See if Drive Has Windows?

[One Cool Cow]

I recently found an old hard drive that I replaced on laptop with an SSD and I was wondering if I could check if it has windows on it? I can't remember if it does or not, haven't plugged it in or anything yet so might not even work. Thanks any help is appreciated

 

[manofchalk]

Just plug it into any desktop rig, boot up and if its formatted (which it would be if it had Windows) you should be able to see everything that's on it, inluding any old Windows installs.

 

[One Cool Cow]

Just plug it into any desktop rig, boot up and if its formatted (which it would be if it had Windows) you should be able to see everything that's on it, inluding any old Windows installs.

Will I be able to know which version of windows it has?

 

[manofchalk]

I imagine there's some way to check, maybe a .ini or .txt file somewhere that says, but I dont where you would find that.

 

[One Cool Cow]

I imagine there's some way to check, maybe a .ini or .txt file somewhere that says, but I dont where you would find that.

Well how about if i see that it does have windows could I just select that as my boot drive and see which version of windows it boots? Or just disconnect my other drives and boot up my computer?

 

[manofchalk]

Its possible that might work, but I doubt it.
Windows generally doesn't work if you change the motherboard from what its used too to something else.

You can try, but dont be surprised it it can boot.

 

[One Cool Cow]

Its possible that might work, but I doubt it.
Windows generally doesn't work if you change the motherboard from what its used too to something else.

You can try, but dont be surprised it it can boot.

Ya I remember reading that Microsoft considers a computer with a new motherboard as a new computer (basically just an excuse for you to buy windows again I assume), so that might not work, well I will plug it in then thanks.

 

[One Cool Cow]

Ah well there is some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the hard drive was registered by my PC and I could access the files, also I did see there was a folder called windows and I worked out that it was Windows Vista, but when I tried to access some larger files I noticed that grinding sound, which I know means its dying. 🙁 So I will quickly get off whatever I can from it and then wipe it clean and perhaps just use it as an extra drive or maybe just chuck it out.

 

[manofchalk]

Thats unlucky, definitely grab what you want from it now.
Due to various circumstances, I have a ton of old drives that were buried in the shed. Pulled them out and played digital archaeologist for a bit, one old IDE drive had a bunch of family photos and video on it I thought were simply just gone. The drive conked out the next day, so it was a relief that I had copied everything over when I did.