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Building a computer

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by wahchee2001

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I recently took my hdd from my other computer to fix it in a old computer (Celeron 566E processor)which was working condition. Now there are nothing left in the motherboard. I fix 2 stick of RAM and fixed this Quantum LM20 hdd to it. I tried to to boot up the PC. The boot up show the Hard drive but it will not load the XP which is in this hdd. (My OS. XP Pro SP2.P3.1GHz.which this 20GB.hdd was.) fixing it to the celeron processor with CW35E motherboard. I wish to know what went wrong is it need some thing to added to make it work. In the CMOS set up it show the hdd was there. There was no beep post or any error message. Kindly and hope somone will guide me to it. Thanks.

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by older mycroft

You can transfer the old HDD to a new computer BUT you can only use it as a slave.

If you are trying to boot from it, this will not work, since the 'new' computer has a different motherboard and requires different drivers for its peripheral components.

You will have to do a complete install in situ for it to work properly.

by wahchee2001

Thanks for the quick respond. I wish to ask if at the present setup as there is no extra cards fixed. Only fixed are a cd-rom and floppy drive in which it seem not working even when I put in a bootable cd. I will be much appreciate if you can let me know how to setup, the cable of the IDE and FLOPPY DRIVE. I may not fix correctly the cables or something. Thanks.

by bradaaa7

I've moved Hard Disk Drives from one PC to another many times. If you are moving a Disk Drive containing Windows XP from one PC to another PC, getting the HDD to boot is the least of your worries. :-)

In most cases, with IDE disk drives, the trouble comes from the Master/Slave settings on the Hard Disk Drive. I think the Master/Slave settings hold true on both EIDE, and SATA disk drive interfaces. If the new HDD is the only disk on the interface cable, confirm that the interface cable is connected to the Primary connector on the motherboard and the Disk Drive is set as "Master" or "Auto Detect". If you are using and EIDE interface, and have an IDE CD-ROM on the same chain, make sure the CD-ROM is set to "slave" and the HDD is set to "master". Read the manual or manufacturers website for setting configurations.

Next, check your BIOS. In some BIOS you have to specify the bootup sequence. Just because the motherboard recognizes the HDD, it doesn't mean it will use that HDD as a boot drive. You must make sure that the BIOS will use the Primary HDD as the boot device. Refer to your motherboard manual, or check the manufactures website.

Lastly, if you are using an SATA drive, make sure you are using only *ONE* power connector. I think some SATA drives accept both the old DIN type connectors and a newer style power connector. Only use *ONE* power connector.

Once you get the PC to boot to the new HDD Windows XP will force you to run the online Activation again. Also, you may need to install (or allow Windows XP to install) the myriad motherboard and hardware drivers located in the new PC. Of course, the disk drive will still have the clutter from the old drivers, so you may experience some hardware driver conflicts.

Best of luck.

by genera-nation

Old Mycroft is correct.

Out if interest, what or who gave you the impression that you could just swap the hard drive in the first place?

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