Old into new

[doostein]

So I have a windows 7 pca new one that has windows 7 also. Is there a way to move the old hard

 

[kanewolf]

It is usually best to perform a clean install of Windows. You get the best performance and least amount of problems with a clean install.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

No, you can't run Windows that's on the old hard drive on your new PC, totally different hardware will cause a whole bucket-load of problems, plus it's illegal to use a factory pre-installed OS on a different computer.

You can install the old hard drive as a storage drive on your new PC but you will have to install your applications & games from scratch using the installation media or setup packages that you used to install them before. This is because the Windows installed on your new PC knows nothing about those apps & games, there are no keys or entries related to them in the registry, no support files in the Windows folder, and no program folders related to them.

 

[doostein]

Well if i install the old hard drive on the new computer as storage would i be able to keep the documents, music, and pictures already on the hard drive or do I need to completely format the old one to use it?

 

[kanewolf]

Well if i install the old hard drive on the new computer as storage would i be able to keep the documents, music, and pictures already on the hard drive or do I need to completely format the old one to use it?

You can use it as a data drive. You will want to fully install windows onto your new media without the old drive connected. Get your windows updates done then power down and connect the old hard drive. Make sure it is not in the boot order in the BIOS.

 

[doostein]

Okay. Thanks for the help

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Well if i install the old hard drive on the new computer as storage would i be able to keep the documents, music, and pictures already on the hard drive or do I need to completely format the old one to use it?

Anything that is just your data (eg documents, pictures, videos) can be left on the old hard drive and can be opened on your new PC. Anything else on the old drive that you don't want, just delete it. Formatting not necessary although it's preferable since it will ensure all the unwanted cr*p has gone, but you'll need to move your data off it first if you don't have it backed up anywhere (not a good position to be in).