[HaiLKroniK]

I do not know where to put this, hard drive or OS section but here we are...

I have a 10 year old Dell pc that has a failed motherboard. It turns out that it would be better to build a one rather than buy a replacement motherboard.

My dilemma - I want to either move the hard drive over to the newly built computer (or if possible copy the hard drive on to a new one). I have Windows XP on this machine and I would like to know if this would work (work meaning, will Windows XP run on the new machine)

Thanks!

 

[Ghostscript]

No, it will not work. Swaping harddrives from machine to machine works if the components are pretty much identical to the once you had in your old system. You can use the HDD, but the OS won't work. Windows will detect a new environment and will most likely not boot up on it, just resulting in BSOD's.

Although, you might get lucky and it boot's up, but will most likely not be stable. Then you could salvage it with a repair install, again, if you're lucky.

But the best way, and safest way to ensure the OS to run stable for the future, is to do a clean install on the new build. And copy over the files you need to save before cleaning the HDD.

Experimented with this on other systems in years past, either from stationary build to another, or laptop to laptop. And it fails 99% of the time if there is to big a difference in the components in the build it's moved to. If the system's are withing 70% of the same components it works - but anything else than that - haven't gotten it working at all.

 

[_02]

Depends on what you have and what you are moving to.

Generally, I would reinstall the OS just to be sure (and anyways, a reinstall is good for you every now and then). However I have upgraded components like the motherboard chipset, CPU and RAM without NEEDING to reinstall the OS.

Still, I'd backup my data and plan on reinstalling fresh.

 

[HaiLKroniK]

Thanks to both of you!

The reason I really did not want to do a fresh install was for a very expensive program is setup on it (controls our compressor system for a R&D facility). I have a back up of the settings, but it still makes me nervous to reinstall. The computer only runs this one program lol.

 

[_02]

If it is a critical piece of equipment, obviously make sure you have the capacity to reinstall it before you upgrade - that or the ability to fall back to your old system in the event that the upgrade does break things.

 

[mushroomboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristianEx;14190352
Although, you might get lucky and it boot's up, but will most likely not be stable. Then you could salvage it with a repair install, again, if you're lucky.

If it boots up there won't be any issues. I don't know how it could possibly become "unstable". Anyways....

Backup the data like the rest suggest, though try just slapping the drive in without installing. The worst you'll get is a BSOD and you might have to then try safe mode. After that the next worse case is a fresh install, really there shouldn't be any big deal or crazy warnings about this.

 

[Joephis19]

There's lots of reasons for it to be unstable.

Imagine that you have a Honda Civic and the transmission goes out.....you can't expect to grab a Toyota Camry transmission, slap it in and expect it to work just fine.

2 Main problems, in my ecperience, are:

Windows authentication
Drivers

 

[Bitemarks and bloodstains]

Seeing as you are replacing a dell PC it is safe to say the licence is OEM therefore nontransferable to a new PC anyway, you need to purchase a new licence

 

[HaiLKroniK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by _02 If it is a critical piece of equipment, obviously make sure you have the capacity to reinstall it before you upgrade - that or the ability to fall back to your old system in the event that the upgrade does break things.

I have a back up pc in the area that is running the critical equipment. The problem is that its the same age with the same mileage. I have time, but not much.

I am going to go forward with the build. Worst case scenario: I have to get the programmer back for $2K. Best case scenario: I get the pc to work without the programmer and only spend $3-400 for the pc.

 

[HaiLKroniK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitemarks and bloodstains Seeing as you are replacing a dell PC it is safe to say the licence is OEM therefore nontransferable to a new PC anyway, you need to purchase a new licence

Good point 'doh'!

LOL - I will see what I can do to get the settings from the backup

 

[mushroomboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joephis19 There's lots of reasons for it to be unstable. Imagine that you have a Honda Civic and the transmission goes out.....you can't expect to grab a Toyota Camry transmission, slap it in and expect it to work just fine. 2 Main problems, in my ecperience, are: Windows authentication Drivers

First off that isn't comparable. Transmissions aren't really car specific, they are motor specific. Unless your doing a manual car, which is another set of complications. With an automatic transmission it has to mount directly to the engine, so it has to have the exact specs for the engine. Software does that too, I'll explain. [edit] You CAN do some mods to make stuff work, though that would still disprove your idea being flawed. I'm not getting into any of that because your example works only for a limited set of examples. You should have used an example that will work no matter what model/make of the car you use.

Ok, now outside of the car crap. The only problem you will see is drivers, which are hardware specific and will rely on the hardware ID. A driver will not load for hardware that doesn't follow this, it will BSOD or refuse to load and give a windows driver error #. If the main hardware components load the OS will run just fine, THOUGH you might have secondary driver issues or proprietary driver issues. You can re-install the drivers manually, which you would be told to do even on a clean installation.

That is all there is too it. If your afraid of the OEM license, you can just call MS and talk to them about options. That is all I will say about that.

 

[Spooony]

new machine why not put a clean OS on it?

 

[mushroomboy]

Yeah, don't take my posts as meaning you shouldn't re-install. I always like to do a fresh install, keeps things organized. It also allows you to re-set up the system, giving you a fresh start on organizing.

 

[HaiLKroniK]

Yes, I understand that a fresh install is a good idea. The purpose of this computer is very direct. There is no internet connection, no installing of additional software.

This is a pc only for controlling air compressors. the specs set in the program is very specific; yes i know that is what back ups are for, but if something went awry for any reason...well the equipment they run are compressors that you will not find...anywhere (a couple 5000 HP compressors running at 12KV each).

If it does not work, I will not stress to much, I will call the programmer in to reset the system.

 

[HaiLKroniK]

i'd wouldn't mind some help making a build if you guys want...

it requires:

single core processor
windows xp pro
minimal graphics
case
ram
power supply
cd rom
floppy

no monitor
no mouse
no keyboard

 

[Apk]

For that you might have better luck finding a pre-built computer (especially if you're aiming for single-core and XP). Hell, buy a $200 netbook

 

[_02]

I recommended a netbook to my father that has a low spec requirement for automotive software (plugged into the car computers). He got a wireless adapter and it works like a charm and is small enough to carry around, doesn't need a lot of hard drive space, cpu power or anything like that.

I think he paid $300.

Either way, you can get a machine to meet those specs for very cheap pre built.

 

[HaiLKroniK]

would love the netbook idea, but not feasible. imagine you are in a control room, there are 4 big screens...and then a tiny netbook while 5 200-350 lb men looking at that tiny screen?

lol wouldn't work right, even with a large monitor doubling the desktop. this is an industrial setting and those guys will break the tiny thing.

 

[HaiLKroniK]

i will look into some prebuilt, although it is more fun to build one

 

[mushroomboy]

something like this, the atom based desktop

http://www.abacocomputers.com/Comput...ktop/Dual.html

They are extremely small to hide and work well for what you are thinking of doing.

http://www.buy.com/prod/zotac-zboxhd...219887755.html