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10330
July 28th, 2014 09:00
installing hard drive from old computer to new computer
I've just ordered a new XPS 8700 to replace my XPS 410. The mother board died but the hard drive is still good. Can I install the old drive in the new computer?
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shesagordie
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July 28th, 2014 16:00
speedstep
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July 28th, 2014 10:00
You can install it as a secondary drive but you cannot boot from it as a primary drive.
revered33
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July 28th, 2014 16:00
Do I have to reformat it? The primary reason for installing it is to preserve my installed programs.
rdunnill
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July 29th, 2014 21:00
There is a way to get the hard drive to boot, but it requires that the source machine be working.
You don't need to reformat to reinstall your old programs.
ispalten
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July 30th, 2014 08:00
If the old computer used SATA for the hard drives then you can just plug it in but that system is old and it might be the IDE interface in which case you'd need an interface card for it.
As for old installed programs, you'll need to re-install them. Most programs enter data into other folders/directories on the installed C:. Since this drive will no longer be C:, you will most likely not be able to run the programs and they have pointers in files to C: for program data that doesn't exist. Re-installing the apps will create the proper links, possibly to the new C: and the Registry that you do not have. Your data however will still be there and can be accessed once you re-install the apps in most case. You will lose some data that was written to the old Registry possibly however. Of course, some apps, like many games and utilities will work just fine as they are generally self-contained.