trying to settle an argument with someone about the following:
>
>
> Is it possible to take a hard drive out of one system (say a custom
> built machine) with a fresh Windows XP installation along with my
> applications, and put it into another system (another custom built
> machine with different hardware) and boot up normally?
>
>
> My argument is because of the different hardware and internal things
> specific to the first system, there is no way that it will work in
> something that has totally different hardware. I remember trying
> this
> in Windows 98 long ago, but something about drivers and registry
> things stopped that thought cold...
>
>
> If I am right or wrong, please give some supporting links/
> documentation or an argument as to why.
>
>
> Thanks!


Chris:
The simple answer is...sometimes yes, sometimes no.

In most, but certainly not all, cases involving the transfer of a HDD from
one system to another system the result will be a failed initial boot.

But in a significant number of cases the initial boot will be successful.
It's always worth a try.

In working with hundreds of different systems (in an XP environment) we have
found no common denominator that will tell us beforehand whether the initial
boot under these circumstances will be successful or unsuccessful. And
that's regardless of whether we're dealing with Intel-based or AMD-based
systems or the HDD transfer occurs between an Intel-AMD system or AMD-Intel
system.

The fact that the two systems involved have "totally different hardware"
will not negate the possibility of a successful initial boot.

Obviously when the initial boot does fail the general "fix" is to run a
Repair install of the XP operating system. In most, but again not all, cases
the result will be a bootable system. Naturally, as I'm sure you're aware,
the necessary motherboard (and possibly other auxiliary) drivers will need
to be installed following a successful Repair installation.
Anna

On May 29, 2:17*pm, "Anna" <myn...@myisp.net> wrote:
> "Chris" <chris.ho...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:d85a78d6-ce5f-4e04-b918-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hello all,
>
> > I'm trying to settle an argument with someone about the following:
>
> > Is it possible to take a hard drive out of one system (say a custom
> > built machine) with a fresh Windows XP installation along with my
> > applications, and put it into another system (another custom built
> > machine with different hardware) and boot up normally?
>
> > My argument is because of the different hardware and internal things
> > specific to the first system, there is no way that it will work in
> > something that has totally different hardware. *I remember trying
> > this
> > in Windows 98 long ago, but something about drivers and registry
> > things stopped that thought cold...
>
> > If I am right or wrong, please give some supporting links/
> > documentation or an argument as to why.
>
> > Thanks!
>
> Chris:
> The simple answer is...sometimes yes, sometimes no.
>
> In most, but certainly not all, cases involving the transfer of a HDD from
> one system to another system the result will be a failed initial boot.
>
> But in a significant number of cases the initial boot will be successful.
> It's always worth a try.
>
> In working with hundreds of different systems (in an XP environment) we have
> found no common denominator that will tell us beforehand whether the initial
> boot under these circumstances will be successful or unsuccessful. And
> that's regardless of whether we're dealing with Intel-based or AMD-based
> systems or the HDD transfer occurs between an Intel-AMD system or AMD-Intel
> system.
>
> The fact that the two systems involved have "totally different hardware"
> will not negate the possibility of a successful initial boot.
>
> Obviously when the initial boot does fail the general "fix" is to run a
> Repair install of the XP operating system. In most, but again not all, cases
> the result will be a bootable system. Naturally, as I'm sure you're aware,
> the necessary motherboard (and possibly other auxiliary) drivers will need
> to be installed following a successful Repair installation.
> Anna- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Very good information indeed Anna, When I was a system tech, we
always did things in order, meaning if we wanted an installtion of
Windows on a machine, we would start with a fresh install or image;
hardly ever did a repair or any hard drive swapping. There are just
way too many variables when dealing with different hardware types, I
never wanted to take a chance.

I'm trying to explain this to a young technician that thinks
everything is possible with a little time and effort. My thing is,
with a fresh install, I know what I'm getting....Playing the swap game
has always looked as a quick fix that will be more unpredictable than
what I care an OS install to be.

Thanks for the input

On May 29, 2:08*pm, Bob I <bire...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Chris wrote:
> > On May 29, 12:36 pm, "R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSp...@mindspring.com>
> > wrote:
>
> >>Whether it will boot is dependant on the Mass Storage controller
> >>driver. If the source machine has a VIA technology chipset it will
> >>use a VIA Driver to mount/use the hard drive Windows is installed
> >>on. If you move that drive to a PC with a Intel Chipset then XP
> >>will likely fail to boot since the required Mass Storage driver will
> >>not load. Platform matches between PC1/PC2 would boot but is
> >>going to experience a number of issues, among them Activation
> >>and a complete re-detection of all the hardware on the new PC.
> >>The only "Workaround" solution is prior to a platform change to
> >>change the Mass Storage driver to a generic type which will load
> >>on almost any chipset vendor PC and then re-apply the correct
> >>vendor driver after the switch-over is completed.
>
> >>"Chris" <chris.ho...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news:d85a78d6-ce5f-4e04-b918-(E-Mail Removed)....
>
> >>>Hello all,
>
> >>>I'm trying to settle an argument with someone about the following:
>
> >>>Is it possible to take a hard drive out of one system (say a custom
> >>>built machine) with a fresh Windows XP installation along with my
> >>>applications, and put it into another system (another custom built
> >>>machine with different hardware) and boot up normally?
>
> >>>My argument is because of the different hardware and internal things
> >>>specific to the first system, there is no way that it will work in
> >>>something that has totally different hardware. *I remember trying
> >>>this
> >>>in Windows 98 long ago, but something about drivers and registry
> >>>things stopped that thought cold...
>
> >>>If I am right or wrong, please give some supporting links/
> >>>documentation or an argument as to why.
>
> >>>Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>
> >>- Show quoted text -
>
> > Thank you for your response R. McCarty; This makes total sense as you
> > explained it. *Could you point me to a few sources where this type of
> > information can be found? *I've been out of the PC game for quite
> > sometime, so it would help to know where to look when I have future
> > issues.
>
> > Thanks
>
> Look in the Microsoft Knowledge Base, example
> How to move a Windows installation to different hardwarehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/249694- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks Bob

Yes, I find the same. Changing the disk controller to a generic type improves
your chances, but doesn't guarantee success.

Basically, it's a poor design, and needs rethinking. Excessive
interdependence of components in any system makes maintenance of that system
extremely hard.

For example, consider the situation where a single mobo socket failing leads
to the need for a total hardware AND software rebuild, and re-registering of
all licensed packages on it.

Instead of Von Neumann Architecture, maybe we should term this, "Ronan Point
Architecture." <g>

"Anna" wrote:

> In working with hundreds of different systems (in an XP environment) we have
> found no common denominator that will tell us beforehand whether the initial
> boot under these circumstances will be successful or unsuccessful. And
> that's regardless of whether we're dealing with Intel-based or AMD-based
> systems or the HDD transfer occurs between an Intel-AMD system or AMD-Intel
> system.

> "Chris" <chris.ho...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> > Hello all,
>
> > I'm trying to settle an argument with someone about the following:
>
> > Is it possible to take a hard drive out of one system (say a custom
> > built machine) with a fresh Windows XP installation along with my
> > applications, and put it into another system (another custom built
> > machine with different hardware) and boot up normally?
>
> > My argument is because of the different hardware and internal things
> > specific to the first system, there is no way that it will work in
> > something that has totally different hardware. I remember trying
> > this
> > in Windows 98 long ago, but something about drivers and registry
> > things stopped that thought cold...
>
> > If I am right or wrong, please give some supporting links/
> > documentation or an argument as to why.
>
> > Thanks!


On May 29, 2:17 pm, "Anna" <myn...@myisp.net> wrote:
> Chris:
> The simple answer is...sometimes yes, sometimes no.
>
> In most, but certainly not all, cases involving the transfer of a HDD from
> one system to another system the result will be a failed initial boot.
>
> But in a significant number of cases the initial boot will be successful.
> It's always worth a try.
>
> In working with hundreds of different systems (in an XP environment) we
> have
> found no common denominator that will tell us beforehand whether the
> initial
> boot under these circumstances will be successful or unsuccessful. And
> that's regardless of whether we're dealing with Intel-based or AMD-based
> systems or the HDD transfer occurs between an Intel-AMD system or
> AMD-Intel
> system.
>
> The fact that the two systems involved have "totally different hardware"
> will not negate the possibility of a successful initial boot.
>
> Obviously when the initial boot does fail the general "fix" is to run a
> Repair install of the XP operating system. In most, but again not all,
> cases
> the result will be a bootable system. Naturally, as I'm sure you're aware,
> the necessary motherboard (and possibly other auxiliary) drivers will need
> to be installed following a successful Repair installation.
> Anna- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


"Chris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2d4ed5c4-1288-4c4c-a1d9-(E-Mail Removed)...
Very good information indeed Anna, When I was a system tech, we
always did things in order, meaning if we wanted an installtion of
Windows on a machine, we would start with a fresh install or image;
hardly ever did a repair or any hard drive swapping. There are just
way too many variables when dealing with different hardware types, I
never wanted to take a chance.

I'm trying to explain this to a young technician that thinks
everything is possible with a little time and effort. My thing is,
with a fresh install, I know what I'm getting....Playing the swap game
has always looked as a quick fix that will be more unpredictable than
what I care an OS install to be.

Thanks for the input


Chris:
I fully understand your position that as a general proposition it's best to
fresh install the OS following a transfer of one HDD to another HDD,
regardless of whether the recipient system will boot straightaway or a
Repair install of the OS may be necessary to accomplish a bootable,
functional system. I know that there are many technicians who agree with
your point of view. I ought to know having worked with a good number of
them!

But I must say (again, as a *general* proposition) that I do not hold to
that view.

By & large I see no reason why the transferred HDD, or more precisely the
system/data on that HDD, should not properly function in the recipient
system. Again, whether it booted with or without the necessity of a Repair
install of the OS. And, of course, all this is in reference to the XP OS.

I quickly add that I'm assuming the transferable HDD is unquestionably
non-defective and there's no reason to believe a corrupt OS is present on
the drive, i.e., the system from whence the HDD originates has not been
experiencing any problems that could be traced to a problem HDD. So that as
far as we know we're dealing with a sound HDD that has experienced no
problems.

On the other hand...

Should the user feel more comfortable (for whatever reason) with a fresh
install of the OS together with the installation of his/her
program-application files and user-created data, updates, etc., I have no
problem with this.
Anna