Transferring hard drive from one computer to another....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ismael
  • Start date Start date
I

Ismael

Hello everyone,

I would like to transfer my hard drive from my current computer to another
computer with similar computer specifications. Is there a way to do so
without reinstalling Windows, the drivers, the programs that were on the
first computer, and without reconfiguring Windows settings to my
preferences? I am running WinXP Pro.

I think but I'm not 100% sure that with Win9x if I should move/install my
hard drive from computer A to computer B, Win9x detects the new hardware and
reconfigures itself for the new computer (computer B) and I did not have to
reinstall Win9x, drivers, my programs, etc., since all my data was intact.

Any help is welcomed.

Ismael
 
Ismael said:
I would like to transfer my hard drive from my current computer to another
computer with similar computer specifications. Is there a way to do so
without reinstalling Windows, the drivers, the programs that were on the
first computer, and without reconfiguring Windows settings to my
preferences? I am running WinXP Pro.

I think but I'm not 100% sure that with Win9x if I should move/install my
hard drive from computer A to computer B, Win9x detects the new hardware and
reconfigures itself for the new computer (computer B) and I did not have to
reinstall Win9x, drivers, my programs, etc., since all my data was intact.
Click to expand...

Ismael,

please have a look at http://www.michna.com/kb/WxMove.htm.

Hans-Georg
 
Ismael said:
I would like to transfer my hard drive from my current
computer to another computer with similar computer
specifications. Is there a way to do so without reinstalling
Windows, the drivers, the programs that were on the
first computer, and without reconfiguring Windows
settings to my preferences? I am running WinXP Pro.
Click to expand...


One way is to just give it a try. Please let us know
if it works.

*TimDaniels*
 
Ismael said:
Hello everyone,

I would like to transfer my hard drive from my current computer to
another computer with similar computer specifications. Is there a
way to do so without reinstalling Windows, the drivers, the programs
that were on the first computer, and without reconfiguring Windows
settings to my preferences? I am running WinXP Pro.

I think but I'm not 100% sure that with Win9x if I should
move/install my hard drive from computer A to computer B, Win9x
detects the new hardware and reconfigures itself for the new computer
(computer B) and I did not have to reinstall Win9x, drivers, my
programs, etc., since all my data was intact.

Any help is welcomed.

Ismael
Click to expand...

Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Move XP to new hardware.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
Timothy said:
One way is to just give it a try. Please let us know
if it works.

*TimDaniels*
Click to expand...

Not necessarily good advice. If the system are very similiar, the chances
are pretty good. But if the system doesn't boot, it usually requires a clean
install and all is lost on the hard drive.
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Move XP to new hardware.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
Greetings --

Normally, assuming a retail license, unless the new motherboard is
virtually identical to the old one (same chipset, same IDE
controllers, same BIOS version, etc.), 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

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

This will probably also require re-activation. 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:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
"Bruce Chambers" on botherboard change:
Normally, assuming a retail license, unless the new
motherboard is virtually identical to the old one (same
chipset, same IDE controllers, same BIOS version, etc.),
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
Click to expand...


How does WinXP view a CPU upgrade? I'm thinking
of a Intel PII -> PowerLeap simulated PIII upgrade, and
I'd like to avoid the hassle of "repair" to the OS.

*TimDaniels*
 
Timothy Daniels said:
How does WinXP view a CPU upgrade? I'm thinking
of a Intel PII -> PowerLeap simulated PIII upgrade, and
I'd like to avoid the hassle of "repair" to the OS.
Click to expand...

Tim,

perhaps somebody else knows and replies, but until then I offer
my guess that it will work without any software repair. I have
upgraded a few processors recently and never had to change the
operating system at all.

If, against my guess, it doesn't, you have to do a repair
installation anyway, so why not try? It takes some time, but is
otherwise not so bad. I do it from time to time even without
changing the hardware.

Hans-Georg
 
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