I've got an old HD with Win XP Pro on it, and I'm wondering how easy
it would be to just take a hard drive out of a new laptop with Vista
on it and replace it with the HD with Win XP on it? Are there any
likely issues that will come up and be a major problem?
Several issues:
1) Xp Activation. Hard drive installed version is activated with the
old motherboard. You need to re-install XP or Vista to get the
activation re-set.
2) Hard drive interface. Newer computers now use the SATA type
interface. Since this is a laptop, it is even more critical that the
hard drive interface be compatible.
3) Warranty. Laptops are "closed" computers. You must read the
warrnty fine print in order to make sure that changing the hard drive
does not void (cancel) the warranty.
4) Warranty -- part 2: Warranty fine print may include cause stating
that the laptop's warranty will be only honoured with the pre-
installed Vista version only.
5) Software compatiblity: Old XP installed hard drive "might" be an
OEM version, which is 1- forever tied to the first monthoerboard/
laptop it was install on or 2- Tweaked OEM version which is BIOS
locked.
6) Drivers: New laptop may not have the correct drivers available for
XP. Most manufacturer's have started not to include XP drivers.
7) BIOS: New laptop's BIOS might not be able to find the old hard
drive's access parameters.
With all the above possible problems, why would you "force" the Vista
laptop to XP?
8) Phyisical size: You might not even be able to install the old XP
drive into the new laptop. Not ever hard drive can fit every laptop.
