Linux computer with Win XP

[Dick]

Hi Everyone,
I received from my brother-in-law a new computer (less than 1yr old) that he
did not want, which has Linux (Lindows) operating system straight from the
factory. As far as I can tell the hardware seems to be Windows compatible.
My question is this: I have an old computer with a newer 7200 rpm 40g hard
drive with Win XP Pro on it. Can I just switch hard drives and boot-up
without doing any damage to the motherboard (Syntax SV266A), bios or comos
or anything?

 

[Bob]

No. Windows XP maps all the hardware when installed on
the hard drive of the original computer. When you change
these parameters, windows will not operate properly. You
may be able to boot up, but the operating system will
crash constantly. I have already tried this and speak
from experience.

-Bob

 

[dglock]

it won't boot,most likely, but you can do a repair install
if you have a retail copy of xp.
don

 

[Kenny]

this is not always true, I have been able to do so and everything worked ok.
But there is no way to know for sure .

Probably he will be asked to activate windows too.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

After changing the hard drive, run a repair installation with the new
hardware. See this link on how to do it:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Hermes]

Before the MVP (M$ Victim Poster) Hermes responded, Dick typed:

Hi Everyone,
I received from my brother-in-law a new computer (less than 1yr old) that he
did not want, which has Linux (Lindows) operating system straight from the
factory. As far as I can tell the hardware seems to be Windows compatible.
My question is this: I have an old computer with a newer 7200 rpm 40g hard
drive with Win XP Pro on it. Can I just switch hard drives and boot-up
without doing any damage to the motherboard (Syntax SV266A), bios or comos
or anything?

Can you get the original install Cds from your brother for Lindows or
download them and burn them to CDs? My experiance (althought not
specifically with Lindows) is that it is better to loafd WinXP first, then
load your flavor of Linux and let Lilo handle the dual booting for you. I
have my machine set to triple boot with 2 windows partitions and one
Mandrake partition. It worked like a dream. Juat make sure you partition
at least 10 gb for linux and make the pirmary partition for WinXP becuase
WinXP cannot boot off of an extended partition, but linux has no problems
doing so. Good luck.

--
hermes
DRM sux! Treacherous Computing kills our virtual civil liberties!
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/tcpa-faq.html

Windows XP crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.

Yesterday it worked.
Today it is not working.
Windows is like that.

 

[Alex Nichol]

My question is this: I have an old computer with a newer 7200 rpm 40g hard
drive with Win XP Pro on it. Can I just switch hard drives and boot-up
without doing any damage to the motherboard (Syntax SV266A), bios or comos
or anything?

Provided it is a retail copy of XP (not a OEM one which has a license
restricting it to the original machine) you can take it across. The
hardware may not be fast enough or RAM big enough though (Linux is less
demanding) so check those points - under a 400 MHz CPU and 256 MB RAM I
would leave it on the software it has.

Put the drive in as Primary master, set BIOS to boot CD before HD and
then set off with a repair reinstall to match it to the new
substructure. Boot the XP CD, direct; 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 unless your CD includes it;
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.

There will be so much hardware changed that you will have to re-activate
the system, and unless you do have SP1, you will have to do that by
booting to Safe Mode and using the 'activate by phone' option.

Alternatively back up your data and settings (read Gary Woodruff's
article on Files and settings Transfer at
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm) and do a clean install - instead of
repair, take New Install. When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC;
select and delete the current partition and make a new RAW one to be
formatted at the next stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one
That way you will have 30 days in which to get around to activation, and
if it is more than 120 days since you last did, it will go through on
the net

Always back up essential data before doing any major system operation
like this, if you are still in a position to do so

 

[Dick]

Thank you gentlemen. I guess I did not make myself clear. I want the hard
drive with Win XP as my only hard drive on the computer, so I will not be
concerned with dual-booting. But I think I still have enough information to
set it up. If there is anything in addition please feel free to let me know.