Changing Hardware with winXP

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Guest

Hi

I want to use an existing XP installed Harddrive from an old computer and
install the HDD into a new computer without reinstalling the OS. I have
installed the Drive into the new computer but all it does it start winxp and
a quick bluescreen and restart the system. Does anyone know how to get
around this without having to delete and start again?

Thanks

Jed
 
Unless ALL the hardware (and much of the software) is *exactly* the same in
the 2 PCs, it's not possible. :(
 
Jed said:
Hi

I want to use an existing XP installed Harddrive from an old computer and
install the HDD into a new computer without reinstalling the OS. I have
installed the Drive into the new computer but all it does it start winxp and
a quick bluescreen and restart the system. Does anyone know how to get
around this without having to delete and start again?

Thanks

Jed
Click to expand...

That usually doesn't work unless you're incredibly lucky. When Windows is
installed, it brings along certain drives for particular hardware (sort of).

Are you moving the drive because it's bigger, or it contains data you need,
or what? There may be another way to achieve your purpose, like installing
the 2nd HD as a slave drive.
 
Doug Kanter said:
That usually doesn't work unless you're incredibly lucky. When Windows is
installed, it brings along certain drives for particular hardware (sort
of).

Are you moving the drive because it's bigger, or it contains data you
need,
or what? There may be another way to achieve your purpose, like installing
the 2nd HD as a slave drive.
Click to expand...


Jed:
In all likelihood you'll have to perform a Repair install. As Doug stated,
it's highly unlikely a transferred drive will boot on the new machine
although it does happen on rare occasions.

Hopefully, (there's no guarantee) the Repair install will work and you'll be
able to boot to your transferred drive. Before you undertake the Repair
install, copy any data files that are critical to you.

Do a Google search for "XP repair install". You'll find many sites detailing
this process.

Art
 
In
Jed said:
I want to use an existing XP installed Harddrive from an old
computer
and install the HDD into a new computer without reinstalling
the OS.
I have installed the Drive into the new computer but all it
does it
start winxp and a quick bluescreen and restart the system.
Does
anyone know how to get around this without having to delete and
start
again?
Click to expand...


Try doing a repair installation.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
 
You have to differentiate about "stuff". If you install the HD as a 2nd
drive, some of your programs will either not run, or complain bitterly
because they expect their own executables to be located on C: drive (your
main hard drive). But, the 2nd drive will end up being E: (since D: is
usually your CD). So, you'll probably have to reinstall anyway. The
references to the install location usually exist in the Windows registry,
and the registry on drive C: will know nothing of the apps you have on drive
#2. Forget trying to correct that manually.

If, by "stuff", you're talking about your work files (documents, music,
photos, etc), that's less of an issue. It's (usually) not a big deal to tell
apps to look for their data in a non-standard location.
 
Thanks for all your suggestions, I will backup my data and then try the
install repair.

Jed
 
Jed said:
Hi

I want to use an existing XP installed Harddrive from an old computer
and install the HDD into a new computer without reinstalling the OS.
I have installed the Drive into the new computer but all it does it
start winxp and a quick bluescreen and restart the system. Does
anyone know how to get around this without having to delete and start
again?

Thanks

Jed
Click to expand...
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Move XP to new hardware.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
Jed, just get a case of beer and reinstall. You'll probably end up having to
do it anyway, and you KNOW you'll be happier without all sorts of unknowns
lurking under the hood. With computers, Halloween can last forever. :-)
 
Jed said:
I want to use an existing XP installed Harddrive from an old computer and
install the HDD into a new computer without reinstalling the OS. I have
installed the Drive into the new computer but all it does it start winxp and
a quick bluescreen and restart the system. Does anyone know how to get
around this without having to delete and start again?
Click to expand...

You need to do at least a 'repair' reinstall. After which you will find
it is only booting to safe mode until you reactivate by phoning in (and
it must be a retail type copy, not an OEM one)

Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard disk, then boot the XP CD, start
Setup (do not take 'Repair' at this stage), then after the license
agreement take 'Repair Installation'. This will retain your existing
software installations and most settings. But Updates will have to be
run again, especially SP1; or now I would have the SP2 CD to hand ready
to run as first thing

It is important to activate the basic XP Firewall before you ever
connect to the net to get the patches, so as to be protected against
things like the BLAST worm.
 
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