Switching hard disks

  • Thread starter Thread starter IC
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I

IC

I have 2 identical PCs running XP Pro. Will there be any problems if I
switch hard disks between them? Will XP see it as a complete change of
hardware, even though the configuration is the same?
 
IC said:
I have 2 identical PCs running XP Pro. Will there be any problems if I
switch hard disks between them? Will XP see it as a complete change of
hardware, even though the configuration is the same?
Click to expand...

Depends on how identical they are. No two PCs can be completely identical as
things like the MAC address will always be different, as are things like
serial numbers. If the motherboards are the same model, bios, and IDE
controller, you'll probably be able to boot and run fine, but you may need
to activate.

If these are OEM computers, just because the model number is the same, it
doesn't mean the internal components are the same. Some of the OEMs are
worse at this than others, but it's not unusual to see differences. If you
bought them at the same time, there's a better chance they'll be the same,
but it's no guarantee. Whether a hard drive swap will work or not depends on
how the OEM customized their install.
 
D.Currie said:
Depends on how identical they are. No two PCs can be completely identical as
things like the MAC address will always be different, as are things like
serial numbers. If the motherboards are the same model, bios, and IDE
controller, you'll probably be able to boot and run fine, but you may need
to activate.

If you
bought them at the same time, there's a better chance they'll be the same,
Click to expand...

The machines are from Dell, who claim to build machines tpo order. As the
machines were ordered at the same time, there's a fairly good chance they
are identically configured. That just leaves things like serial numbers.

If I ignore any prompt to activate after switching the drives, then switch
them back, will I be expected to activate on the original machine? I may
need to switch to try to solve a problem with image acquisition from
external hardware, but if it makes no difference, switching back would be
easier than having to activate.
 
|
| | >
| > | > >I have 2 identical PCs running XP Pro. Will there be any problems if I
| > > switch hard disks between them? Will XP see it as a complete change
of
| > > hardware, even though the configuration is the same?
| > >
| > >
| >
| > Depends on how identical they are. No two PCs can be completely
identical
| as
| > things like the MAC address will always be different, as are things
like
| > serial numbers. If the motherboards are the same model, bios, and IDE
| > controller, you'll probably be able to boot and run fine, but you may
need
| > to activate.
| >
| > If you
| > bought them at the same time, there's a better chance they'll be the
same,
| >
|
| The machines are from Dell, who claim to build machines tpo order. As the
| machines were ordered at the same time, there's a fairly good chance they
| are identically configured. That just leaves things like serial numbers.
|
| If I ignore any prompt to activate after switching the drives, then
switch
| them back, will I be expected to activate on the original machine? I may
| need to switch to try to solve a problem with image acquisition from
| external hardware, but if it makes no difference, switching back would be
| easier than having to activate.

You are playing with a snake, it may not bite you , but the probabilities
that it will are high.
 
IC said:
The machines are from Dell, who claim to build machines tpo order. As the
machines were ordered at the same time, there's a fairly good chance they
are identically configured. That just leaves things like serial numbers.

If I ignore any prompt to activate after switching the drives, then switch
them back, will I be expected to activate on the original machine? I may
need to switch to try to solve a problem with image acquisition from
external hardware, but if it makes no difference, switching back would be
easier than having to activate.
Click to expand...
If you need to activate, you probably won't be able to ignore it, you'll
have to activate before you log on. And if you have to activate the, you'll
have to do it again when the drive goes back in.

It might work, it might not.
 
D.Currie said:
If you need to activate, you probably won't be able to ignore it, you'll
have to activate before you log on.
Click to expand...

I assumed the prompt to activate would be similar to that of a new
installation (ie 30 days). If it is that case that I need to activate before
logging on, I'll switch the drive straight back and forget the idea, I
think.
And if you have to activate the, you'll
have to do it again when the drive goes back in.
Click to expand...

That goes without saying though, if I activate, I probably won't bother
switching the drives back.

It might work, it might not.
Click to expand...

Very reassuring :-)
 
IC said:
I assumed the prompt to activate would be similar to that of a new
installation (ie 30 days). If it is that case that I need to activate
before
logging on, I'll switch the drive straight back and forget the idea, I
think.


That goes without saying though, if I activate, I probably won't bother
switching the drives back.



Very reassuring :-)
Click to expand...
30 days is for a new install, but repair installs or when it sees new
hardware usually trigger an immediate need for activation. On the other had,
I just had one that needed activation in 4 days, which was a quite pleasant
change.
 
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