Swapped HD, now computer won't boot

[Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names]

I have two fairly new HP desktops. I purchased one in early 2006
(call this one Computer A) to replace the one I lost in Hurricane
Katrina then purchased another one about one year later (call this one
Computer B). It's a long story - - - -

Computer A has been in storage for some time, thus, Computer B is up-
to-date with the applications, documents, etc., etc. that I use
daily. However, Computer A has a built-in reader for the memory cards
from digital cameras -- it accepts all formats; Computer B does not.

I really want to have the built-in memory card reader in the computer
I use daily.

Today, I swapped hard drives -- pulled the HD out of Computer B (the
one I have been using daily) and stuck it into Computer A (the older
one, that's been in storage, with the memory card reader built in),
and vice versa.

Computer A -- which now has Computer B's HD installed -- booted up,
found some new hardware and installed it and is running along like
nothing ever happened -- and I now have the built-in card reader.

Computer B -- which now has the HD from Computer A -- does not want to
boot. When I start it, I get a black-and-white screen asking if I
want to start in Safe Mode, a couple of other modes, or if I want to
start Windows. It counts down the seconds and starts Windows -- then
the black-and-white screen reappears and we go through this loop until
I pull the power plug. Turn on the power, and it does the same thing.

If I pound on the F1 key while it's booting, I can go to BIOS setup.
So, I'm thinking about putting my original WinXP CD in the computer,
boot to the CD, wipe out the HD, reinstall WinXP and MS Office, and
stick Computer B (which now has a re-formatted HD from Computer A) in
storage as a backup.

Or maybe I should forget about it and have a couple of fingers of Wild
Turkey.

 

[Onsokumaru]

I have two fairly new HP desktops. I purchased one in early 2006
(call this one Computer A) to replace the one I lost in Hurricane
Katrina then purchased another one about one year later (call this one
Computer B). It's a long story - - - -

Computer A has been in storage for some time, thus, Computer B is up-
to-date with the applications, documents, etc., etc. that I use
daily. However, Computer A has a built-in reader for the memory cards
from digital cameras -- it accepts all formats; Computer B does not.

I really want to have the built-in memory card reader in the computer
I use daily.

Today, I swapped hard drives -- pulled the HD out of Computer B (the
one I have been using daily) and stuck it into Computer A (the older
one, that's been in storage, with the memory card reader built in),
and vice versa.

Computer A -- which now has Computer B's HD installed -- booted up,
found some new hardware and installed it and is running along like
nothing ever happened -- and I now have the built-in card reader.

Computer B -- which now has the HD from Computer A -- does not want to
boot. When I start it, I get a black-and-white screen asking if I
want to start in Safe Mode, a couple of other modes, or if I want to
start Windows. It counts down the seconds and starts Windows -- then
the black-and-white screen reappears and we go through this loop until
I pull the power plug. Turn on the power, and it does the same thing.

If I pound on the F1 key while it's booting, I can go to BIOS setup.
So, I'm thinking about putting my original WinXP CD in the computer,
boot to the CD, wipe out the HD, reinstall WinXP and MS Office, and
stick Computer B (which now has a re-formatted HD from Computer A) in
storage as a backup.

Or maybe I should forget about it and have a couple of fingers of Wild
Turkey.

You seem to have chosen the hard way to do things.

Why didn't you just swap the card reader, or spend a few dollars to buy
another card reader, (I don't think they are very expensive).
Look at the cost of a card reader and the amount of time you must have spent
fooling with your computers.

The PC that won't load XP can't get far enough into loading to detect the
different chipset and install compatable drivers.

You haven't asked a question, but I'm assuming you want to get the non
loading OS up and running.
Just for reference - you PC *is* booting, it is not loading the OS.

You could boot from the XP CD and do a repair install, but then you would
need to install your drivers, programs, updates etc. again.
Any personal files on the hard disk would still be intact,
OR you could format and reinstall, or just install to another directory,
(not recommended in your situation). I hope you backed up all of your
personal files first.

Generally speaking it's not best practice to simply swap hard drives, as
even when it does work it can cause odd behaviour.

HTH.

 

[Script]

You seem to have chosen the hard way to do things.

Why didn't you just swap the card reader, or spend a few dollars to buy
another card reader, (I don't think they are very expensive).
Look at the cost of a card reader and the amount of time you must have spent
fooling with your computers.

The PC that won't load XP can't get far enough into loading to detect the
different chipset and install compatable drivers.

You haven't asked a question, but I'm assuming you want to get the non
loading OS up and running.
Just for reference - you PC *is* booting, it is not loading the OS.

You could boot from the XP CD and do a repair install, but then you would
need to install your drivers, programs, updates etc. again.
Any personal files on the hard disk would still be intact,
OR you could format and reinstall, or just install to another directory,
(not recommended in your situation). I hope you backed up all of your
personal files first.

Generally speaking it's not best practice to simply swap hard drives, as
even when it does work it can cause odd behaviour.

HTH.

So, he should go with the Wild Turkey, right? ;-)