Will an installed harddisk work an other pc?

[chrisssj2]

Can you copy an entire harddrive content to use for an other pc meaning other hardware configuration.

For example you save the harddisk when you buy a new pc. And then put the new harddisk in the new pc.

Would your windows installation still work? (because of all the differen devices)

[BinarySlave]

I never would recommend this.
There are simply too much things to take care of. (Yes, too much to just name a few)
It's way faster to do a new, clean install. Even if you have 20 programs to install again.

[Titus03]

Seconded. Clean install is best for that case.

I have done some experiments by moving a HDD with installed Windows to another PC. Windows 98 still worked and needed just to switch some drivers, but XP gone totally crazy.

[GeominorAI]

Even if Windows manages to boot and start up despite the large mismatch with the saved hardware configurations and drivers, the Windows product activation will not be preserved due to the different hardware signatures.

[Mad]

I saw a guide on how to do this once with XP.
You have to mess with the HAL files, so it would be driverless.
Too much trouble if you ask me.

EDIT: Found the article, but in portuguese. But im pretty sure you can find something similar in english.
http://www.guiadohardware.net/dicas/mudando-hardware-windows.html

[VT-Vincent]

It depends how similar the hardware on the new computer is... if they share the same or a similar chipset and components, it will probably boot but any hardware that doesn't match up will need drivers reinstalled. In most cases though, the hardware will be significantly different and it will usually just blue screen at boot.

As mentioned before, transplanting an OS is not a good idea. Even if it works, you will probably hit issues later on down the road. You are best off backing everything up and reinstalling on the new computer.

[Squall-Leonhart]

I saw a guide on how to do this once with XP.
You have to mess with the HAL files, so it would be driverless.
Too much trouble if you ask me.

EDIT: Found the article, but in portuguese. But im pretty sure you can find something similar in english.
Mudando de hardware com Windows XP (http://www.guiadohardware.net/dicas/mudando-hardware-windows.html)


eh... no.

all you need is to remove any Vendor specific drivesr for IDE, USB and SysTimer.

The hal shouldn't be changed till afterwards..... actually the hal olny needs to be changed when moving between MP/SP types.

[chrisssj2]

Thank you for the info guys.

so I see.. so let's say your pc dies, but ur harddisk still works, u should hopefully be able to boot and get the files which are locked away in your personal windows account. But a shame it doesn't work I hate re-installing 100 games lol.

[GeominorAI]

Unless the files are encrypted, one can still attach the hard drive and easily access the files within it while booted in an operating system on another hard drive.

However, one must note that registry information saved during software installations is not as easily transferable.

[P_RePTiLe]

Re-installing a hundred games is sometimes easier than to track down their config-folders in the windows-folder-mess, and making 1 to 10 different registry exports for each of them.

Or as suggested already, just moving the hard drive across and manually un-mess the driver and registry differences on a new platform.

Put it in perspective, and you will not find reinstalling that time consuming ;)

[chrisssj2]

Unless the files are encrypted, one can still attach the hard drive and easily access the files within it while booted in an operating system on another hard drive.

However, one must note that registry information saved during software installations is not as easily transferable.



Ok Even if you have make my folder personal, with the button personalise my folders?

Off topic question, where is the registry saved on the harrdisk anyway? It's not in a regular map.. so far I know. XD

[P_RePTiLe]

Off topic (but not so much) DIY-answer: Windows Registry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Registry) :)

[GeominorAI]

Ok Even if you have make my folder personal, with the button personalise my folders?

Off topic question, where is the registry saved on the harrdisk anyway? It's not in a regular map.. so far I know. XD

The folder personalization may not be preserved when viewed in the other operating system, but the structure and content will remain.

As indicated in the article P_RePTiLe posted, the registry files are stored under %SystemRoot%\System32\config\, where %SystemRoot% is typically C:\Windows\.

[Phil]

It only will work if the chipsets are the same on the motherboard. Say like ICH9 and then you switch to ICH10R. You will simply get a NMI at start up. Just do a clean install. It will save you headaches in the long run.

[Squall-Leonhart]

ICH9 drivers are the same as ICH10, windows will migrate between them just fine.