Replacing a new HDD

[xfile]

Hi,

This is not exactly using a brand new unformatted HDD but replacing one with
installed OS and applications.

One of my notebooks is dead but everything in it including OS, applications,
and data seem to be ok.

I have another working notebook and am getting a new one. What I am
thinking is to use the HDD of the dead notebook for the current working
notebook (both XP Pro, Dell, but different models).

So my question is, should I expect a repair install if I put the old HDD
into the working notebook?

Thanks in advance.

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

Hi,

This is not exactly using a brand new unformatted HDD but replacing one
with installed OS and applications.

One of my notebooks is dead but everything in it including OS,
applications, and data seem to be ok.

I have another working notebook and am getting a new one. What I am
thinking is to use the HDD of the dead notebook for the current working
notebook (both XP Pro, Dell, but different models).

So my question is, should I expect a repair install if I put the old HDD
into the working notebook?

Thanks in advance.

That will be most probably the case, of course you will have to have an XP
CD NOT a recovery CD to do the repair install.

 

[Rock]

Hi,

This is not exactly using a brand new unformatted HDD but replacing one
with installed OS and applications.

One of my notebooks is dead but everything in it including OS,
applications, and data seem to be ok.

I have another working notebook and am getting a new one. What I am
thinking is to use the HDD of the dead notebook for the current working
notebook (both XP Pro, Dell, but different models).

So my question is, should I expect a repair install if I put the old HDD
into the working notebook?

Thanks in advance.

It's probably a good bet that the copy of XP on both notebooks are OEM
versions If it came preinstalled on the notebook when you got it from Dell
then it would be.

If that's the case, by the license, that version of XP can't be moved to a
different computer. When the computer dies, the license dies with it.

You can certainly retrieve the data from it. Put the drive in an external
hard drive enclosure, connect that to another computer, and transfer the
data, but that version of XP can't be used in a different system.

On the other hand, even though it's OEM and tranferring it is prohibited by
the license, since the computer you would like to move it to is also an OEM
version, if you uninstall XP from the drive in that notebook, and discard
that license, then I see no reason you why couldn't use the other license.
You're in compliance with the spirit of the license.

Yes you have moved it, but in essence you started with two OEM licenses and
two computers. When the one notebook died one license died with it. If you
ditch one of the two OEM licenses then you're left with one license and one
computer. Seems a balanced equation. But one license has to go.

Whether it will work in the other notebook even with a repair install, I
don't know, since they are different models. I don't know how the BIOS
locked issue will pan out. Maybe someone else has had experience with this
specific issue.

 

[none]

Hi,

This is not exactly using a brand new unformatted HDD but replacing
one with installed OS and applications.

One of my notebooks is dead but everything in it including OS,
applications, and data seem to be ok.

I have another working notebook and am getting a new one. What I am
thinking is to use the HDD of the dead notebook for the current
working notebook (both XP Pro, Dell, but different models).

So my question is, should I expect a repair install if I put the old
HDD into the working notebook?

Thanks in advance.

I'd guess yes to the repair install, unless the hardware is very close to
the same. You may also run into activation issues depending on if the XP
is an OEM version or what.

Are you wanting to do this due to drive size (the dead notebook having a
larger drive than the working one)? If so, you could perhaps image the
smaller drive to the larger, keeping the same OS and software that is
currently on the smaller. This should require no repair install, and if
this failed, you could go back to the smaller drive, as it would not be
written to. This imaging would require appropriate software, and some
method of connecting both drives to a working machine at once or using a
third location (USB drive?) to hold the data while exchanging drives.

Or are you wanting to transfer software from the dead one to the working
one? Assuming that this is allowed by your license, it is probably
easier/quicker to just reinstall the software from original media.

 

[xfile]

Hi,

About the license issue and sorry for not mentioning more details,

This is how I figure, the coming one is also a Dell model and has its own
OEM license, and I will be putting the HDD of the working notebook into the
new notebook (and save the new HDD for spare use), so what I end up with is
to have two working notebooks using two valid licenses, except transferring
the dead one to the currently working one, and from the working one to the
brand new one. And the license for the new one is "retired" instead of the
dead one.

I am thinking of this only because to avoid installation everything all over
again, and I had one or two repair installs before which seem not too
difficult.

OK, final confession - the dead one is used by my wife for casual use, and I
want to be lazy

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Thanks and I will have it ready

That will be most probably the case, of course you will have to have an XP
CD NOT a recovery CD to do the repair install.

 

[xfile]

I'd guess yes to the repair install, unless the hardware is very close to

the same. You may also run into activation issues depending on if the XP
is an OEM version or what.

Ok, they are 3-4 years different, so I guess a repair install is required,
and they are all OEM so I guess maybe a new activation is required.

Are you wanting to do this due to drive size (the dead notebook having a
larger drive than the working one)? If so, you could perhaps image the
smaller drive to the larger, keeping the same OS and software that is
currently on the smaller.

It's not due to drive size. As mentioned in another reply, simply because I
want to be lazy to avoid installing everything all over again.

I will have two working notebooks with two "valid" licenses, except using
the one from the dead notebook to the working one and transferring the
working one to a brand new one that is on its way. The HDD of the brand new
notebook (same size as the working notebook) will be formatted and stored
for spare use, and its license will be "retired" even without being used.

Or are you wanting to transfer software from the dead one to the working
one? Assuming that this is allowed by your license, it is probably
easier/quicker to just reinstall the software from original media.

Maybe, but I honestly want to be lazy

 

[Rock]

Hi,

About the license issue and sorry for not mentioning more details,

This is how I figure, the coming one is also a Dell model and has its own
OEM license, and I will be putting the HDD of the working notebook into
the new notebook (and save the new HDD for spare use), so what I end up
with is to have two working notebooks using two valid licenses, except
transferring the dead one to the currently working one, and from the
working one to the brand new one. And the license for the new one is
"retired" instead of the dead one.

I am thinking of this only because to avoid installation everything all
over again, and I had one or two repair installs before which seem not too
difficult.

OK, final confession - the dead one is used by my wife for casual use, and
I want to be lazy

Lol, reading that makes my head spin - makes me think of the Abbot and
Costello gag of "Who's on first".

 

[xfile]

LOL.

Ok, I guess a repair install is all I need.

Well, she has her own business notebook from the company, so she needs a
simple one at home for emails.

But if I go for the normal route, I will end up to install 2 notebooks,
which I really don't want

 

[Merlin]

Hi,

This is not exactly using a brand new unformatted HDD but replacing one
with installed OS and applications.

One of my notebooks is dead but everything in it including OS,
applications, and data seem to be ok.

I have another working notebook and am getting a new one. What I am
thinking is to use the HDD of the dead notebook for the current working
notebook (both XP Pro, Dell, but different models).

So my question is, should I expect a repair install if I put the old HDD
into the working notebook?

Thanks in advance.


Not only will you have to do a repair install but you will also have to
install the proper hardware drivers for the new notebook such as the touch
pad, sound card, video, etc, etc.

 

[xfile]

Hi,

True, and thanks for reminding me about that.

Will prepare all of those.