Transferring an existing WindowsXP system to another PC

  • Thread starter Thread starter Leftred
  • Start date Start date
L

Leftred

Using WindowsXP Home SP2.

I transferred a Hard Drive which contained an existing WindowsXP system from
my old PC into a new upgraded PC and tried to boot the system.

I thought that it would at least boot and open Windows with a default driver
for the video card and that I could then load the correct drivers for the
motherboard and other devices. Or that Windows would find most of the
devices and have drivers available.

The result was that the Bios showed normal reports, but the system then
stopped with a small cursor showing in the top left corner of the monitor
screen.

Should I have been able to get the system to boot? If not, what should I
have done?

Any help would be appreciated.

Ian
 
You would need to run a repair install of win.
This assumes the win installation on the old hd is not locked to the
original hw, as it would be if it was an OEM installation.
 
Leftred said:
Should I have been able to get the system to boot?
Click to expand...

Maybe in safe mode.
If not, what should I have done?
Click to expand...

Perform a repair install and install all necessary drivers for that main-
board/hardware. Re-install the available Windows updates when done.
 
Leftred said:
Using WindowsXP Home SP2.

I transferred a Hard Drive which contained an existing WindowsXP system from
my old PC into a new upgraded PC and tried to boot the system.

I thought that it would at least boot and open Windows with a default driver
for the video card and that I could then load the correct drivers for the
motherboard and other devices. Or that Windows would find most of the
devices and have drivers available.

The result was that the Bios showed normal reports, but the system then
stopped with a small cursor showing in the top left corner of the monitor
screen.

Should I have been able to get the system to boot? If not, what should I
have done?

Any help would be appreciated.

Ian
Click to expand...


Normally, and assuming a retail license (many factory-installed OEM
installations are BIOS-locked to a specific chipset and therefore are
*not* transferable to a new motherboard - check yours before starting),
unless the new motherboard is virtually identical (same chipset, same
IDE controllers, same BIOS version, etc.) to the one on which the WinXP
installation was originally performed, you'll need to perform a repair
(a.k.a. in-place upgrade) installation, at the very least:

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

Changing a Motherboard or Moving a Hard Drive with WinXP Installed
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

The "why" is quite simple, really, and has nothing to do with
licensing issues, per se; it's a purely technical matter, at this point.
You've pulled the proverbial hardware rug out from under the OS. (If
you don't like -- or get -- the rug analogy, think of it as picking up a
Cape Cod style home and then setting it down onto a Ranch style
foundation. It just isn't going to fit.) WinXP, like Win2K before it,
is not nearly as "promiscuous" as Win9x when it comes to accepting any
old hardware configuration you throw at it. On installation it
"tailors" itself to the specific hardware found. This is one of the
reasons that the entire WinNT/2K/XP OS family is so much more stable
than the Win9x group.

As always when undertaking such a significant change, back up any
important data before starting.

This will also probably require re-activation, unless you have a
Volume Licensed version of WinXP Pro installed. If it's been more than
120 days since you last activated that specific Product Key, you'll most
likely be able to activate via the Internet without problem. If it's
been less, you might have to make a 5 minute phone call.



--

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

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
Leftred said:
Using WindowsXP Home SP2.

I transferred a Hard Drive which contained an existing WindowsXP system
from my old PC into a new upgraded PC and tried to boot the system.

I thought that it would at least boot and open Windows with a default
driver for the video card and that I could then load the correct drivers
for the motherboard and other devices. Or that Windows would find most of
the devices and have drivers available.

The result was that the Bios showed normal reports, but the system then
stopped with a small cursor showing in the top left corner of the monitor
screen.

Should I have been able to get the system to boot? If not, what should I
have done?

Any help would be appreciated.

Ian
Click to expand...
Thankyou all for your responses.
I suspected that a repair install was necessary, but was looking for an
easier method because, as Bruce suggests, I was familiar with being able to
switch drives using Win98. I do appreciate the effort taken to assist me.
Thanks,
Ian
 
Back
Top