Can I use an old hard drive with windows as a secondary drive in a new pc

[michaelc33132]

Hi there

I am planning to build a new pc in the near future. I currently have two hard drives one which has windows 10 installed on it.

I am planning to get an ssd to use as the main drive, can I transfer my old hard drives to the new pc without any problems and without LOSING DATA.

I heard of people having boot errors when their new hard drive has windows installed on it and their old drives also has windows installed.

Would I have to do anything before I install the old hard drives or is it just plug in and its ready to go and would all the data be retained?

Thanks for reading

 

[Wolfshadw]

You cannot take a hard drive with Windows installed from one computer to another and expect it to work. All the hardware which Windows communicates has changed and Windows doesn't know how to communicate, where and what the new hard ware is.

What you will need to do is save your data to a backup storage device. Your second hard drive that does not have Windows installed should be fine. Then build your computer with ONLY the SSD connected and perform a clean install of Windows, drivers, and updates. Once that is complete, you can reconnect the drive that has your saved data on it. Once your system is up and running the way you want it (and you have a backup/restore point set up), then you can add the second hard drive with the old OS and format it to remove the old OS/programs.

-Wolf sends

 

[Cyanide2x4]

You are not going to lose any data and you can definitely use the old drive on a new build (of course provided the drive's connection is supported by the new build). There should not be any interference if you set your BOOT priorities properly (i.e. set the new drive to be the first bootable device).

Since you mentioned you intend to use an SSD as your main drive, I assume that that's where you are going to have your Windows installed. In that case the entire process is much easier: the only important thing you need to do, to be on the safest possible side, is to first connect your NEW drive to your NEW build and install Windows and get everything in order. Then shutdown the computer and connect your old drive. Then make sure you immediately set BOOT priorities from BIOS, i.e. set your NEW drive to be the FIRST one in the booting order and do NOT add the old drive anywhere into the booting priority menu.

 

[michaelc33132]

OK I get two sorta opposing answers. So I can back up my data but I am wondering if I can directly transfer the old hdd to the new pc if both have Windows. Also I can get a transfer cable to transfer data but I have never used one before. Can someone explain to me how to use one of these.

Thanks

 

[Wolfshadw]

You cannot take a hard drive with Windows installed from one computer to another and expect it to work. All the hardware which Windows communicates has changed and Windows doesn't know how to communicate, where and what the new hard ware is.

Perhaps I should clarify.

You cannot take a hard drive with Windows installed from one computer to another and expect Windows to work. The hard drive, itself, will work just fine.

-Wolf sends

 

[michaelc33132]

You cannot take a hard drive with Windows installed from one computer to another and expect it to work. All the hardware which Windows communicates has changed and Windows doesn't know how to communicate, where and what the new hard ware is.

Perhaps I should clarify.

You cannot take a hard drive with Windows installed from one computer to another and expect Windows to work. The hard drive, itself, will work just fine.

I understand this but did you read the other guys response. He says to install windows on the ssd then put the old hdd drive with windows in the pc then change boot priorities. Also I am not putting the old windows hdd as the main boot drive, am getting a ssd. I am asking if I have to do anything about the old drive with windows such as format it or is it plug in and go and I can use it

Thanks

-Wolf sends

 

[Karadjgne]

If I may, your hdd in the old pc is full of drivers for the old motherboard, software installed that recognises C as the primary drive with OS, a registry saved to that drive that is all about what goes where etc. By moving the hdd to a new pc, as is, you'll have so many conflicts with dual registries software looking for addresses that don't exist, etc that it's basically going to create all kinds of headaches unless you first clone that hdd to the ssd, then wipe everything from the hdd.

Will it work? Absolutely, but only after other steps are taken first. Just a simple move will not work very well, even if the hdd is still primary C drive, windows itself will have an issue with driver conflicts between the 2 different motherboards and it's related drivers.

In essence, you didn't get opposing or conflicting answers, all of the above are correct, from different perspectives.

 

[michaelc33132]

If I may, your hdd in the old pc is full of drivers for the old motherboard, software installed that recognises C as the primary drive with OS, a registry saved to that drive that is all about what goes where etc. By moving the hdd to a new pc, as is, you'll have so many conflicts with dual registries software looking for addresses that don't exist, etc that it's basically going to create all kinds of headaches unless you first clone that hdd to the ssd, then wipe everything from the hdd.

Will it work? Absolutely, but only after other steps are taken first. Just a simple move will not work very well, even if the hdd is still primary C drive, windows itself will have an issue with driver conflicts between the 2 different motherboards and it's related drivers.

In essence, you didn't get opposing or conflicting answers, all of the above are correct, from different perspectives.

This is the most clear response yet so thanks. Can you suggest how I handle this situation? You did mention cloning., can you explain this to me as I have never done that before.

 

[Karadjgne]

Google it. It's a lot of reading.

Basically it's copying exactly everything from one drive to another, and that includes all the stuff that you don't normally see. A clone. A direct duplicate. There's also Migration, which is almost the same thing but more of a physical move than a copy. The migration software that comes with (you can also dl it) Samsung SSDs is very good, it rearranges the addresses and other stuff for you so that when it's done it's like the old hdd never existed. WD has a similar tool.

But it can be a lengthy process, depending on just what's gotta be done, and there's no guarantee on perfection, so most will simply start over with a brand new fresh copy of windows and add any software necessary. Then when all that's done, just migrate anything that's on the hdd that's needed, like documents folder or music or photos, anything but what's involved with windows itself.

 

[YashRaj96]

Hi,
I've an Old Hard drive from Dell Laptop..And now i bought an Asus Rog laptop.As my new laptop have only ssd installed So I just want to add the old Hard drive to my Lappy.I don't want to copy old OS or C drive..I just want to use the old ones' other drive(F,G,H)...I'd pirated OS installed on Old Laptop .But the Genuine is installed on New One..So i don't want to mess with any sytem files or something.
Please suggest me what should i do??

 

[Wolfshadw]

Start a new thread as this one is over a year old...

Also, Tom's Hardware does not support software piracy in any way, shape, or form, so I'd probably not bring that up and just say you don't need the OS from the old laptop.

Wolfshadw
Moderator