Swapping XP Pro and Home

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andreww
  • Start date Start date
Andreww said:
Hi - I have 2 PC's, one with home and one with Pro.

I want to swap them around, i.e. home-Pro and Pro-home.

Can this be done?

Can I just swap Hard Disks?
Click to expand...
No you can't swap hard drives ,
Unless both computers are identical , same model/motherboard
Click to expand...
Roadrunner,

You can - in fact - do what the OP was asking about.

Your answer of , "No you can't swap hard drives , Unless both
computers are identical , same model/motherboard" was too
conclusive and incorrect because of that. The whole thread boils
down to that. The OP asked if there was a way to swap the hard
drives/operating system on the two computers they have - and the answer
is, "Several ways - some better than others -
some less destructive than others and ALL requiring a little
planning/preparation - just to be safe."

It could be the OP has two very similar systems. For example. Two
Dell Optiplex systems.. like a GX240 and a GX260. Sometimes -
depending on components - it is possible to just "swap" drives and
everything go along fine. One should never expect that. One
should always plan for the worst and expect the best. Covers all
bases. So if the OP made full backups (even perhaps images) of the
two systems and swapped the drives - they may be okay - as it
*might* just work.
If that doesn't work and the OP has both full install CDs from both
systems (actual Windows XP installation - not recovery - CDs) -
then a repair install is an option. The preparation for this would
be slipstreaming those CDs with SP2 and still performing the backup
of both systems before doing any swapping. They then can swap the
systems (by image application or hard drive swap) and before they
boot the first time with their new hard drives - perform the repair
installation with the corresponding CD that goes with said
image/drive. Most of the time this works fine - but if it doesn't
- that is what the backups were for.
Another option would to be actual clean installs. Backup all the
data (notice the trend on the backups?) and do clean installs with
the OS you want on each machine.

Now - all of that assumes retail licensing for the sake of
simplicity - because this is not a thread about licensing issues
nor should it turn into one. OEM would just complicate the
discussion.
Click to expand...

RoadRunner wrote:
Shenan it would seem you can't read what Andreww has ask , He ask
whether he can swap the drives , He didn't say if there WAYS to
make it load , I'm assuming he talking about just swapping the
drive and having them to load up without any problems , At which
there will be unless the computer are identical in the hardware
department
Click to expand...
<snip>

I read and comprehended what AndrewW wrote just fine.

AndrewW asked if they could just swap hard disk drives and that's it..
Never implying there might not be extra steps - in fact more or less
"asking" if there might be more to it.
Thus the "?" at the end. Curiosity and need led to the question. No where
in that did AndrewW indicate a lack of willingness to take the next step
that may be necessary.. In fact - by even venturing to ask, the implication
is there that AndrewW might think they are going to need more information in
order to complete the task completely and successfully. A noble quality.

The answer is that they CAN do this.. they CAN just "swap hard disks". This
is a physical possibility. The extra steps come in because they (AndrewW)
may want to boot to the Windows XP.

Minimal work for maximum output. The normal human endeavor.

One of your assumptions is more than likely correct. AndrewW would likely
want it to load without trouble/problems.
Another of your assumptions (that AndrewW is incapable or unwilling to do
extra work) is stretching the assumption thing a bit, in my opinion.

AndrewW had enough follow-through and motivation to post the question.
AndrewW is thus, seeking answers to the dillema in which AndrewW finds
themself. Therefore - as AndrewW has shown the necessary motivation to WANT
to learn - it would be better to tell them the truth of it all. They can -
with minimal effort (but effort is required) - swap the hard drives, perform
a repair install with functioning updated actual installation media - and
use their computers as they desire - swapping which OS was on which
computer. And that is just ONE of the many ways to accomplish what AndrewW
is asking.

If someone came to me and asked, "Can I fit that
slightly-larger-than-the-circular-hole-diameter square peg in that circular
hole?" the realistic answer is "Yes - with effort and some carving - it will
fit." Now if they asked, "Can I fit that
slightly-larger-than-the-circular-hole-diameter square peg in that circular
hole and have it fit perfectly, touching all sides (perhaps water-tight),
without modification of either the square peg or the circular hole?" - the
answer would be "No." In other words - you read too much specificity in the
original question, IMHO.
 
If you motherboard has the same chipset and similar hd controllers -- yes!
I still recommend a repair install, but an XP install will boot on similar hardware.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-
The answer still isn't No. I've successfully moved harddrives to other computers, without having to do a repair install at all.


So Kurt you are saying you can install your hard drive on my computer and its going to boot up without any problems ?

Hey Andreww go ahead and do as Kurt is telling you , Let me know how things goes later on will you ...
 
RoadRunner said:
Its a to bad your not in the eastern parts of the states , I sure
would love to show you a few things
Click to expand...

Who said that I wasn't "in the eastern parts of the states?" All I told
you is where my mother's womb was when she gave birth to me. That is
where I'm "from." Where I am now, is an entirely different matter.

Have you had enough yet, or would you care to demonstrate some more of
your idiocy for the group? :-p

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."
 
Any time and place in the east bud but , Though I figure your not a man
enough to step up to the plate , Your just one of them that hides behind a
computer and gives insults to others and try to get others going , Why would
I think this ? Because you need to have the last comment , I rather stop
adding my comments to you which I now will do and rather would like to meet
up with you but I no that will never happen , You don't have the balls for
it ...
 
Bruce:
My experience is *not* "somewhat limited". I've worked in this business for
more than ten years now. I've personally built or participated in the
building of at least perhaps 1,000 PCs, and maintained and repaired
thousands of PCs during this time.

With respect to the issue at hand I've given you and others who might be
interested in the issue under discussion not only *my* experiences, but the
experiences of technicians with whom I've worked with over the years and
support the conclusions I've stated.

And should you need more, here it is...

About a year or so ago in the shop in which I was working at the time, this
subject came up since we continually came across on the net these cautionary
notes about the supposed problem involving making an initial boot from a HD
transferred to a new machine - the supposed problem being that in the event
the initial boot failed (the usual scenario), this would subsequently cause
a failed Repair install because somehow the Repair process would become
adversely affected. Presumably had there not been an initial boot attempt,
the Repair install process would not be so adversely affected and conclude
successfully. None of the technicians, including myself, (to our knowledge)
had experienced this dilemma, but since we heard this caveat so often we
decided to conduct some informal tests to determine if there was any
validity to it.

Our standard operating procedure was to always clone the contents of a HD
and use the clone when making any significant changes to the drive, so in
the event something went wrong we would always have the "original" to fall
back to. Usually we would use whatever HD happened to be lying around in the
shop, but for this "experiment" we tried, inasmuch as possible, to find the
same HD as the original.

Over about three months or so (as I recall), we worked with about 20
different PCs (a variety of motherboards/chipsets) re this issue. We used
the cloned HD in making the transfer to the new machine. If the initial boot
failed, we went, of course, to a Repair install. If the Repair install
failed, we then used the original HD and again attempted another Repair
install. In every case - I can't recall the number but I would guess it was
a dozen or so times - if the Repair install failed with the cloned HD, it
failed with the original HD.

In every case where the Repair installation was successful with the cloned
HD, it was similarly successful with the original HD.

Admittedly in view of the relatively small number of times we conducted
these "experiments" a case could be made that the results were not
definitive by a long shot. But together with our own experience we were
satisfied in our own minds that there is no negative implication in
undertaking an initial boot with a HD transferred to a different machine.

I might add that I've discussed this issue with many other PC technicians
and to a person their experiences parallel my own.
Anna
 
RoadRunner said:
Any time and place in the east bud but , Though I figure your not a
man enough to step up to the plate , Your just one of them that
hides behind a computer and gives insults to others and try to get
others going , Why would I think this ? Because you need to have
the last comment , I rather stop adding my comments to you which I
now will do and rather would like to meet up with you but I no that
will never happen , You don't have the balls for it ...
Click to expand...

All I can say is.. Wow.
All that because of a disagreement on a newsgroup?
How's daily life?
 
No Shenan its not all that because of a disagreement , Its about manners ,
which some have and some don't , There no call for insults regardless whom
the person might be and when someone is being insulted ? That person should
have the rights to defend his or her self , I myself whether I win or lose
like to do this the old fashion way , If you know what I mean ... The END
 
RoadRunner said:
No Shenan its not all that because of a disagreement , Its about
manners , which some have and some don't , There no call for insults
regardless whom the person might be and when someone is being
insulted ? That person should have the rights to defend his or her
self , I myself whether I win or lose like to do this the old fashion
way , If you know what I mean ... The END
Click to expand...

Because you don't have the brains to do it any other way than being a
Neanderthal.

And if you really want to find me, my address was posted in this group
by another idiot, so if you know how to use Google, you can find it out.
My guess is that you are too stupid and/or chicken to do it!

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."
 
RoadRunner said:
No Shenan its not all that because of a disagreement , Its about
manners , which some have and some don't , There no call for insults
regardless whom the person might be and when someone is being
insulted ? That person should have the rights to defend his or her
self , I myself whether I win or lose like to do this the old fashion
way , If you know what I mean ... The END "Shenan Stanley"
Click to expand...

I don't want to rub salt in the wound but a few posts back you were chiding
Kurt for wanting to get the last word.
 
You moron, Kurt has his full address in his signature.
Jupitor Florida....eastern US.

RoadRunner wrote:
|| Any time and place in the east bud but , Though I figure your not a
|| man enough to step up to the plate , Your just one of them that
|| hides behind a computer and gives insults to others and try to get
|| others going , Why would I think this ? Because you need to have the
|| last comment , I rather stop adding my comments to you which I now
|| will do and rather would like to meet up with you but I no that will
|| never happen , You don't have the balls for it ...
||
|| message ||| RoadRunner wrote:
|||
|||| message ||||| RoadRunner wrote:
|||||
|||||| Andreww wrote:
|||||| Hi - I have 2 PC's, one with home and one with Pro.
||||||
|||||| I want to swap them around, i.e. home-Pro and Pro-home.
||||||
|||||| Can this be done?
||||||
|||||| Can I just swap Hard Disks?
||||||
||||||
|||||| Shenan it would seem you can't read what Andreww has ask ,
|||||
||||| He reads better than you, Cartoon Character.
|||||
|||||| He ask
|||||| whether he can swap the drives ,
|||||
||||| He can.
|||||
|||||| He didn't say if there WAYS to make
|||||| it load , I'm assuming he talking about just swapping the drive
|||||| and having them to load up
|||||
||||| It is a possibility, as both Sheenan and Anna have both stated.
|||||
|||||| without any problems ,
|||||
||||| Please quote where the OP said that.
|||||
|||||| At which there will be
|||||| unless the computer are identical in the hardware department
|||||
||||| BS! You don't know what you are talking about.
|||||
|||||| Kurt you have a big mouth with your insults ,
|||||
||||| You insult yourself the longer you keep spouting your utter
||||| nonsense.
|||||
|||||| I would love to show
|||||| you the old fashion style in how we handle guys like you ,
|||||
||||| Don't worry, I already know how idiots try to handle those that
||||| they know are wiser than them.
|||||
|||||| Just for
|||||| the fun of it what part of the states might you be from ?
|||||
||||| My mother's womb, and that happened to be in Nevada at the time
||||| of my birth. :-p
|||||
|||| Its a to bad your not in the eastern parts of the states , I sure
|||| would love to show you a few things
|||
||| Who said that I wasn't "in the eastern parts of the states?" All I
||| told you is where my mother's womb was when she gave birth to me.
||| That is where I'm "from." Where I am now, is an entirely different
||| matter.
|||
||| Have you had enough yet, or would you care to demonstrate some more
||| of your idiocy for the group? :-p
|||
||| --
||| Peace!
||| Kurt Kirsch
||| Self-anointed Moderator
||| http://microscum.com
||| "It'll soon shake your Windows
||| And rattle your walls
||| For the times they are a-changin'."
 
Anna said:
Bruce:
My experience is *not* "somewhat limited". I've worked in this business for
more than ten years now. I've personally built or participated in the
building of at least perhaps 1,000 PCs, and maintained and repaired
thousands of PCs during this time.

With respect to the issue at hand I've given you and others who might be
interested in the issue under discussion not only *my* experiences, but the
experiences of technicians with whom I've worked with over the years and
support the conclusions I've stated.
Click to expand...


Same here, actually.

And should you need more, here it is...
Click to expand...


We're both speaking from experience and using therefore anecdotal
evidence; no need for details. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it
doesn't. I've never denied that.

I might add that I've discussed this issue with many other PC technicians
and to a person their experiences parallel my own.
Anna
Click to expand...

Ditto, verbatim. Until now, every experienced technician with whom
I've discussed this matter has had pretty much the same experiences that
I've had, and agree that the repair prior to booting is generally the
most successful technique for getting the user up and running with the
minimum of downtime.

I guess we'll just have to "agree to disagree."


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
 
RoadRunner said:
Any time and place in the east bud but , Though I figure your not a man
enough to step up to the plate , Your just one of them that hides behind a
computer and gives insults to others and try to get others going , Why would
I think this ? Because you need to have the last comment , I rather stop
adding my comments to you which I now will do and rather would like to meet
up with you but I no that will never happen , You don't have the balls for
it ...
Click to expand...

So in your family they solved disagreements with violence? That doesn't
take balls, it only takes anger, ignorance and stems from insecurity.
People don't pound on each other because they are superior, they pound
on each other because they feel inferior and are trying to prove
otherwise to themselves. It never works and only perpetuates the cycle
of violence.

Steve N.
 
RoadRunner said:
No Shenan its not all that because of a disagreement , Its about manners ,
which some have and some don't , There no call for insults regardless whom
the person might be and when someone is being insulted ? That person should
have the rights to defend his or her self , I myself whether I win or lose
like to do this the old fashion way , If you know what I mean ... The END
Click to expand...

So it's good manners to resort to threats of physical violence? Being
insulted is no cause to "defend" oneself using violence or threats of
violence.

I feel sorry for you. I'm sorry you grew up that way. It has nothing to
do with "old fashion".

Steve N.
 
Folks - Please... don't get so upset with each other, it wasn't that
important.

Thanks for all the responses though!!

AndrewW

RoadRunner said:
No Shenan its not all that because of a disagreement , Its about manners ,
which some have and some don't , There no call for insults regardless whom
the person might be and when someone is being insulted ? That person should
have the rights to defend his or her self , I myself whether I win or lose
like to do this the old fashion way , If you know what I mean ... The END
Click to expand...

So it's good manners to resort to threats of physical violence? Being
insulted is no cause to "defend" oneself using violence or threats of
violence.

I feel sorry for you. I'm sorry you grew up that way. It has nothing to
do with "old fashion".

Steve N.
Click to expand...
 
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