Discussion Can I with Hard Drive???

[TdogRulez]

Hello I'm pretty new to computers. I recently picked up a Dell OptiPlex 755 SFF with no Hard Drive. I have a Hard drive laying round that I pulled out of an older computer I had. Can I use the Hard drive I pulled out of the old computer for this Dell Optiplex SFF as its main Hard drive???

 

[rgd1101]

if it is compatible

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

Can I use the Hard drive I pulled out of the old computer for this Dell Optiplex SFF as its main Hard drive?

depends on what type of hard drive,
what ports are available on the OptiPlex motherboard,
and what power cables you have available from the power supply?

if motherboard & power supply have free SATA connections it should be fine.

but if for example drive is IDE and motherboard is SATA then you would need an adapter.
the same as if drive is SATA and the power supply only has molex available, you would also need an adapter.

a better option may be to just find what you have available and buy a new SSD for your OS & applications drive.
if what you have laying around is an old slow HDD you would see a very noticeable improvement upgrading to a good SSD.

 

[TdogRulez]

I had an adapter. I turn it on and I get

Alert! System battery Voltage is low
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility
Press F5 to run onboard diagnostics


I hit F1 and I get Windows Recovery Screen Choices are Startup repair (recommended) or start Windows normally. If I hit Start Windows normally it goes to the above message again.

I hit Launch startup repair and it goes through the cycle and then at the end says Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically




This Hard Drive I'm trying to use as the only Hard Drive and Boot drive had Windows 7 I believe on it.
Do I have to Format this drive before using it?

 

[rgd1101]

yup. need a fresh os install

 

[TdogRulez]

yup. need a fresh os install

yup. need a fresh os install

Ok so format it and then install it again? I'll need a fresh copy of Windows 10?

 

[rgd1101]

that thing is so old, it doesn't even have windows 7 driver
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/optiplex-755/drivers

 

[TdogRulez]

that thing is so old, it doesn't even have windows 7 driver
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/optiplex-755/drivers

that thing is so old, it doesn't even have windows 7 driver
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/optiplex-755/drivers

The HD I'm trying to install has Windows 7 on it I believe.

 

[rgd1101]

but not install from the system. that why it is crashing

 

[TdogRulez]

but not install from the system. that why it is crashing

I bet he formatted this HD I'm trying to use before he gave it to me. I'll have to install it in this Computer I'm using as an extra HD and see if its formatted. If its not I'll Format it. I should have a copy of Windows 7 laying around somewhere.

Then I'll install it in the Dell OptiPlex 755 and a copy of Windows 7

Sound about right?

 

[rgd1101]

if the hdd was formatted, you would be able to get the repair windows option.

if there nothing to save on this hdd. put it in the optiplex 755 and install windows 7.
at the beginning of the install should give you option to delete all partition and start fresh.
and hope it work

 

[TdogRulez]

So far I get this:

Windows Failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix this problem:

1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer
2.chose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. click "Repair your computer."

If you do not have the disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.


Status 0xc000000f

Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.


Any ideas?????

 

[rgd1101]

is this when you do a fresh os install? l

 

[TdogRulez]

is this when you do a fresh os install? l

After installing Windows 7 on a USB flash drive I got it installed ;-)
Ok that scared me for a minute. Said no boot device available.
I had to go into Bios and switch USB to the Sata Drive.
See I'm learning! ;-)

Next I build a gaming PC ;-) Where to begin....Where to Begin.... I like the Case with this guy on it 👽
Then I suppose I need a mother board, some ram, a power supply, An intel Core processor, and that's about it I would imagine.

So far I upgraded "Sort of" a Dell Optiplex that had no HD or CD drive or Windows lol And now it has all that ;-)

rgd1101 Thank You for all your help! Much appreciated. And JohnBonhamsGhost as well. But rgd1101 you really helped A lot ;-)

I have so much to learn. I'm Excited!