Using someone elses harddrive

[Jayyson]

I was wondering if i could just take the hard drive out of one of my old computers and use it in my new computer. If possible, is there any neccessary steps that i must take in order for my computer to boot properly?

 

[kippohippo]

Windows operating systems are tied to MOBO's. If you are wishing to use the HDD from one PC to another you will have to re-activate windows. If not and you plan to do a fresh install of windows then you can just partition the HDD and then you should be good to go.

 

[ThatVietGuy]

If you're thinking of moving a hard drive with a version of Windows installed, stop. It will not work properly and you'll have to install a fresh copy of Windows to guarantee full functionality.

 

[i7Baby]

You can do that but you'll have to update all the hardware drivers to match the new hardware.

It should boot but in Windows may want to change drivers.

 

[Jayyson]

If you're thinking of moving a hard drive with a version of Windows installed, stop. It will not work properly and you'll have to install a fresh copy of Windows to guarantee full functionality.

Yes this hard drive already has window xp installed and i would not mind installing a fresh copy of windows 7 onto this hard drive which i assume would wipe out everything on the hard drive as well. Should i just place the hard drive in, make sure the mobo boots on the hard drive and insert the windows 7 installation disk?

 

[photonboy]

You can do that but you'll have to update all the hardware drivers to match the new hardware.

It should boot but in Windows may want to change drivers.

STOP.
1) As said, Windows is tied to the motherboard so it wouldn't even be legal so it would fail Activation (if he could even boot), and

2) It's an old PC of his so unlikely to even be a similar chipset (and other hardware) so the chances of properly getting it to work aren't high anyway.

 

[ThatVietGuy]

If you're thinking of moving a hard drive with a version of Windows installed, stop. It will not work properly and you'll have to install a fresh copy of Windows to guarantee full functionality.

Yes this hard drive already has window xp installed and i would not mind installing a fresh copy of windows 7 onto this hard drive which i assume would wipe out everything on the hard drive as well. Should i just place the hard drive in, make sure the mobo boots on the hard drive and insert the windows 7 installation disk?

Install the drive, boot to BIOS, make sure the boot sequence is set to the optical drive first, insert the W7 disk, and install Windows when it prompts you to.

 

[Tradesman1]

Just put the drive in and start the Win7 install, it will ask if you want to Format the drive, tell it yes (and will want quick format, standard takes quite a while