Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

harddrive

0 helpful
9 replies

by jarif93

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

is it possible to use a harddrive from a working computer to another computer,even though each computer has different hardware setup?
will the other computer boot.

9 replies

by dave.osborne

What exactly do you mean "different hardware setup" ... IDE and SCSI or just one had a DVD and the other has a CD or multiple hard drives or ?

It should be possible as long as ...

1) you have an open IDE slot on one of your cables if it is an IDE drive; or controller for SCSI
2) you OS is plug and play capable
3) it is not your primary HD (it is possible even if this is the case, just more involved)
4) in the BIOS, whichever "plug" you are hooking the HD to (primary or secondary on IDE0 or 1), make sure it is set in the BIOS to autodectect

If so, just plug in the data (IDE or SCSI) cable, power cable, make sure the jumper is set right, and turn the computer on. When you get into windows, it should see the hardware and assign it the next available drive letter. i.e. if you have one HD C: and one CD-ROM D:, then the new HD will be made E: if nothing is currently E:

Hope this helps.

-Dave

by captain krunch

Yes, you can pull a hard drive out of one computer and put it in another computer. It will boot up and presuming you are using a Windows derivative, detect the hardware differences and load the proper drivers. IT may call for the Windows Installation disk and may ask to reboot.

by dmiles

Assuming you want to add a working hard drive to another system

The hard drive jumpers need to be set to designate Master/Slave or if one hard drive as Master.

Most IDE drives are interchangable with other systems without any hardware compatibility to be considered unless the drive or system is Compaq,which may be where you are thinking that there may be a hardware problem

by thechas

If you desire to move a hard drive from one PC to another, and use it as the Boot Drive on the new, or other PC, YES, you can.

The SAFEST way to do this, is to remove ALL hardware from device manager before the last shutdown on the old PC.
That way, Windows won't attempt to install drivers for hardware that is not there.
I also recommend copying the device drivers for the new PC onto the drive before hand.
That way, you will not need to swap driver CDs in and out of the CD Drive.

NOTE: If you are running Windows XP, this does not always work.
You need to follow special precautions when moving a XP installation to new (or different) hardware.

Chas

This discussion is closed to new replies.